You've installed Lubuntu. Now you can start exploring and customizing your system!
You've installed Lubuntu. Now you can start exploring and customizing your system!
It seems like you're describing a web browsing device. Your main system uses Windows, and you're working on revitalizing an older laptop. This gadget is nearly eight years old.
Or any other programs you're familiar with. Great, Linux is such a blast!
Having no idea is normal, you're starting with a completely different operating system than what you're used to. Start by using it for browsing, put some songs and videos on it and just try to figure things out as you go. When you want to do something and really can't find out how, you can always Google it or ask in this section. Having someone hold your hand is nice and all, but with less help you'll learn faster (although initially it may take a little longer and be more frustrating). There is a software center for Lubuntu (Lubuntu Software Center) where you can download most of the programs you'll ever need and plenty of alternatives to the programs that come pre-installed. Funnily enough I couldn't find it on my fresh install (I just installed Lubuntu in a VM while typing this post to check it out, never used Lubuntu myself because I'm more of a Linux Mint guy). It looks like the software Center needs to be installed via the terminal, which surprises me because regular Ubuntu has its software center pre-installed and because during the Lubuntu installation there even is a screen that tells you it is included. Must have been an oversight. Oh well, each version has its quirks and this one was so minor that I found the solution on the first result I clicked after my first Google search. It's really not that much of a deal. If you're looking for a replacement for a certain Windows program, there's always alternativeto.net . Of course most of the programs are going to be different than those you use on Windows, but the functionality will usually be there. Don't put anything irreplaceable on the laptop yet. As you're learning new things and messing around, you can (and probably will) at some point make a mistake that makes the OS unusable. Don't be afraid of that, those things happen. I don't know a single Linux user who has been using it for over a year and hasn't broken his install at least once. Try to figure out what went wrong if possible, re-install (or restore from a snapshot or system image if you have those) and start over, hopefully with better luck.
Most applications you run on Windows have a better option on Linux. As suggested by @Captain Chaos, check alternative.to for lists of publicly maintained programs. With an Ubuntu version, you’ll find everything via the software center, similar to an app store, which uses apt repositories for downloading and managing software. If you prefer command-line tools, "apt-cache search" and "apt-get install" are useful. The "apt-cache" command helps you browse available packages—like searching for 7zip gives options such as p7zip-full. Once you identify the package, use "apt-get install" to add it, which will handle dependencies and setup automatically. Sometimes installation needs configuration steps, but that’s normal. You might also find that sudo is needed; it lets you act as root without logging in directly, enabling system changes and software installation. If you have questions, feel free to ask, or consider using Google—often helpful for Linux issues. Generally, AAA titles aren’t supported on Linux, except Valve’s games which perform well. Interestingly, indie games tend to work better because they often use engines compatible with Linux.