Windows equivalants for Ubuntu

[Staz]

As anyone who has read this thread will know, I am atempting to build a computer on the cheap side. To save on money, I am planing to install either Ubuntu or Kubuntu instead of buying an OEM copy of Windows XP Home.

Specs for computer are Sempron 3100+ socket 754 on a GeForce 6100 mobo with nForce 410. 512mb PC3200 RAM (448mb for system and 64mb reserverd for video), intergrated sound, graphics and network, Samsung 18X DVD burner with lightscribe, 80GB SATAII HDD.

What I am looking for are programs to do the equivalent of what 90% of people who use computers do.

First thing is a Java enabled web browser that can surf the web and play java enabled games and play streaming multimedia and well as downloadable multimedia. That is easy, Firefox will handle that nicely. It will just need some CoDecs and Plugin's installed. I have found Automatix and that will install everything I need to give me the funcionality I crave.

Next is an Email client. Evolution should work quite nicely there as well.

Now I will need some office software. Open Office has everything I will ever need and comes preinstalled. So far so good.

I will need to play DVD's. I believe that Totem comes installed. Unless it has some limitations I don't know about, or there is a better program out there please let me know.

Now for music. I have tried the preinstalled players and just don't really care for them. I am looking for a music program that will allow me to import music files, rip CD's, organize it to a library, play by album or artist or make my own playlist, import from and export to a portable music device, and finally to burn CD's in either normal (wave) or mp3 format. Dsio has sugested banshee http://www.banshee-project.org/Main_Page for this and it looks to be pretty good. Any other programs worth looking into?

Next I will need a burning program. One where I can make CD's from an ISO file, or burn a DVD or audio CD, hopefully one that cane use lightscribe technology.

I will need a program to import video from a digital camcorder, break it up into clips, arange it into home movies, and burn it to DVD's that I can send to friends and family. The ability to add transitions and titles and to dub in music would be very nice.

Speaking of DVD's. It would be nice to find an easy to use program to be able to back up non copyrighted DVD's.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head right now. But if you can think of something that lot's of people use thier computers for that I should add to this list please let me know. And also let me know what your favorite Linux programs are.

Please don't mention and gaming, my target audiance plays solitaire and mine sweeper or uses a PS2 or Xbox for gaming.

Thanks in advance.
Staz

[robbie]

I have DVD shrink (linux version) running on my main linux box. I just asked Yast to find it and install it. (Suse uses yast to most software installs.... think of it as the control panel in Windows)

Sorry I'm not more ubuntu knowledgable. I'll have to fire the box back up and check and see what other software I got to do the things that you ask. (I've done all of them)

[Staz]

CAMERA enters a classroom. It travels past a teacher's Hush
Puppies and heads up an aisle of desk past dirty yellow
Reeboks, rotting Air Jordans, scuffed heels, pristine
loafers...

TEACHER'S VOICE
Anheiser?

BOY'S VOICE
Here.

TEACHER'S VOICE
Busch?

GIRL'S VOICE
Here.

TEACHER'S VOICE
Bueller?

CAMERA reaches the last desk and rises slowly to reveal that
it's empty.

TEACHER'S VOICE
Bueller?

GIRL'S VOICE
He's sick.
(pause)
My best friend's sister's boyfriend's
brother's girlfriend heard from this
guy who knows this kid who's going
with a girl who saw Ferris pass-out
at 31 Flavors last night. I guess
it's pretty serious.

TEACHER'S VOICE
(weary)
Thank you, Simone.