Linux OS: Linux Mint (Cinnamon), Ubuntu
File manager (mainly for synchronizing files ): nemo
Avant Window Navigator: good dock
GTK+theme: Mediterranean /usr/share/themes/
Image editor : GIMP; Inkscape (vector-based);
Screen capture: Ksnapshot; (there is a default one, but not as good as this guy)
Play on Linux is required to install microsoft office under Linux OS.
TexMaker & Kile & xdvi for Latex; texlive-publishers.
Media player: always VLC
Sound recorder: audacity; Perfect and professional software for recording sound.
Gmount is for virtual cdrom iso;
Python, numpy, scipy, matplotlib… Good enough alternative for matlab
Python coding: spe / geany;
version control: git
synchronize: rsync
imagewrite for writing iso files to usb stick or CD. Very good tool
linux cinnamon support multitouch.