original thread: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=114799 This original post will be edited to account for new suggestions. Software followed by "($)" means the full version is not free. "(M)" indicates the software is available for Mac. When you post a suggestion, include why you believe its the best program and what needs it fulfills for you. Suggestions for new categories are welcome. Anti Virus Eset NOD 32 - small, low memory consumption, excellent at detecting new threats, consistently does well on independent AV tests and has a very small footprint. Kaspersky AV - consistently has among the highest detection rates in the industry and has a sig file that is updated every hour or so. Firewall Kerio Personal Firewall - low memory consumption and effective Comodo Firewall - gets good leak test ratings and doesn't eat up resources like ZA does. Also doesn't "phone home" like ZA does. It's also free. PC Tools Firewall Plus - One of the few that works on Vista. It has been so-so in the past on leak tests, but apparently the newest version does much better. It's based upon Look 'N Stop firewall's code. Look 'N Stop Firewall - A tightly-coded firewall that gets good reviews... I may try it, but haven't used it yet except in "PC Tools" form above. Browser Firefox - easy to use, millions of plugins, avoids ie intended malware Browser Plug-ins Adblock plus - elminates many ads embedded in web pages and allows user to block new ones with a simple click Adblock updater - automatically updates adblock with new updates Colorful Tabs - easy on the eyes; makes tabs different colors del.icio.us - easy access to online bookmarking site Download Status Bar - puts all firefox downloads in an easy to use bar at the bottom of the browser FasterFox - performance and networks tweaks for firefox Google Preview - shows preview screen shots when searching google or yahoo Grease Monkey - Allows custom scripts for individual sites IE Tabs - Open pages in Internet Explorer within the firefox interface Video Downloader - Pull videos off almost any webpage Music Winamp - I prefer winamp to itunes. media library is great and there are millions of other features J. River Media Center - just trying this one out today; any comments appreciated Video VLC Media player - will play anything and everything you throw at it MplayerC - alternative video player Going Abroad? Just Voip - voip calling; 1.9 cents a minute to US cells, free to US landlines. Low rates to everywhere. I signed up and they gave me four free months for calling the US. DVD Region+CSS Free - no more changing region codes on your computer. plays any disc from anywhere Password Keepers Keepass - keeps all your passwords in one file that's encrypted using strong encryption. Great since you don't have to make some easy-to-crack 8 character password your password for everything. Just dump them all into this tool and use one password to access them. It's also free. I used to use a password keeper called Oubliette, but development on it stopped, so I switched to this. Misc. (to be expanded and reorganized) WinRaR - for unzipping files Driver Max - automatically saves drivers and automatically installs them when reformatting a disc. Your Uninstaller! 2006 - removes every portion of programs. more effective than windows add/remove Mozilla Thunderbird - superb for e-mail and newsgroups Microsoft Office - The King of document processing and full of other great software AVI DivX MPEG to DVD Converter & Burner - converts all those movies you just downloaded into dvd format Alcohol 120% - creates a virtual drive Picasa2 - collect and organize photos and other media Utorrent - best torrent downloading client. lightweight SopCast - viewing tv online ConvertXtodvd - same as other converter; definitely a good alternative Google Earth - amazing program allows you to search the globe Irfan View - small client allows for quick photo viewing FoxitReader - awesome pdf viewer - much better than adobe PC Games Civilization IV - the only game I play And the reason I started this thread : what is the best personal firewall option out there?
For firewall, I dumped ZoneAlarm for N.I.S. I'm not saying it's the best but it does fine. For video player, add MPlayerC to VLC. I use VLC the few times MPlayerC doesn't work. I've avoided most plug-ins for Firefox because I don't want it using more resources. I use StarOffice and OpenOffice instead of MS Office.
I could ramble about this junk, so I'll limit it to a couple of things : Anti-virus : Kaspersky AV : consistently has among the highest detection rates in the industry and has a sig file that is updated every hour or so. Eset Nod32 : just like Kaspersky, consistently does well on independent AV tests and has a very small footprint. Firewall (depends on the OS you're using) Comodo Firewall : gets good leak test ratings and doesn't eat up resources like ZA does. Also doesn't "phone home" like ZA does. It's also free. PC Tools Firewall Plus : One of the few that works on Vista. It has been so-so in the past on leak tests, but apparently the newest version does much better. It's based upon Look 'N Stop firewall's code. Look 'N Stop Firewall : A tightly-coded firewall that gets good reviews... I may try it, but haven't used it yet except in "PC Tools" form above.
Here's a category I've found useful : Password Keepers Keepass : keeps all your passwords in one file that's encrypted using strong encryption. Great since you don't have to make some easy-to-crack 8 character password your password for everything. Just dump them all into this tool and use one password to access them. It's also free. I used to use a password keeper called Oubliette, but development on it stopped, so I switched to this.
I prefer MplayerC, and use VLC only as a last resort. The reason? Controls in full screen mode. MplayerC has them, VLC does not, or if it does, I've never been able to figure out how to enable them. Anyone know if VLC has fullscreen controls and if so how to enable them?
Firefox Entourage Photoshop Dreamweaver Word Transmit Skype Flickr Uploader iTunes Sound Studio iMovie Wiretap Pro Garage Band Digital Performer Snapz Pro Remote Desktop Adium Quicken Quick Books EvoCam QuickTime DropZip SpamSieve Those are the almost everyday programs I use.
Firefox Azureus Winamp Itunes Microsoft Office Dead AIM Skype Nero Efax Divx KliteCodec Win Rar Alcohol 120% Active PDF Irfan View
Dump DeadAIM and switch to Vario. FireFox uTorrent Windows Media Player ObjectDock Microsoft Office ConvertXtoDVD Vario NOD32 Gmail Notifier Nero
7-zip - free alternative to WinZip and WinRar, small download and easy to use MediaMonkey - powerful music tagger, can add album art to tags or folders, use info from amazon.com, reorganize file names, level volume, and a bunch more.. Daemon Tools - similar to alcohol 120% AIM ad hack - takes away all ads from AIM, and everything else that's not needed.
Game - Europa 1400 The Guild (a hidden gem, you start as a peasent, get a job, own a business, get a wife, breed children, own a house all upgradeable.. then slowly rise the ranks from peasent to king/pope/whatever.. when you die you can control your child and so on and so fourth.. graphically for what it is is awesome, seeing a medievil city forming before your eyes while you play apart is awesome) Other items p*rn Firefox Utorrent Daemon Tools Kaspersky Wireless Network Connectors Clutchfans Tab VLC Media Player SnagiT WinRAR
i work out of my house and mainly use excel for that. also have a home recording set-up so i have alot of music programs. excel itunes firefox spybot adaware sonar fruity loops acid cool edit pro winamp vst plugins rhapsody norton antivirus arcsoft photo impression and MICROSOFT PAINT FOO!!!
