Getting started

A little history on my Linux experience: I have used Ubuntu before to do research work during graduate school.  I have also become quite comfortable in using Unix on my Mac (also for programming and research).  I have recently built a powerful, personal computer than I want to use to do a lot of research/computing, as well as just have some fun.  I have resisted the strong urge to turn it into a hackintosh and instead just have Ubuntu 13.10 installed.  Now the task of getting everything working the way I want is ongoing.  Here is my starting build:

Intel i7 4770K
Asrock Fatal1ty Killer
16 Gb Kingston Black DDR3
Crucial 500m 240 Gb solid state drive
EVGA 650W gold power supply
Corsair h100i CPU cooler
Corsair 500r case
Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse
Dell monitor
Rosewill AC1200UBE USB 3.0 Wireless AC1200 dual-band adapter
computer speakers

I installed Ubuntu 13.10 from a USB flash drive that I prepared on my Mac with no problem.  I also have an old, spare Apple hard drive (rebranded Fujitsu) that I pulled from my MacBook that I wanted to add for extra storage.  Life is easier if you only have the solid state drive connected when you are initially installing Ubuntu; you can then connect the other hard drives later.

Enough with the introduction...