Install and compile

[emil.blume]

I just throw my XP to recycle bin few minutes ago, after completing an installation of base ubuntu desktop with 64 bit on a AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-52.

My question is:

Should I install applications as precompiled packages, or should I compile them for more performance?

[Pumalite]

Your best friend is Synaptic
System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager

[emil.blume]

Your best friend is SYnaptic
System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager

Are packages loaded with SYnaptic compiled on my system, or is a package installed with SYnaptic precompiled?

[Pumalite]

Here you go:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto

[Yannick Le Saint kyncani]

Yeah, you should install them from the official repositories, so that things work, so that dependencies are automatically managed, security updates are handled to some extent, upgrades from hardy to intrepid are managed, you don't loose your time and cpu cycles compiling programs, you can come here and ask for help if you have any trouble, ...

[Pumalite]

Check this too:
http://www.unix-tutorials.com/go.php?id=861

[emil.blume]

Here you go:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto

The question is:

Should I use source packages and compile them or schould I use binary packages?

To use a Tool like SYnaptic is not really a problem to me.
I'am more interested to have performance.

[Pumalite]

Compiling from source is left as a last resort. Synaptic gives the best performance. If you want to compile your own kernel; then start compiling.