Launch an application

The simplest way you can launch any program via the "start" button and selecting the application or place your like to open.

you can also launch applications and places by pressing Ctrl+Space-bar and by typing the name of the application or place "ie when you start typing chrom- instead of chrome or chromium you can launch chromium without having to finish typing the whole name of the application. (more info: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/quickly-find-search-launcher-app-synapse-ubuntu/)