Synapse is a good alternative for Alt + F2

Synapse is a very nice launcher, with some pretty goodies.

So, let’s list the features that are available with a standard set of plug-ins (yes, plug-ins, you heard right):

* Launch applications
* Banshee - play music in Banshee
* Execute commands (approx. “Sudo apt-get update”)
* Devhelp - search for documentation with using Devhelp
* Dictionary - finds word definitions
* Directory search - opens folders
* Gnome session - log out, shut down, restart
* Hybrid search - searches for similar files
* Rhytmbox - plays music in Rhythmbox
* UPower - lull or hibernate your computer
* Zeitgeist - Search with Zeitgeist

There is also support for those for every taste and color.
By the way, by default, it is called by Ctrl + Space.

Installing Synapse:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: synapse-core / ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade # only needed for Lucid
sudo apt-get install synapse

Since this launcher uses Zeitgeist data, it would be nice install it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: zeitgeist / ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install zeitgeist-datasource-bzr zeitgeist-datasource-emacs zeitgeist-datasource-eog zeitgeist-datasource-geany zeitgeist-datasource -datasource-rhythmbox zeitgeist-datasource-totem zeitgeist-datasource-vim

Well, for a complete blunder, we ’ll install the FTS Zeitgeist extension

For Maverick:
sudo apt-get install zeitgeist-fts-extension

For Lucid:
sudo apt-get install zeitgeist-extension-fts

Good luck in testing !!!