Ubuntu makes things even easier than winblows, but sometimes you still have to make an effort to research and read
how to install and use various applications.
About five messages back you were given a link that will take you directly to the Picasa for Linux download page.

http://picasa.google.com/linux/

If you click on that long dark blue "button" with the white print that says, "Download Picasa 3 for Linux (beta)"
you will be taken to page where you will get detailed instructions.
Doesn't get any easier than that.
Good luck.

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Yes I downloaded that but then could not get it to work infact I could not find a functioning picasa icon just a lot of files when I clicked the picasa icon it was just the photo.. but I'm going to try it all again

Did you try to actually install the DEB file you downloaded? This is very similar to those MSI files you usually get for installing into Windows. Windows uses CAB compaction, but in DEB it's usually something like TAR+GZip. It's simply an archive containing the program files and any settings that need changing - together with a script to install it. The DEB/RPM's have the added feature (unlike Windows's MSI) to check if any required other programs/libraries are already installed - which it will then go and search for if they're not there yet. This is usually what's meant by Linux is easier to install than Windows - in win you have to go search for all kinds of DLL's if they're not packaged into that MSI, the DEB/RPM simply lists which are required.

Just a quick screen capture after I've downloaded the correct file for my distro: Mine's Ubunto 10.10 32 bit, so I downloaded the one for Debian/Ubuntu i386. If you have 64bit then use the one for amd64. Or if you have RedHat/Fedora/etc. (either 32/64 bit then get the rpm file instead of the deb): http://picasa.google.com/linux/download.html

Save it somewhere, Fire Fox usually saves it direct to your Downloads folder. If you don't know where that is, you can always right-click on the file in FireFox's downloads window (in FF go to Tools-->Downloads) and then select "Open containing folder". This should open a folder browser where that file was saved. Usually a DEB file will automatically open in the Software Center, but I'm showing how you can make sure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvZ31fTkNyI

The best s/w firewall I knew in 11 years under M$window$ was
Kerio Personal Firewall v.2.15 (formerly Tiny P.F.).
It demonstrated to be more stable, effective and easy then others.
Its managing i/f is similar to that of h/w firewalls, and the very best features are the learning function, and the ability to attribute a filtering rule to a specific program. These mainly lack in UFW and WatchGuard..If a good willing programmer decide to apply those feature to these Linux FWs, would be a great stuff.

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I must say the help I'm getting is great for linux , but.. all the abrevs are confusing and I don't have problems downloading programs to windows!i've never heard of MSI or cab! you just follow the "prods"

I will try and follow your instructions although it does seem long winded I've used all versions of windows over the last twenty years and had loads of issues but putting new software on is not an issue right now.

This forum's thread has grown so much....
So would be better to split it in s/w categories like Network, Internet, System, Acessories etc.. ? It will make an easier way to search and read items

thank you

By MSI I simply mean the install file's extension. It actually comes from MicroSoft Installer. Some programs in win comes with an EXE file instead, though that's not the "officially recommended" way of installing on Windows - it's more like running a program which creates an installation.

The reason you seldom find "problems" with installs on windows is that the creators of these programs know that there's going to be problems if some files aren't already on your system - so they generally include those files inside the MSI/EXE they create. Sometimes this can't be done due to licensing issues though, that's when a system like with Linux is a bit more "easy" to use: It'll simply list this package needs program X and library Y to run. Then the Software Center (or whatever your Linux is using) will search for such on already installed, if not then it'll search the repository and download (you don't even need to know where to get it). I've had some issues on Windows with some programs requiring DirectX 11, and me only having 9 installed. And more recently DotNet3.5 where I only had 2.0. Had to google to find those installers and install them manually - this wouldn't have been the case in Linux.

The DEB and RPM are also simply the extensions of those files. Showing that they are one of the Linux installation packages. You get several others as well, e.g. Android uses APK, and Apple uses DMG. They all do basically the same thing, package the software into one file for easy download & install. Some just go a bit further.

It's no great difference, and if you stick to only the stuff inside the "App Store" or whatever it's called on your system, you'll probably not even see these extensions at all.

As to splitting this thread ... that may be a good idea. I just think it might be an enormous task!

Agreed. The developers were not "in bed" with mickeysoft and it will even tell you when winblows (or any other program) is trying to "call home," and then you can set a rule to stop all future calls.
Worked great with Xp. I don't know if it works with vista or winblows 7.

NP. Alternatively you can use Shotwell Photo Manager, which I actually personally prefer to Picasa. It has most of all the same tools and even lets you upload your photos to your Picasa account.

Picasa? i installed wined version that worked fine on linux platform(i think it was official wined version from google).

My list
#1 Photoshop (however i find it irritating last time that i not found Crete layer from file in PS as i do in GIMP) well actually i need spend time to make it work under wine (RDC pia currently)
#2 Authodesk Maya ... hmm on other hand Blender is quite maturing... ehh how i miss metacreations software.. Bryce..
#3 Notepad++ same, in wine it works but native port is a lot better
#4 ! WebGL + HTML5 WYSIWYG editor.. !!! that's hot there is already some HTML5 web editors but somewhat limited.
#5 Coding IDE actually monodevelop/Eclipse is pretty good but need far more UI development/features work
Actually im pretty happy with mine linux work + ms gaming setup.

Maya does have a linux port-

http://usa.autodesk.com/maya/system-requirements/

You guys have been very helpful and I do thank you for trying.. but I gave up ,, i found it very difficult as i could not find a terminal window etc etc.
will try again next year.

what i found: If you're using a recent version of Linux,( I installed 1 month ago ) you should be able to pick "Open With Default Application" or double-click on the downloaded .deb file to install.

If that doesn't work, save the file in the /tmp directory, then open a terminal window and install with a command like

$ sudo dpkg -i /tmp/picasa_2.7.3736-15_i386.deb

or

$ su
# dpkg -i /tmp/picasa_2.7.3736-15_i386.deb
# exit

Starting Picasa
Start Picasa by looking in your Linux distribution's Graphics menu. If you can't find it there, give the command /usr/bin/picasa in a terminal window.

Tips

This package is only for 32-bit Debian / Ubuntu systems. If you are using 64-bit Debian / Ubuntu, please install the 64-bit .deb package.
If you use NFS, when Picasa first starts, click File / Add Folder. Unselect your NFS shares from the watched list. Otherwise Picasa can get bogged down scanning all your network directories!
To get Picasa to see pictures on your hard drive, click "File / Add Folder" (NOT "Import").
When adding a folder to Picasa, the default action is to remove the folder from Picasa. You have to actively choose Scan once or Scan always.
Picasa is not supported over remote X

Textpad from www.textpad.com I found to be a more complete editor I used under Windows for years. I would gladly pay the price. It is not expensive.

I would love to see a decent sound recorder, which would record any sound coming from my Sound Card. The one in Gnome 2.? doesn't work at all. Yes, I can get sound but, no record.
Using, Ubuntu 10.04 LTS with Gnome 2.30.2 - 32bit. I would appreciate any advise or information. I have already checked to see if anything was muted; nothing but microphone.

Thanks, Popatop

You should have a look at Audacity, may be that is what you want.

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