Spork - Staying In - Install Ubuntu

"Like a kid in a candy store"
There's thousands of free software
titles available to download

Installing more software

Installing new programs in Ubuntu is much less messy than in Windows. Instead of having to hunt around the internet for things to download, it all comes to you!

Click on Applications > Add/Remove and you'll get a list with loads of software that you can pick and install. Simply tick what you want and hit “apply”. Vice versa for uninstalling things. Couldn't be simpler! Notice the way it asks for a password before making any changes, that's a security feature that helps make Ubuntu a lot more bulletproof against malware. No more sneaky viruses or spyware installing themselves without you knowing!

One of the things you’ll want to do as an Ubuntu newbie is find software to replace the programs you were used to using in Windows. There’s actually loads of choice, and since it’s all free you can try different ones to see what you like best. You can find lists of Linux alternatives on the internet, or try asking people on the forums what they are using. Some Linux software, like Firefox, you’ll be familiar with from Windows, others will be brand new to you.

There's even more software available through the Synaptic Package Manager at System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager (“Package” is just the Linux term for a piece of software). Synaptic is maintained by the people who make Ubuntu, so everything available through it is 100% trustworthy.

It's easy to use, simply search for the name of the software you want, check the box and hit “Apply”. Likewise for uninstalling things. Have a go at finding and installing the music player called Exaile to see how it works. For more info take a look at the Ubuntu guide to using Synaptic.