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Welcome to Linux! If this is your first time using Linux, the sheer variety and breadth of choice you have in software - for free! - can be a little overwhelming. The best part of this is that you are free to try out new software as you wish and on your own terms. For the purposes of this article, we'll be looking at applications most common in the secure software repositories found for Linux distributions that use the GNOME and KDE desktop environments.

After re-orientation into the Linux environment, the hardest choices you'll face will revolve around choosing the best free programs to install. There is an embarassment of riches out there, the best comparable to commercial packages you can find on Windows or MacOSX. Speaking from the point of view of a casual user, I've found the programs listed below to be fast, easy to use and stable.

Here are the top 15 application categories and my personal recommendation for each:

#1: Browser: Firefox

In the so-called 'browser wars,' Mozilla Firefox continues to grab an ever-larger share of the market. It is cross-platform, extensible, and secure. Most importantly, it plays nice with the vast majority of websites. With the release of Firefox 3 it is also among the speediest and most extensible of browsers. Some Linux distributions come with Firefox already installed as the default browser, and for good reason: it's a must-have application of the first order. Check out the vast library of add-ons to customize Firefox to your liking.

#2: E-mail: Thunderbird

Another offering from Mozilla, Thunderbird is an easy and flexible e-mail client. It simplifies adding e-mail accounts from Gmail and other popular sources, and will import your mail from old accounts so you can be up and running in as little time as possible. Like Firefox above, the basics are easy and accessible, but the deeper options and settings allow you to powerfully customize e-mail with filters, tags, and text-editing options. Do you enjoy your 'conversation' view from Gmail? Thunderbird has threaded viewing as well. It supports both POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail protocols and handles newsgroups and RSS. With its own library of extensions, you can add features such as Google, WebDAV and iCal calendars, OpenPGP encryption, and many others.

#3: Office Suite: OpenOffice.org

In a single free package, OpenOffice.org manages to capture all the features expected by the majority of Microsoft Office users. You get word processing, spreadsheets, drawing, database and presentation software. Worried about cross-compatibility? OpenOffice.org can handle a wide variety of formats well. Setting the default file format to Microsoft .doc, .xls, .ppt and the like is easy to do. Alternatively, you can support the use of open formats by using the default file types, or any other general format you may need. There's also a handy 'Print to PDF' option. Users familiar with Microsoft Office will be able to start using OpenOffice.org with few problems.

#4: Personal Finance: KMyMoney

The interface of KMyMoney may remind you of Quicken and other commercial packages. Unlike the expensive offerings from the major companies, KMyMoney will not expire, force you to upgrade, or hold your data hostage to its proprietary formatting. If you have a long backlog of Quicken, MS Money, or GnuCash account data, it's simple to import and start using immediately.

#5: Internet Telephone: Skype

Although the Linux version of Skype is not an open-source application, it still bears mentioning. Skype is certainly one of the most popular internet telephony services, and with good reason. The basic free user account gives you instant messaging, voice chat, and video chat with other Skype users. The pay services include domestic and international calling to landlines and cellphones (depending on country), voice mail, and real telephone numbers that connect to your Skype account so your friends, family and business contacts don't need Skype in order to contact you.

#6: Instant Messaging: Pidgin

For all your other IM needs, Pidgin is a great all-in-one chat program. It can connect to a wide variety of chat services, including Google Chat, MSN, AIM, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, Yahoo! and others. Running Pidgin is a lot more convenient that running a multitude of different programs.

#7: Music Library: AmaroK

The AmaroK music application may remind you of iTunes on steroids. Among its many, many features, you can find MP3 player support (including most iPods), an integrated music store (Magnatune), smart playlists, internet radio support (including Last.fm), lyric searches and other extensions and a long feature list that continues past that. It handles all the major formats: MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA, etc. If you have an exceptionally large music library, I'd also suggest installing the MySQL database rather than the built-in SQLite database, and finding easy instructions for that is a simple Google search away.

#8: Video Library: Miro

If you watch video podcasts or keep an extensive video library, Miro (formerly Democracy Player) is a great software tool. It supports video subscriptions to your favorite podcasts, playlists & categories, maintains your video library, and even has integrated search & download for video-sharing websites such as Google Video and YouTube. Worried about your video podcasts over-running your hard drive? Miro has a customizable 'expiration date' for videos you have watched and elected not to keep.

