New
#1
My first time using Windows, need help running applications! Help!
Hi, so I just bought a new computer from the store and I believe it has Windows Seven on it. It's alright and I haven't run into many issues, although the interface is kind of confusing and new to me.
Anyway, I noticed that there's no Software Center like in Ubuntu, and I had to look online to get some Windows installers. I don't know if this is the right way to do it- it seems very unsafe. If someone could point me to the Windows software manager that'd be great, because I can't find it. I think it's hidden in the Control Panel somewhere?
Anyway, a lot of the programs I used to use, like Pidgin, GIMP, OpenOffice, Skype, and Hulu seem to have been ported to Windows, which is nice! But not all of them seem to work. Like Rhythmbox- I use Rhythmbox to buy music from the Ubuntu One music store, and I have a fairly large collection. I managed to move the files over manually from my old computer very easily, since there's no DRM or anything, but I'd like to be able to use my music player again. Even Banshee would be a relief to have.
Also, compiz is really slow in Windows Seven for some reason, and it's hard to customize. I can't find any compiz settings manager anywhere, but I guess Windows might have a different name for it, since it has a different name for the Home folder, too. It's all very confusing to me, and I was hoping people could point me in the right direction.
Anyway, sorry, I'm a bit frustrated and jumbled in my thoughts, but Windows Seven seems okay even though it's a bit slow right now I'm sure that can be fixed. I probably just set things up wrong or something. But yeah, is there anything like Wine for Windows? Like, you can run Windows games in Ubuntu with Wine, and since Ubuntu is open source there's probably a really simple way to install all the Ubuntu programs on Windows already, I just don't know what it's called.
I've never installed Ubuntu before, and I'm kind of afraid to, since I don't think DELL will support it on this new Acer with Windows Seven. I heard it's really easy and simple, but I'm used to installing like in the software center where you just click install and enter your secure password to install more things for a few minutes.
Windows is really confusing with clicking next, and I see ads in Internet Explorer and Firefox, so I got Chrome which has also been ported from Linux. I'm glad there are some familiar apps.
So yeah, I just really need my applications back. I can't really go without them, or maybe there are some alternatives on Windows that are similar? I don't know, I don't want to be close minded, but I'm sure Windows has programs for similar tasks.
So I guess what I'm asking is how I can get Rhythmbox, Tomboy, Gloobus, Transmission, Shotwell, Openshot, Brasero, and Blender in Ubuntu. I'm really grateful in advance for everyone who's willing to help me out, I don't know how big the Windows Seven community is but I see commercials so I'm sure it's big enough to handle this small issue. Any help or pointers you can show me would be very appreciated.