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Top 5 Ubuntu Applications
Alyxander from the chat room decided to send in a list of his Top 5 Ubuntu Applications:
I’ve been listening to your show and I decided to give you my top five programs to install on Ubuntu (or one of its variants).
- Ubuntu-restricted-extras – This gives you all you plugins (such as Java and Flash). To install: sudo aptitude install ubuntu-restricted-extras OR search for it in the Synaptic Package Manager.
- Automatrix – Is a fantastic application that will give you a simple one click install for various applications like Wine, Skype, Songbird, etc…
- OpenOffice.Org – Not just the writer, but the complete suite. It is a fantastic Microsoft Office replacement.
- Xchat – If you’re watching Chris’ stream and you want to enhance your experience, look into Xchat. In my opinion, it’s one of the best IRC clients ever made.
- VLC – A wonderful, light weight media player that has the ability to encode files to MP4, which is especially great for people who watch a lot of Youtube videos.
Well that my top five! What are you favorite Ubuntu applications?
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20 Comments
Left Of Center
December 21st, 2007
at 10:49am
Chris Pirillo »Top 5 Ubuntu ApplicationsPosted 4 hours ago
MikeWindowsLaptop
December 21st, 2007
at 6:19pm
i have the AWN dock because i miss the dock from OS X when im in ubuntu
boredcollegekid
December 21st, 2007
at 7:34pm
I love Automatrix made it so much easier and faster to get programs installed onto ubuntu. Open Office is starting to come with a lot of distros now, and Xchat and VLC are major apps to have with Windows or Mac too.
TJENN
December 21st, 2007
at 7:43pm
I’d like to add Gimp to this list. Most Linux distros come with Gimp. Some people aren’t intop the picture editing thing, but I find myself playing around with the different settings and extras this program offers. I have taken a lot of old photos taken by me and either have spruced them up or turned them into a laugh inducing picture. Gimp is a really awesome program.
Jonathan Flusser (osxdude)
December 21st, 2007
at 8:05pm
Nice job, Alyxander. I totally agree with these applications. Automatrix, however, is an application I actually have never heard of. Thanks for the tip.
elbone
December 21st, 2007
at 8:27pm
Great list. but what about “Wine” I know it’s not for linux programs (as it is for windows) but it’s good to have for certain apps. like Photoshop
Czar
December 21st, 2007
at 9:12pm
Another good program for instant messaging is pidgin. It supports msn, aim, yahoo i think.. and others.
Gabe
December 21st, 2007
at 10:08pm
i think all of those are on all platforms
linux is great anyways…
Ryan
December 21st, 2007
at 10:11pm
Please don’t use Automatix. It’s very poorly developed, with Python. It WILL hose your system.
Greg(g_dog1985__)
December 22nd, 2007
at 12:53am
hi chris
i been ubuntu for about month now i get to like more with windows for many reason
1. the internet is faster with ubuntu (linux) then window ver 2000 and xp home i try both and i can see the diff with the speed.
2. you can get free programs like pidgin im and amarok is music player and vlc , mplayer movie players and irc cliest
3. you have more desktop space to work with like you can have 1to 5 or more desktop spaces but in window u can 1 or 2 if u add a second montor
and less time add programs to find virse and spybot in your computer don’t me wrong window is good becuse you play diff games in it not like linux .
and thunx chris,kat and the others that help with the show
and show is great!!
Greg(g_dog1985_)
robbie
December 22nd, 2007
at 2:39am
I agree with Ryan, Automatix might have been nice in the past, but it makes upgrading you’re system a lot more difficult.
for me the sole killer-ap is just the repository. All stuff installed out of it is kept up to date automagically.
lefty.crupps
December 22nd, 2007
at 11:09am
Top five, eh?
1. Kubuntu-desktop, unless this was your smart decision from the get-go
2. k3b and mp3burn, to enable burning audio CDs from mp3 files
3. k9copy and libdvdscc2, to enable backing up my movies to various formats (avi, mp4, iso) for use on different devices
4. KDEnlive for video editing
5. w32codecs for watching online videos of various formats
I would have added Amarok music player, and Konversation IRC chat program, but both are default in my first choice (Kubuntu-desktop).
Twitch
December 22nd, 2007
at 3:53pm
This is a great list you should make more videos on linux ;).
Maybe even one about Dual booting if you haven’t already :D.
Cody
December 22nd, 2007
at 4:11pm
What would us linux users do without Ubuntu!?
mkkrawks
December 22nd, 2007
at 7:50pm
VLC is a great player as i can play so many formats. Dont use the DVD player in Ubuntu as it doesnt have as many functions!
Condoulo
December 23rd, 2007
at 10:28am
Great list. :) I have tried automatrix before, but I didn’t like it.
Thanks for the great one on how to install the needed stuff such as Java. :)
As for OO.o, xChat, and VLC, already had them installed. :P All great apps, and I would recommend them.
~ Condoulo
kteck
December 23rd, 2007
at 2:00pm
I would seriously advise against using Automatrix… from many reports it breaks things… its not needed in the current version of ubuntu.
Tim
January 24th, 2008
at 9:45am
What about compiz-fusion?
Its installed by default on 7.10 (gusty) but to be able to enable the cool effects IE, cube, shift switcher (like vista 3D but better) and some REALLY cool window animations and more, you need to install the setting manager via terminal just enter the line below
sudo aptitude install compizconfig-settings-manager
Ive been using windows for 10 years and ubuntu for 2 weeks but having these effects have made me leave windows i hardly boot into windows anymore (dual boot on my laptop and PC)
I think ubuntu’s a great os its more fun then windows and i don’t loose anything because of wine its great.
Rafy Mediavilla
March 15th, 2008
at 4:47pm
Xchat, VLC and OfficeOffice are a must have.
Ben
March 14th, 2009
at 8:02pm
AUTOMATIX was a nice idea, very poorly implemented.
There are easier options for installation, but generally these are not good options.
For applications worth installing, there are usually projects running which will have a very easy guide in the website – oneClick options sound good, a bit like SmileyCentral.
Automatix caused me to start a brand new install when I went to 8.04 – it simply breaks the system. You can easily find all of the stuff listed in Automatix and install it yourself!
http://ubuntu-tweak.com/ is a little better.