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One of the reason why people are first afraid to make the switch over to Linux is because they are unfamiliar with the applications used on Linux. Many people who have been using Windows for years are comfortable and familiar with the applications they have been using on Windows. From the time of when I first started using Linux which was only a couple of years ago I have seen grate advances in applications for the Linux user, here is a list of some of my favorites in no particular order.

Compiz Fusion, if you have not heard is the ultimate in eye candy for any Linux user. Compiz Fusion will allow you to use transparency and many effects and animations that just look amazing. There are even some plug-ins that are actually useful, like scale which will act like expose on a mac. One thing you need to be careful with Compiz Fusion is make sure you have a graphics card that can handle, it because if you don't then it will slow down your machine and not be worth it.

Awn Dock, is a dock like the one used on mac osx. Like the mac dock Awn is used to launch and track open windows and applications. What separates Awn from the other docks available for Linux is the extensive plug-ins created for it. Plug-ins range from to-do lists, to clocks, Pandora, aim, pop out weather, and much much more. Awn is under constant development and has a great community behind it pushing it along. To run Awn you will need a composite manager such as Compiz Fusion or xcompmgr.

Screenlets, are small widgets that you can place on your computer screen like yahoo widgets or the mac osx dashboard. Screenlets pretty much range form anything and can be moved and scaled to any place or size. To use screenlets you will need either compiz fusion or xcompmgr.

Xcompmgr is not a super extensive application that has millions of features. It really only has one main feature and that is composition or transparency, but it does it well. If you looking to use Awn dock or screenlets but don't want the or can't handle the power needed for Compiz Fusion then xcompmgr is for you. It runs lite, and is barley noticeable, but will provide the transparency you will need.

Pidgin, is that go to chat application on Linux. The best feature of pidgin is that it can handle all the major chat protocols, from Google chat, aim, icq, msn, and yahoo. You can even be signed onto accounts from different services at the same time. Pidgin also has loads of great plug-ins that come with it to enhance your messaging experience.

Amarok, is your Itune replacement on Linux. I personally think Amarok is Itunes on steroids, it has loads of great features, and is simple to use. Amarok, can suggest new music, give instant information about the artist or band you are currently listening and even tell you how much you like each song or artist! Also one thing to look out for is that Amorak is getting a very nice face lift, not that it doesn't look great already.

F-spot Photo Manager is the best photo manager around. If for some reason I had to go back to windows I would love to take F-spot with me. With F-spot you can tag photos based on event, location,and whos in each picture. These tags come in hand when searching through your massive library, making pictures easy to find. You can easily set it to find all the pictures of you at a certain place. Or to find all the picture that have you and a certain friend in it, etc...

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