[Normille]

  >The easiest and best way for you (you'll get updates through signed packages, etc) is probably to install via the Ubuntu Software Center.

Even that aspect is a confusing mess. On a Ubuntu Desktop installation, click on the 'Show Applications' icon in the dock and you'll see icons for:

* Software & Up...

* Software Upda...

* Ubuntu Software

The first two have virtually the same icon and [as per my transcription above] the names are truncated but are presumably "Software & Uodates" and "Software Update" --why two almost identical looking apps for this?

The third "Ubuntu Software" [which is the one I actually need to install 3rd party applications] isn't even visible until I scroll to the second screen of icons.

So three different apps for installing / updating software. Two of which look almost identical. And that's Ubuntu being the supposedly most user-friendly distro!