How to run applications in Ubuntu?

[ArisVer]

12.04.3 LTS

Apart from the applications on the left and those hiding in the dashboard, I can see no other way of accessing programs. I have installed VLC and I cannot find a way to run it.

I do feel like an idiot :$

 

[stars]

Open a terminal and type vlc. If you're using a DE/WM that has a run dialog box you can type vlc there too.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Sounds like you're running Unity/Gnome3, which is kinda like Metro in win8 aka not very user friendly. You pretty much have to use the console, which is kinda annoying. If it's not too late to try another distro you could try Kubuntu or Xubuntu, or another variant. Basically it's Ubuntu but with a different desktop environment. I've used Xubuntu and Kubuntu and they're both good.

Call me old, but I like my start menu and desktop icons.

 

[ArisVer]

I understand now why some people are annoyed with W8 (never tried it, on W7 now).

I did manage to see where the applications are. Just press "a" at the search/command line of the dashboard. The system is on an old 32bit pc, installed for fun, dual boot with Vista.
I will try Kubuntu on a VM on my good computer.

Thanks for answering.

 

[FrankRamiro]

I understand now why some people are annoyed with W8 (never tried it, on W7 now).

I did manage to see where the applications are. Just press "a" at the search/command line of the dashboard. The system is on an old 32bit pc, installed for fun, dual boot with Vista.
I will try Kubuntu on a VM on my good computer.

Thanks for answering.

You don't have to install another distro ,just install

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback