Favourite Freeware

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:04 am

As I have been going through the painful process of 'rebuilding' my computer I have come to realise that there is a lot of freeware/free services I really like. I'm sure everybody has a list of favourite freeware they have come to depend on or use regularly. So, I'm thinking it might be a helpful resource to pool together our discoveries and build an up-to-date list of the good stuff that is out there.

Here is mine so far:

* Adobe Reader (most people know this one, I think)

* Zip Genius (allows you to open virtually any type of compressed file)

* Open Office (basically replaces Microsoft Office)

* Avast Anti Virus (self updates at least twice a day, not a resource pig, found viruses and trojans that the big names did not, P2P protection, scans MSN/ICQ, realtime protection, email scanner, different skins)

* Microsoft anti-spyware Beta (yep, believe it or not, it's actually quite good)
* Lavasoft's Adaware
* Search and Destroy Spybot
* Spyware Blaster (doesn't actually scan, but rather, stops most of the malaware crap from installing on your machine in the first place)

* Gmail (best email I've ever used)

Tower_Master · Post by **Tower_Master** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:07 am

I'm a big fan of the downloadable Linux operating system, personally.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:26 am

Ah yes... Linux.. I am considering exploring that option.

Another one I like:
* iTunes (of all the music players I've tried this one has the best sound quality and cleanest interface)

Tower_Master · Post by **Tower_Master** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:32 am

[QUOTE=dragon wench]Ah yes... Linux.. I am considering exploring that option.

Another one I like:
* iTunes (of all the music players I've tried this one has the best sound quality and cleanest interface)[/QUOTE]

I'm a fan of iTunes, but it really takes a hit when you use it on Windows...the interface is much more streamlined on Mac.

Magrus · Post by **Magrus** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:38 am

I like those one's you've mentioned. Some I've tried, if the others are on par with those, well they're worth a try too.

Here's one, it's a little cheesy, but for those people who have a PC in their room, or ever have a need for an alarm clock on their computer. Here's a program for it!

Sometimes, when I've been drinking, I need like 2-3 different alarm clocks, this helps.

*Note: The link should open right to a download, the website is http://www.scottflute.com *
http://www.scottflute.com/AlarmClock/setup.exe

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:38 am

[QUOTE=Tower_Master]I'm a fan of iTunes, but it really takes a hit when you use it on Windows...the interface is much more streamlined on Mac.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't doubt it. Though in comparison to the other music players I have used with Windows it is still much better IMO..

In truth, I would seriously consider switching to a Mac, but there are a number of programmes I run that would not work on a Mac. *sigh* If I could afford it and had the space, I'd have one of each

Tower_Master · Post by **Tower_Master** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:45 am

[QUOTE=dragon wench]I wouldn't doubt it. Though in comparison to the other music players I have used with Windows it is still much better IMO..

In truth, I would seriously consider switching to a Mac, but there are a number of programmes I run that would not work on a Mac. *sigh* If I could afford it and had the space, I'd have one of each

[/QUOTE]

Mac's newest operating system *claims* to be completely Windows-compatible. I haven't actually read up on it, though, so...*ponder*.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:11 am

@TM.... hmmmm....

In that case, maybe when I finally replace this old beast in about a year or so.... it will be something to investigate...

* CDEX (extracts music CDs onto your hard drive, I find this one much cleaner to use than the Windows Media version)

Denethorn · Post by **Denethorn** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:23 am

Microsoft Anti Spyware is indeed brilliant

although its from Microsoft, it's the best piece of spyware removal and protection software around.

dBpower AMP by Illustrate is another great piece of freeware... 100% free and faster than any other (inc. commercial) encoder, with tons of options. Rip, encode, convert to almost any format known by Windows.Homepage

Ofcourse Firefox is a superb choice of browser... without a megalomanic corporation at the helm

.

Edit: remembered RegScrubXP... in my long, epic and ultimately vain quest to keep Windows streamlined and efficient, I have used many a registry cleaner. RegScrubXP is the easiest, smoothest and doesnt contain any of the junk you get in commercial options (like Norton System Tools or whatever it is

). It's a bit hard to locate nowerdays, but worth it.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:25 am

Few people realize that RealPlayer is freeware. You just don't get the highend features, such as access to pay-for-view tv channels, which I don't use, anyway. It's a little tough finding their freeware download, but well worth the effort.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:36 am

If we are talking browsers, then in addition to Firefox, Opera is also very good.

I think Firefox edges Opera out slightly, only because Opera's freeware version includes banner ads, and the Opera interface is a little too busy IMO. However, it is still an excellent browser choice.

Magrus · Post by **Magrus** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:56 am

I just have to vouch for dBpower AMP and CDEX myself, I've used both and both work quite well for being free.

Unfortunately most of what I use is free to me through other people, not free-ware.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 12:19 pm

My faves: Firefox, Thunderbird, Winamp, Gmail notifier, and Anti Vir Personal Edition.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:30 pm

@Luis,
so I take it Thunderbird is similar to Outlook? I have not installed MS Office, so I'm looking for a replacement. I had planned on just using Gmail, but I wouldn't mind if I had something I could access offline as well.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 2:09 pm

Off the top of my head, here is the freeware I use the most:

Firefox
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Quicktime Player
Realplayer 8 Basic
IrfanView (so I don't have to use Internet Explorer to look at image files)
Winamp v2.91 Lite
Folder Size Shell Extension (it adds an extra Properties tab to Explorer)
EditPad Classic (replaces Notepad)
AdAware SE Personal
IE-SpyAd
Bearshare (in combination with WhenURemover from Lavasoft)
TweakUI (from Microsoft)

I'd like to get a simple Alarm Clock and Time Synchonizer, but I haven't found anything suitable yet.

k1k355 · Post by **k1k355** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:55 pm

DirectX & Minesweeper.

giles337 · Post by **giles337** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:09 pm

"Hijack This" for its mal/spy/ad-ware zapping prowess

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:12 pm

[QUOTE=dragon wench]@Luis,
so I take it Thunderbird is similar to Outlook? I have not installed MS Office, so I'm looking for a replacement. I had planned on just using Gmail, but I wouldn't mind if I had something I could access offline as well.[/QUOTE]

Lets put this simple... its outlook, you can even have it like outlook, but it dont have an agenda or calendar. You can edit and send mails/contacts but you cant - yet - keep your schedule there. But they're working on that, and I guess soon I wont need Outlook for anything anymore. Bah, I barely use it anyway - I prefer my pda for keeping track of time. Or my calculator.

giles337 · Post by **giles337** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:32 pm

But who uses MS Outlook for schedules when you have MS Ssheduler anyway!???

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:56 am

[QUOTE=giles337]"Hijack This" for its mal/spy/ad-ware zapping prowess[/QUOTE]

I like "Hijack This." It's an excellent programme. Only problem is, I don't think I'm tech savvy enough to use it....

If anybody knows of any good sites out there, though, that offer straightforward information on interpretting the programme's results I'd be much obliged.