20 Things to do after installing Ubuntu

20 Thngs to do after installing Ubuntu.

Generally, in any operating system when you first install it fresh, you don't get all the goodies. You have to install and download various applications and install them to make it suitable for your personal taste and requirement. Same is the case with Ubuntu as well. Unlike Windows, you have email client (Evolution) and an office suite (OpenOffice.org) by default loaded when you first install it. (Microsoft wants you to buy them separately and install it. But that's a different debatable topic.)
In fact you are better off with default Ubuntu installation without a need for further customization and installation. However if you are like me, you want even more, more and more...
So I have prepared a list of applications and plugins I need to install after I fresh install Ubuntu.

Tip: If you don't want to install every application you loaded on Ubuntu everytime you upgrade or reinstall Ubuntu, create a SEPARATE partition for HOME. Having a separate HOME partition makes your life lot easier going forward.

I have prepared the below list based on my personal choice and requirement, your taste and requirements might vary. But the below mentioned applications are Best in Class for Ubuntu Geeks. & you may at least want to try them once. Here is a step by step list for my Ubuntu customization:
Go to Applications -> Add/Remove Programs. From the drop down on right, select All available applications. Now select the following applications' checkbox from the list:


Advanced CCSM: To enable eyecandy effects such as shown below and much more than that. You will forget Vista I am sure once you use it. You may even get different wallpapers on different desktops. How to get different wallpapers on each workspace

Avant Windows Navigator (AWN): This will give you a dock same as in Mac. See the image with bottom deck of icons on desktop.

Gstreamer Extra Plugins: Gstreamer plugins are required for media playback and all. Because I am sure you would definitely have some mp3 and all. This is for providing the system rquired codecs.

Ubuntu Restricted Extras: These extras will provide you many plugins and add-ons required for Mozilla Firefox and other applications to run smoothly. Extras include Java, Flash player, Browser media plugins and lot of other things. Check description for complete list while installing.

MS Core fonts: You won't find Times New Roman and other Microsoft propreitary fonts in Ubuntu. So this plugin will install those fonts on your Ubuntu machine.

Mozilla Thunderbird: If you are a great fan of Thunderbird email client, then install this application for your email client. Else you can use Evolution -the default email client in Ubuntu.

Lightning: If you installed Thunderbird, then you will definitely need to install Lightning which adds a calendar to Thunderbird. (Thunderbird by itself lacks Calendar functionality.)

Firefox Add-on: I am sure you need to install lots of Firefox add-ons

gtkRecordMyDesktop: This one is good if you want to create a quick tutorial of some application or something else running on your machine. This application catures everything you are doing on your screen. It's a good application for bloggers like me.

Scribus: Scribus is good for those who want to create Newsletter, Magazine and similar looking material. It is a Desktop Publishing tool which has got a cool set of features.

Samba: If you have more than one computer in your house, you would definitely wanna make a Home network or at least wanna share files between the two. Samba enables you to do that easily.

Yahoo! Zimbra Desktop: Zimbra is a new one in the list of applications to be installed on Ubuntu. It is another email client which has got cool features and makes you able to read your Yahoo and other emails with ease. Zimbra has got everything you will need from a Desktop email client. For complete features, read this post.

Miro: Miro is a video player which can play any video file and best of all you can save Youtube videos. To install the latest Miro, follow the instructions mentioned on Miro webpage.
Quick tip:
Add "deb http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/pculture.org/miro/linux/repositories/ubuntu hardy/" (without quotes) to the Third Party repositories. Reload and install miro by searching in Synaptic.

Wine: Wine enables you to run most of the Windows applications on Ubuntu. Install it as mentioned on WineHQ site.
Quick Tip:
Open Terminal-> Copy and paste "wget -q http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/387EE263.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -" to add key.
Copy and paste "sudo wget http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/sources.list.d/hardy.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/winehq.list"
Type "sudo apt-get update".
Type "sudo aptitude install Wine"

Google Earth: You don't need any detail for it. Go and install Google earth

Skype: Download the latest Skype and install by double-clicking on it. Follow the prompts on screen.

Gizmo Project: If you don't like Skype, you might want to try Gizmo which is another application for internet based calls.

Linux Back-port Modules: This is for those having issues with Wi-fi LED light not lighting while Wi-fi is in use. Just search for Linux Back-port Modules and install it through Synaptic. After you restart your system, wi-fi LED will lit.

Songbird: Songbird is a open source alternative for iTunes and Windows Media Player with very cool features and customization possibilities. Install Songbird 0.7 as mentioned in my other post.

Go to System ->Preferences ->Appearance ->Visual Effects and select Extra. That will activate your Video card driver. In my case it is NVIDIA. The changes will take place after you restart.

Finally restart your machine just to make sure everything is working properly. BTW, if you happen to install any Linux kernel update, you will have to restart anyways. If you want you might want to remove the older kernels to save some space and some clutter from the booting menu.


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