Ubuntu 14.04

Essential files
It is important to make sure that the system is up-to-date before trying to install new packages.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras xchat gftp vlc wine gimp p7zip-full ntfs-config gparted openjdk-6-jre icedtea-netx icedtea6-plugin kolourpaint4 cheese ktorrent -y

Recommended Games

sudo apt-get install frozen-bubble nexuiz supertuxkart freedink-engine neverball fillets-ng tmw -y

Nvidia - Getting the graphic card to work

There have been some problems with the proprietary nvidia driver, to make it work you should install the following, unless you are using a Optimus enabled card, then use the guide below.

sudo apt-get install linux-source

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic

sudo apt-get install nvidia-current-updates

Nvidia - Getting the graphic card to work (Optimus)

It works out of the box in the latest version of Ubuntu, but you might want to change from the Nouveau driver (open source) to the latest Nvidia driver (proprietary, tested). You can do that by clicking super and searching after additional drivers.

You can switch between the Intel and Nvidia card from the nvidia xserver settings under "Prime profiles". You can find the nvidia settings menu by clicking "super" and searching after it.

Recommended applications

Dropbox - It is a cloud storage with 2GB free space.
Skype - Allows the user to make voice and video calls and chat over the internet
Desura - A linux alternative to the windows based Steam client.
I can recommend the open source version called Desurium

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:makson96/desurium-stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install desurium

Steam -  The official steam client is now working nativly on Linux and offers a ton of great games, it is easier to download from the homepage if you don't have a ubuntu account.

DVD codecs

Some DVDs come with landcode restrictions, to make sure you can play all of your DVDs, then you should do the following:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

curl ftp://ftp.videolan.org/pub/debian/videolan-apt.asc | sudo apt-key add -

echo "deb ftp://ftp.videolan.org/pub/debian/stable ./" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/libdvdcss.list

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

Get Netflix

In order to get netflix to work in firefox, you will need to install pipelight. (silverlight for linux)

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:pipelight/stable

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pipelight-multi

sudo pipelight-plugin --enable silverlight

 Then download this user agent overrider and set your browser version as internet explorer 11: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/user-agent-overrider/ 

Get Texmaker
When installing texmaker, then you will need to install texlive-full as well to get all of the dependencies installed:

sudo apt-get install texlive-full texmaker

Backspace action in Nautilus

If you want to enable Nautilus backspace action, then you need to open the nautilus accels file

sudo gedit ~/.config/nautilus/accels

and manually add the line at the very end (without ; ), like this:

(gtk_accel_path "/ShellActions/Up" "BackSpace")

save and then use: killall nautilus