System applications

system-config-printer

mate-system-tools (to manage users and groups, date and time, network options, services and NFS/Samba shares)

simple-scan, cheese (if you have a scanner and webcam)

axel (CLI download accelerator)

libdvdread4 (for DVD playback)

preload (memory-caching for low-memory systems)

byobu (for CLI text window management, shell multiplexing)

firmware-linux-free

fonts-croscore fonts-crosextra-caladea fonts-crosextra-carlito fonts-liberation - metric-compatible fonts with Microsoft fonts

update-notifier

mate-media-gstreamer

tlp if using a laptop

Desktop applications

brasero (CD/DVD/ISO burning), audacious (music player), sound-juicer (for CD burning, listening, ripping)

caja-image-converter

vlc, browser-plugin-vlc (media player, browser plugin)

shutter, gnome-web-photo (screenshot tool with plugin to capture entire web pages w/o scrolling)

flac (sound codec)

inkscape gimp (image editors)

audacious (audio file editor)

hplip-gui (for HP printers management, including networked scan and memory card reading)

gnome-mines gnome-hearts gnome-mahjongg aisleriot - games found in default Windows installs

solaar (for Logitech wireless mice/keyboard pairing and config management)

transmission (Bittorrent client)

torbrowser-launcher (privacy-oriented browser

keepass2 - password manager

Command line to install all at once:

sudo apt install system-config-printer mate-system-tools simple-scan cheese axel libdvdread4 preload byobu firmware-linux-free fonts-croscore fonts-crosextra-caladea fonts-crosextra-carlito fonts-liberation update-notifier mate-media-gstreamer tlp brasero audacious sound-juicer caja-image-converter vlc browser-plugin-vlc shutter gnome-web-photo lac inkscape gimp audacious hplip-gui gnome-mines gnome-hearts gnome-mahjongg aisleriot solaar transmission (Bittorrent client) torbrowser-launcher keepass2

System configuration

Plymouth with “Lines” theme (for a nice Debian logo + animation at boot)

Latest LibreOffice, youtube-dl, Linux kernel from backports

Latest Firefox following the recent re-branding

Latest kernel from backports, if needed

Automatic security upgrades (optionally, automatic upgrades for everything on stable) - unattended-upgrades package installation, followed by dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

Packages for language support (*-l10n and similar)