Just installed Ubuntu for the first time... Is there any simple way to browse installed programs?

On Mac there is the Applications top-level folder... here I see Desktop, Documents, Downloads etc but no Apps? That'd be a good idea, no? (is there some way to create this myself?)

On Windows there is the Start menu...

Here it seems like I have to click the 'Dash Home' and then I can see 'Recent Apps' ... I can search for them (I'd rather not)

...or I can click the ruler/pencil icon at the bottom and see 'Recent Apps' and click to expand 'Installed Apps' ...ok that's all of them - is it possible to get a straight list view instead of the hard-to-scan wrapped rows?

Also, is there any way to get rid of the pointless random selection of 'Apps available for download' at the bottom?