How do I get to the Apps in ubuntu 12.04 unstable

WHy are you using pre-release if you are new to the OS??? Precise is riddled with bugs and feature holes and is not advised for new users. It is currently aimed at people wanting to log bugs and who can fix their own issues to get the release ready for April when it will then be officially 'stable'.

You can run apps from dash by pressing the Windows key, you can install apps using software centre.

This will help a little with your first steps but the best way to learn the OS is to use it, just as you learned windows (or whatever OS you used before)
http://ubuntu-manual.org/

Thanks alot, I have also loaded 11.10, is this stable or what would you recommend.

11.10 (Codenamed Oneiric) is the latest stable release. You will be offered to upgrade to Precise when it is available.

the 'dash' in 12.04 is even less useful than in 11.10. Ubuntu becomes less and less easy to use for a beginer, just because the apps categories and list are not easy to find.

You can hit the ubuntu icone and type some words to find and apps or clic on the bottom on the applications buttons to see apps

If you install Xfce in Ubuntu, you will not see dash or unity by default....