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Must-Have Programs (or Applications or Utilities if you want to call them that)
and a bunch of other free files
The following list of programs are my picks. Most of them are free downloads from the internet. Use Google and search for them. If you can't find them, send me an email. Things change and this list is a thing, so I'll try to keep it updated.
Internet Browsers and Plug-Ins
Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. IE 8 is available. It's supposed to display
web pages according to web standards, but I wonder about that.
IE 6 is really bad. It is not very secure and doesn't display many web pages properly.
IE 7 is better and now there is 8 with other problems.
One would think Microsoft would be much better at this simple stuff.
Download Mozilla's Firefox internet browser.
This is the browser you want. I think it's great. They have some really cool plug-ins available on third-party sites
(see below for my favorites).
Browser Plug-Ins and Add-Ons
Xmarks - I highly recommend this add-on for all browsers. Install if you use multiple computers. Install it on all of your computers. Select a username and password. A copy of your bookmarks (FireFox) or favorites (IE) will be stored up in the clouds somewhere. When you log onto your different computers, all of the bookmarks and/or favorites will be the same (synchronized). Very cool!
FireFTP - If you use FireFox and need a great FTP program, this is it.
Another great plug-in.
It's really easy to use and fast. . .and they have a cute logo.
Locationbar - This plug-in puts emphasis on the domain name in the URL address.
Helps to reduce the risk of spoofing.
Last Tab Close Button - This plug-in adds the close button (little red X) to the last tab.
Makes all the tabs look the same with the close button.
end of Browser Plug-Ins and Add-Ons
Misc Stuff
Adobe Reader for reading pdf files.
Everybody needs this program! Adobe Reader 9 is getting really big. 8 is better.
There is a browser plug-in also.
Adobe Flash player for playing Flash videos
Everybody needs this program!
Adobe Shockwave player for playing Shockwave movies
You may not need this program.
Sun Microsystems Java plug-in for all browsers.
Everybody browser needs this plug-in! Don't disable yours.
You won't see half the stuff on the web without this.
Boycott MS Office and use Open Office.
It's supposed to be pretty good and supports MS Office documents.
FontExpert from Proxima Software is a fantastic font manager if you cough up the $59 they want.
Process Explorer (free from sysinternals.com) - This is a great replacement for the Windows task manager. It's an executable program that does not need to be installed
AlphaClock
- Here we have a really nice task bar clock that's completely customizable.Here's a shot of my clock. Has everything right there without hovering.
Convert (download from here) - This little stand-alone program will convert anything to anything. Really! Well, it'll convert things like feet to meters and gallons to liters and a whole lot more.
File Manipulation
WinRAR (not free) - gotta have this if you want to unpack a .rar file
SuperFlexible File Synchronizer (from superflexible.com) (not free, but...) - the name says it all
Bulk Rename Utility (free from bulkrenameutility.co.uk) - very powerful bulk file renaming utility
Revo Uninstaller (free) - Windows Remove Programs sucks. Revo will completely uninstall programs and remove all traces of it
Media and Image
VLC Media Player (free from videolan.org) - this thing will play your movies
MP3 Gain (free) - sets the maximum volume of mp3 files - I run this on all mp3 files
PIXresizer (free) - resize pictures before emailing them
FastStone Image Viewer (free from faststone.org) - maintains the storage of images and pictures
Easy Thumbnails (free from fookes.com) - make any size smaller images from bigger ones with many options
PrintKey (not Pro) (free) - simple screen print utility (ver 4 is an executable file, no installation)
Just Color Picker (free from annystudio.com) - the name says it all
Volumouse (free from nirsoft.net) - volume control using the mouse scroll wheel
XMPEG - (free) convert a DVD movie into a approx. 5 times smaller avi file
Hemera NetGraphics Optimizer for HP (free with old HP scanner) - simple little executable
Lotsa Free Files Available on the Net
theFreeSite.com
Lots of Free files
tucows.com
A very nice collection of free Internet software
cnet download.com
A wide variety of business, personal, internet, utilities and more downloads
downloads.zdnet.com
Ziff-Davis software download site
htmlValidator.com
Verify and clean up your HTML web page code