#9: Disc Burning: Brasero Disc Burning

Brasero Disc Burning is comparable to Nero Disc Burning in terms of an easy interface and flexible features. It can walk you through creating or copying audio, data, video and disc image CDs and DVDs. Brasero also supports plug-ins for features such as volume normalization (like in iTunes) and supports CD cover editing as well.

#10: Photo Library: F-Spot Photo Manager

Yes, Google does have Picasa for Linux. Why don't I recommend it at this time? Google used an integrated WINE wrapper (Windows compatibility layer) rather than creating a true Linux-native version of Picasa. As a result, it's slow, clunky, and looks pretty ugly compared to its rivals. Instead, I recommend F-Spot Photo Manager for most users. Importing photos is fast and easy from memory cards or direct from most cameras. Tagging is fast and flexible. Photo editing is simple but covers the basic range There are several export options, some connecting to Facebook, Flickr, and other services.

Another alternative with some more horsepower - although more cluttered for interface - is DigiKam.

#11: Graphic Editing: The GIMP

The GIMP (The GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a burly, powerful graphics program for all of your image-editing needs. Wide format support, a full feature list, and a large library of plugins give you full control over your photos and graphics.

Quick note: Users familiar with the Photoshop interface may want to check out GIMPShop, which emulates Photoshop panels and layout.

#12: All Purpose Media Player: VLC

If VLC can't play it, you probably don't need it. For all your media needs, VLC is the most comprehensive video player on any platform.

#13: Bittorrent: Deluge

Bittorrent is certainly a popular method of peer-to-peer file transfer, and has found many uses within the Linux environment for speeding up critical downloads. Your Linux system may already have a Bittorrent client installed, but Deluge is a good, friendly, and fast choice regardless of system defaults.

#14: Backup: SimpleBackup

If you have ever searched for backup solutions on Linux, references to 'rsync' abound. This command-line program is likely already installed on your Linux system. SimpleBackup gives you a friendlier front-end to configure it with a fair degree of flexibility should you venture beyond the default settings.

#15: Encryption: EasyCrypt & TrueCrypt

Those who wish to add an extra - and extra-tough - layer of security to their personal files can't do much better and cheaper than TrueCrypt. However, the default interface for the Linux version is rather lacking. This is where EasyCrypt comes in and more than lives up to its name. Fast, clean, and easy to understand, EasyCrypt helps you manage your TrueCrypt-secured volumes without needing to know a lot of jargon beyond your password.

#16: File Syncronization: DropBox

Available on nearly all common platforms out there and with a great web interface available as well, DropBox is THE simplest and easiest synchronization solution I've found. Simply install it, maybe select a custom folder to be your 'DropBox' and you have a free 2GB on online space to divvy up and selectively share as you please. Install it on your other computers (MacOSX, Windows, and several flavors of Linux are all available and ready to go), designate certain subfolders to share with family, friends, and co-workers, and you're good to go. It acts like a normal folder on your computer - and for all intents and purposes that's what it is. If you can drag and drop files into a folder, you can use DropBox. Cake.

#17: Programming/Coding: Eclipse

The good old favorite IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is available on essentially every platform out there. If you plan to do a little or a lot of coding in any language, it's hard to go wrong with Eclipse.

#18: Document Library Management: Referencer

Trouble keeping track of all the PDFs, DOCs, ODFs and the other assortment of reference files you have on your computer? Hate keeping everything organized in folders, yet never being able to find what you need? Referencer builds a database of your selected files and lets you tag documents as you need. Drag a folder full of disorganized files into the Referencer window and go to town on them.

#19: Typesetting and LATEX: Kile

If you like or need to use LATEX typesetting for writing reports, presentations, or any other purpose for which LATEX excels, Kile is a powerful yet accessible LATEX editor. The documentation is top-notch - not always a guarantee for Free & Open Source Software, and especially for larger documents, Kile is faster than its competition.

Final note: If you have the option to install these programs from your Linux software repository, do so. This helps guarantee software free of malicious code, and your system will help keep you up-to-date on the latest versions of all your software. Welcome to the Linux community, and enjoy the bounty of free and quality programs!

Learn more about this author, G M Burkart.
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