Basic Navigation in Ubuntu

Navigating in Ubuntu 12.04 is more similar to navigating within a MAC computer as opposed to Windows. The icons are pretty large compared to Windows icons and you don't access the applications in a Startup menu at the lower right hand corner of your screen. Instead the icons are lined up one right after the other from top to bottom on the left hand side of the screen on what is called a Dock Launcher. You access most of the applications using the Dash, which is the first icon on the top of the Dock Launcher.

The Dash is a Search Function that allows you to query applications you need to use either by category or by typing in the name of the application in the Search field. If you choose to search by category click on one of the five icons at the bottom of the screen. The first icon by default looks like a house. It represents a general search. The next icon represents Search Applications. The third icon which looks like a piece of paper represents Search Files & Folders. The fourth icon which is a music note represents Search Music Collection. The last icon which looks like a film negative with an arrow represents Search Videos.

By default, the more common applications will be on pinned on the Dock Launcher such as LibreOffice Writer and Calc, System Settings (Gear Icon), Ubuntu Software Center, etc. UbuntuOne is the Ubuntu's Cloud website which allows you backup and store any data or music files to this site for free if you register for it. You can pin or remove (unpin) applications as you see fit on the Dock Launcher by right clicking your mouse and clicking Unlock from Launcher.

The upper right hand corner will contain status bar information such as date/time, battery usage, wireless and wired status and the login account information. It is very similar to what you will find on the lower right hand corner for Windows 7.