Just installed ubuntu on my box recently, found it better than windows 7.
Package I installed as below (will keep updating, ~cheers~) :

1. Skype
   sudo add-apt-repository “deb http://archive.canonical.com/ $(lsb_release -sc) partner”
   sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install skype
2. Skype chinese character input (credited to mrxuri.com)
   sudo apt-get install ibus ibus-qt4 ibus-gtk
   sudo vim /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/default
   Then paste the text  into editor, save it and restart machine
3. ISync (Google drive replacement)
   sudo apt-add-repository ppa:trebelnik-stefina/insync
   sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install insync-beta-ubuntu
4. Cairo Dock (Mac OS X looks dock)
   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cairo-dock-team/ppa
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install cairo-dock cairo-dock-plug-ins
5. Compiz Manager (Desktop effect)
   sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
6. Screensaver 
   sudo apt-get purge gnome-screensaver
   sudo apt-get install xscreensaver xscreensaver-gl-extra xscreensaver-data-extra
   sudo gedit /etc/xdg/autostart/screensaver.desktop
   (Paste 4 lines below and save the file)
   [Desktop Entry]
   Name=Screensaver
   Type=Applicaton
   Exec=xscreensaver -nosplash
7. Synaps (Dash of unity)
   sudo apt-get install synapse
8. Classic menu in Unity desktop (Since unity desktop does not have programs menu)
   sudo apt-add-repository ppa:diesch/testing
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install classicmenu-indicator
9. English to Chinese dictionary
   sudo apt-get install dict-stardic
10. Cinnamon 1.8 desktop environment
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gwendal-lebihan-dev/cinnamon-stable
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install cinnamon nemo
11. StarDict (Chinese – English) dictionary
    Download and install StarDict here
    Download dictionary file here and untar it to /usr/share/stardict/dic/
12. GDebi (install *.deb package with dependency management)
    sudo apt-get install gdebi-core
13. Media Codec
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gstreamer-developers/ppasudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install gstreamer1.0*
14. Unity tweak tool
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:freyja-dev/unity-tweak-tool-dailysudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install unity-tweak-tool
    Or download here
15. Chinese input
    Refer here for more info
16. If wine does not show Chinese application font properly
    Run : export LANG=zh_CN.UTF-8 before run wine xxxx.exe
17. Install OpenOffice
    Download deb package here
    tar -vxzf filename (unzip it)
    sudo apt-get remove –purge libreoffice*  (uninstall pre-installed libre office)
    sudo dpkg -i *.deb (cd to unzipped dir and install deb package)
    cd desktop-integration (cd to dir mentioned for menu integration)
    sudo dpkg -i *.deb