Do Some Common Work

It is really important nowadays to install apps!
Of course linux can handle this, but how?
You don't need to enter the terminal if you don't like
because Gnome Software Center let you browse and install softwares easily
looks a bit like AppStore, but for Gnome Desktop Environment (yes, Cinnamon is based on Gnome stuff, so compatible)

You have to enter your password when install apps, why?
Because this process modifies your system folder, which is dangerous.
imagine someone installing a software-based keylogger on your computer,
such spyware is not in the Gnome Software Center but remember,
Linux gives you Software installation freedom, just like Android, or a sideloadable iPhone!
You can actually install anything to your system – So protect your passwords well.

Does anyone wonder if we have something like the easy to use exe on Windows?
Well, in short answer yes.

1. AppImage
   the appimage file is exe in the common Linux world.
   It has everything you need bundled in except file paths but you do not need to worry that on mainstream GNU/Linux distros.
   You can just download an appimage file, right click and select "allow run as program", then double click!
   
2. You can run some exe actually
   with wine, a compatible layer that implements most of Windows system calls
   or specially if the executable is generated using .NET tech, you can use Mono to run it directly.
   

Specially, you might have noticed in the Gnome Software Center that
some apps have 2 installation methods, one is called Flatpak.

So yes, Flatpak is the AppStore in Linux world, the free and open version.
It is the universal way of distributing Linux softwares, portable and elegant.
It heavily uses container techniche, so much safer than system package installations.

You might have heard Snap which is removed by the Linux Mint team, that being a scam, don't use.
Snap is the GoogleStore in Linux world, with the same central and commercial flavour.

There are already plenty of apps inside Gnome Software Center, but I guess you are looking for something like MS Word right?
By default, there is no MS Office stuff, but you can use LibreOffice instead, which should be preinstalled.
For web browsing, there is Firefox, which is okey but I suggest you to instead use Floorp for modern browsing experience (flatpak version) or IceCat for FOSS experience (I'll cover that later when we settle down to terminal, not now!).
For gaming, just use Steam, you can play anything SteamDeck can play. Of course there are some Linux oriented games, like Wesnoth, which you can install as a normal software.
For input methods, do not follow online tutortials to play the terminal way, on Cinnamon, there is relevant switch in setting about this.
Well, it might take some time to find, so I hope you are not under a tight schedule!
For text editor, there is a default one which is actually good, though we would switch to Emacs later.
Plus a default pdf document viewer and a default media player, it is actually a good and complete desktop environment!

I would like to advice you to change the Privacy setting in Settings.
Also, open RedShift if you like yellower screen.

We also need… backup!

yes, open TimeShift (you would need to input password) and configure it for automatic main system snapshots.
(the only nasty thing for it is that it requires mannual exclusion of /gnu folder if you would like to use Guix Package Manager, we will cover that later)
If you have a separate hard disk for backup, nice, else just use the current disk.
Also note that Timeshift can let you recover your system without booting your computer but instead in a live environment booted from your usb, so you might want to keep the installation media somewhere findable.

Caution, we are going to enter terminal part in the next article.
But I believe you can already have a basic usable Cinnamon experience.

the basic usage includes:

1. office work
   you know, LibreOffice is the MS Office in Linux world.
   If you insist on using WPS or MS Office, it would be okey too
   Just only LibreOffice being a FOSS offer.
   
2. media stuff
   video, music, ebooks all have their way in default.
   And when they don't suit, you can install VLC for video and Calibre for ebooks.
   Yep, I don't do music stuff so no recommendation other than the Audacity for music editting.
   
3. game stuff
   there are some default games like majong or solitare, you can install more from software center.
   Steam is available and it really works, like SteamDeck.
   For strategy board game, you might want to try Wesnoth or Freeciv.
   

Well, that's it.
Hope you have a good time using your new system.
Only proceed to the next article when you are ready to explore the weird text terminal land!