Must Have Software

[Ytoojae]

Okay....

My partner has a newish computer and as I just got back from the USA I'm starting over.

What is considered "must have" software. There was another forum that used to keep a nice list but it hasn't been updated in over three years so is horribly out of date and the forum is basically dead so it's no use starting this thread again there.

So, what's must have software - or the best of the web.

I'll start with the obvious;

1 - Firefox -- web browser
2 - Dreamweaver -- website design
3 - Photoshop -- photo editing

I'll add and categorize people's suggestions.

 

[omit]

cd/dvd burning - Nero (PC) or Toast (Mac)

 

[mdc]

cd/dvd burning - Nero (PC) or Toast (Mac)

Only if you get 6 or older, and even then, I much prefer ImgBurn.

Plus, on newer DVD writers you'll be able to drag and burn without installing anything.

 

[THRILLHO]

I'd use Opera, not Firefox.

 

[yeah_okay]

Video - VLC Media Player
Audio (.mp3) - itunes
Audio (.flac) - Foobar2000
Torrents - utorrent
Streaming program for PS3 - PS3 Media Server

My two cents,

 

[HarryTiger]

A codec pack so you can watch your movie downloads.

Nero truely is crap, it's winning bloatware awards now. Can't believe they let it become what it has.... click click click click click click click click and it still installs like 200MB.

 

[Donakebab]

WinRAR is an absolute necessity!

On fresh installs all my PC's have these as a must.

Firefox
VLC
Winamp (All you haters stfu, oldskool but still the best!)
Skype
Malwarebytes
NOD 32 (Kapersky keys suck)
NewsLeecher

 

[Tiger_Stripes]

I used this site when I did a fresh Windows 7 install, best part is, it only promotes free software so you won't be spending an arm and a leg for an identical (and sometimes better) product: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/top-freeware-picks-category-editors.htm

Basically, it's a giant list of all the best freeware on the web, found some real gems actually.

 

[sgPanther]

I wouldn't get a codec pack these days. I'm not sure if they're still full of junk like they used to be but they aren't needed. Get VLC and it will handle all the codecs already.

Also a nice place to go with any fresh windows install is download.live.com to get a bunch of free microsoft stuff.

And lastly, a nice website to find good programs is alternativeto.net. Just type in the program you like and it will list down a heap of alternatives to it and give other's opinions on which is best.

 

[swaneagle24]

NOD 32

+1 for that

 

[Donakebab]

I used this site when I did a fresh Windows 7 install, best part is, it only promotes free software so you won't be spending an arm and a leg for an identical (and sometimes better) product: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/top-freeware-picks-category-editors.htm

Basically, it's a giant list of all the best freeware on the web, found some real gems actually.

I thought all software was free?