Essential Apps

[Mars]

I have recently purchased a new hard drive, and I am trying to compile a list of some applications or programs to start me up.

So far I have:

-uTorrent
-Skype
-Firefox
-Media Player Classic
-Combined Community Codec Pack

Yes I know, this list very lacking. Any suggestions as to what programs I should install?

 

[Bob Evil]

WinRAR or 7zip ... take your pick, though 7zip has better compression.

ImgBurn ... I love it ... burns every damn thing I try it with.

OpenOffice.Org ... very nice for all your wordy/spreadsheety/whatever needs.

 

[DarkUli]

CCleaner maybe?

 

[Bob Evil]

CCleaner maybe?

Yeah, I have that, too ... it's pretty good.

 

[jalapeno]

-Kazaa Lite Codec Pack

-Apps that dont drain the Computer>

-Foobar2000 [music]
-Opera
-uTorrent

 

[Mars]

WinRAR or 7zip ... take your pick, though 7zip has better compression.

ImgBurn ... I love it ... burns every damn thing I try it with.

OpenOffice.Org ... very nice for all your wordy/spreadsheety/whatever needs.

Oh, I forgot all about 7-zip. I'll certainly be using it. As for the other two programs, I'll check them out.

QUOTE(jalapeno @ Apr 2 2008, 02:39 AM) -Kazaa Lite Codec Pack

-Apps that dont drain the Computer>

-Foobar2000 [music]
-Opera
-uTorrent

Thanks, I've been looking for a music player that doesn't use much resources. I prefer Firefox over Opera despite it takes up much more RAM.




CCleaner also seems to be a very useful app. It'll help clear up my hard drive.
Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[rhyguy]

trillian/miranda im

 

[Jackreyes]

VLC seems to work pretty good and plays everything I want it to.

 

[MaelstromVale]

Off the top of my head, other than those previously mentioned:
Daemon Tools
MagicISO
PowerISO (for the rare pain in the ass torrent)
Unlocker
Spybot
JoyToKey
SpaceMonger
Emulators (your pick really)
I usually install Nero even if just for the disc analyzer.
I also always have Cave Story and a thinstalled copy of System Shock 2 on my hard drive at all times

 

[- Wrath of God -]

trillian/miranda im

Ugh. No! Pidgin FTW!

Also,
Daemon Tools
CloneDrive (for opening up .bin files) (does not work in vista)
VLC media player
iTunes (if you have an iPod)

That's all I can think of for now.

 

[laminaatplaat]

VLC makes you forget codec problems

Launchy

 

[Doggy124]

NOD32 (or other anti-virus)

 

[Nonuser]

Rainlendar!

It's essential!

 

[The Teej]

Spybot - Search and Destroy
AdAware
FRAPS (If you're a gamer)
Watchdog
Notepad 2 (fantastic general purpose/programmer notepad tool)

I can't really add much more other then stating whats already been said.

 

[lagman]

http://users.forthnet.gr/pat/efotinis/programs/deskpins.html

DeskPins can be used to make any application topmost, that is, to keep it above all other windows.

I can't imagine my life -or work- without, maybe vista comes already with something like that, I have no idea.

 

[Volsfan91]

explorer.exe

 

[moozxy]

Launchy!

 

[cory1492]

Some utils I have found indispensable... only a couple of these run all the time, and they are small while they do so.
FileMenu Tools
Spybot S&D
RegAlyzer (same place as S&D)
Unlocker
Sysinternals (multiple apps) (Process Monitor and ProcessExplorer are handy, one even replaces the ctrl-alt-del/task manager well)
hashtabs
If your running XP (not sure how many of these will work with vista btw) you might consider tweakui

I like my firefox, mainly because of extensions like ad block plus, sage, noscript, scribefire and a few others - though it is definitely a crashy somewhat hoggish app on it's bad days.

And, when all is said and done, for getting rid of the stuff you decide you don't need...
Revo Uninstaller

But ultimately, one should seriously consider something like this, instead

edit:/
moozxy, thanks for bringing that up - definitely a great little app (launchy)

 

[- Wrath of God -]

Here's another app that I'm sure not many of you are familiar with, although it can get annoying under the right circumstances. Enso

 

[Urza]

Here's another app that I'm sure not many of you are familiar with, although it can get annoying under the right circumstances. Enso

I dropped Launchy for Enso a few months ago. Keystrokes definitely feel more natural, and the additional add-ons really add some well-integrated features.

Downside is that its no longer being actively developed by the creator, but was released as open-source a few days ago, so hopefully someone will pick it up.