Being a new Linux user .. just wondering what programs are important to have?

AntiVirus?
Browser?
Media Player?

etc.

-thanks

Well, for Browser you are gonna end up going with Firefox most likely mate. Just a fact of life with Linux (though it's not a bad browser anyways, so that's not really a bad thing).

For graphics editing, you are looking at the GIMP, which likely was already included with your install. If not, just go to www.gimp.org to get it for free.

Antivirus is a bit different with Linux. While you still want a client of course, Linux is just not attacked by virii as much, because less users use Linux. This gives most people the impression Windows is more vulnerable, when in reality it boils down to "how can we get the biggest results set".

Antivirus info for Linux (and spyware, etc. links):
http://www.thefreecountry.com/security/antivirus.shtml

i find that xmms works best for me for playing mp3s and such. and for instant messenger i use gaim.

To be honest, each person you ask is gonna have there own preferences about what u "should" use in a Linux install. It basically boils down to what you like and what you need. There are several different apps for all kinda stuff I use Kopete for Instant messenging instead of Gaim. Just my preff, I also use streamtuner to listen to streaming audio and XMMS for playing it. Again, Like I said, different peeps are gonna say different stuff. My advice would be go to the distro support channel on IRC for whatever distro you got, and talk to the peeps in there. that's the best way to learn and get advise from other Linux users on the same distro.

Hope that helps!

Edit: as far as Antivirus goes, and the like. As long as your root account is not accessable and you DON'T use it for your log in account (which is not advisable) You should be good to go. Just remeber, Root as default user account=BAD!

This post has been edited by netgooroo: Jul 3 2006, 11:42 PM