Ask YC: Setting up a new Linux laptop

[icey]

My new Thinkpad came in this morning, and I'm in the process of installing Ubuntu on it right now.

What applications should I install that will make life easier, coming from OS X and XP?

--Edit-- I'm a developer, so there are things that I know I will put on it:

Vim & Emacs

Apache

MySQL & PostgresQL

All the various languages I either work in or am messing with.

[davidw]

From /etc/apt/sources.list:

    # Video stuff
    deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ gutsy free non-free

That has some helpful 'non-free' stuff.

[icey → davidw]

Awesome, thank you

[t0pj]

I'd install the Opera browser. Firefox didn't quite work correctly when accessing my Linksys router (I blame my router and not FF, of course).

It wouldn't hurt to install PHP either; a worthy Apache companion.

Be sure to run this: sudo apt-get install build-essential

When attempting to install some modules, you'll get a "C compiler cannot create executables" message and build-essential fixes this.

I don't know why build-essential wasn't included on a base install.

[icey → t0pj]

    sudo apt-get install build-essential

This is exactly what I was looking for; there is no way I would have figured that out easily on my own.

[Tichy]

I had no luck with Totem, so I installed VLC Player for video and DVDs. Not sure if it is the best alternative, but it works fine.

[sant0sk1]

I would suggest Vim, Emacs, Apache, MySQL, and PostgresQL. Plus all the various languages you either work in or are messing with ;-)

[Herring]

from my install script..

compizconfig-settings-manager, emerald (& get some themes)

nautilus-open-terminal

netbeans, python, rails

google desktop (tracker sux balls)

dvd playback (google it, i forget how)

[ejs]

Well... What do you plan to do on it?

[icey → ejs]

Ah, you make an excellent point. I should edit the question.