One thing I love about Linux/Ubuntu is its absolute extensibility. One easy way to extend the functionality of Nautilus (the standard file browser in Ubuntu) is to add scripts for added functionality. There are a few scripts (also called addons or extensions) in Synaptic – just go to System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager and search for Nautilus addon or extension. You can also find a wealth of scripts at G-Scripts and you can download a 125 of Nautilus scripts at one time. There’s also an article that explains how to use the scripts. You can also write your own scripts to help you automate your most common tasks.