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patrick6
Phoenix
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Joined: Feb 24, 2008
Posts: 1901
Location: London, U.K.
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 Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:46 am Post subject: Essential software list |
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Here's a list of software that I consider as being essential. A lot of this software is Windows-only, but there are methods of running Windows-only software on Linux. People, let me know if you feel that there are any superior apps than the ones I've listed.
Here's my software list:
. Ad-Aware (Spyware/ad-ware removal software) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/
. Adobe Photoshop (Image software) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_photoshop/
. Audacity (Audio recording software) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_audacity/
. Bitrate Viewer (Tells you the bitrate of a DVD) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Other-VIDEO-Tools/DVD-Bit-Rate-Viewer.shtml
. Burrrn (Lossless audio burning software) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Audio-CD-DVD-Burning/Burrrn.shtml
. Ccleaner (Cleans temporary junk off your computer) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
. CDBurnerXP (CD/DVD burning suite. A great alternative to Nero) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_cdburnerxp/
. DVD Decrypter (Great DVD ripper) - http://www.soft32.com/download_75586.html
. DVD Rebuilder (Great at encoding DVDs when used in conjunction with Cinemacraft Encoder) -
http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/CD-DVD-Rip-Other-Tools/DVD-ReBuilder.shtml
. Emule (Great P2P software) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_emule/
. Exact Audio Copy (State of the art CD ripper) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-CD-Rippers-Encoders/Exact-Audio-Copy.shtml
. Foobar2000 (A light-weight music player with more features than the average player) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_foobar2000/
. Foxit Reader (Great alternative to Adobe Reader) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_foxit/
. Gimp (Great free alternative to Photoshop. It also is good to use in conjunction with Photoshop though) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_the_gimp/
. Google Earth (Neat software that allows you to look at different parts of the world) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_google_earth/
. Gspot (Lets you know what codecs you all have installed on your system. Also, it lets you know what particular codecs you need to view a certain video) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Encoders-Converter-DIVX-Related/GSpot.shtml
. Hijackthis (Great at removing spyware/adware and other annoying things that programs install on your computer without you actually wanting them) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis/
. IMGburn (Great little free program that allows you to burn image files. By the same person who created DVD Decrypter) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_imgburn/
. JKDefrag (A very light-weight defragger that does the job right) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_jkdefrag/
. Media Player Classic (A light-weight media player that works great in conjunction with FFDshow) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_media_player_classic/
. Miranda IM (An extremely light-weight instant messenger that is full of features) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_miranda/
. MIRC (A great IRC client) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_mirc/
. Mozilla Firefox (Without a doubt, the best web browser ever) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_firefox/
. Notepad ++ (An awesome alternative to the default 'Notepad' in Windows) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_notepad/
. Openoffice (An awesome office suite that is just as good, if not superior to Microsoft Office) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_openoffice/
. Paint.net (A very good alternative to the default 'Paint' that comes with Windows) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_paint.net/
. Process Explorer (Lets you do more than what 'task manager' allows you to do) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_process_explorer/
. Registry Mechanic (A state-of-the-art registry cleaner) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Registry-Tweak/Registry-Mechanic.shtml
. TCPview (A handy TCP viewer) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Network-Information/TCPView.shtml
. Utorrent (A light-weight torrent client) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_utorrent/
. Virtual Clonedrive (A great free alternative to the other image mounters) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Virtual-CD-DVD-Rom/Virtual-CloneDrive.shtml
. VLC Media Player (A good movie player that allows you to open most videos. It has it's own built-in codecs) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_vlc/
. VOBblanker (A great app that allows you to strip things from DVDs that you don't want (previews, FBI warnings, etc.) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/CD-DVD-Rip-Other-Tools/VobBlanker.shtml
. Winrar (Awesome file archiver) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_winrar/
Here are some codecs/encoders/decoders and other stuff that I recommend:
. Ad-Block Plus (A great plugin for Firefox that removes ads from the net) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/Adblock.shtml
. Adobe Flash Player (Needed for viewing flash) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_flashplayer_firefox/
. Cinemacraft Encoder (A very high-quality DVD encoder) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Codec-Packs-Video-Codecs/Cinema-Craft-Encoder-SP.shtml
. FFdshow (A Great video codec pack with essential video/audio decoders/encoders) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Codec-Packs-Video-Codecs/FFDShow-MPEG-Video-Decoder.shtml
. FLAC (Great lossless audio encoder/decoder) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-Codecs/FLAC-for-Windows.shtml
. Java (You need it to view many things on the net) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_java_runtime/
. LAME (Great MP3 encoder) - http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-CD-Rippers-Encoders/LAME-MP3-Encoder.shtml
. Quicktime Alternative (Great alternative to Quicktime Player) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_quicktime_alternative/
. Real Alternative (Great Alternative to Realplayer) - http://www.filehippo.com/download_real_alternative/
I guarantee that if you use all (or at least the software that you NEED) that I listed, you will be a much happier person. I'm certain that most of you guys already use at least half of this software, but there is still a lot of software on that list that you should check out.
I mainly compiled this list because I'm so sick of seeing people use crappy software on their computers.
(PS. I hope you guys didn't mind me posting this list. It should help a lot of you guys discover new software. Even if it only helps you discover a couple new apps, that's good enough) |
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LostInEmulation
Penguin
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 1271
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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I don't agree with listing unusable shareware like mIRC here when bersIRC and similar clients are much easier to use and less ugly.
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curiouslittleboy
Deinonychus
Joined: Jun 07, 2007
Age: 20
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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And I don't agree with using programs whose main use is theft.  |
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DevilInPgh
Raven
Joined: Aug 24, 2005
Age: 24
Posts: 119
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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| LostInEmulation wrote: | | I don't agree with listing unusable shareware like mIRC here when bersIRC and similar clients are much easier to use and less ugly. |
X-Chat FTW (yes, there's even a build for Windows).
Now, a list of equivalent apps for Macs:
. Skim: http://skim-app.sourceforge.net/ (better PDF reader than Preview or Adobe Reader)
. The Unarchiver: http://wakaba.c3.cx/s/apps/unarchiver.html (more comprehensive than BOMArchiveHelper/Archive Utility and StuffIt)
-alt.: UnRarX (for RAR packages requiring a password): http://www.unrarx.com/
. AdiumX: http://www.adiumx.com/ (supports more protocols than iChat (including MySpaceIM and GTalk), but you have to wait for the 2.0 release for A/V support. A Mac fork of the Pidgin project)
. Flip4Mac: http://www.flip4mac.com (essential for playing most .wmv or .wma files in Mac OSX (PlaysForSh*t and other DRM'ed crap still won't play, though, and I doubt they ever will))
. Transmission: http://www.transmissionbt.com/ (VERY lightweight BitTorrent client, now preferable over the bloated Vuze (formerly Azureus))
. Vienna: http://www.opencommunity.co.uk/vienna_files.php (Cocoa-native RSS reader)
. Senuti: http://www.fadingred.org/senuti/ (transfer iTunes files from iPod to computer)
. AbiWord: http://www.abisource.com/download/ (open-source equivalent to Word)
. iEatBrainz: http://www.indyjt.com/software/?show=ieatbrainz#ieatbrainz (find the names of songs that you don't know, or if you do know them, track and album info (of course, if you're using iTunes or AmazonMP3 (or even now Napster and it's DRM-free catalog), you won't need this program, right?))
. iStumbler: http://www.istumbler.net/ (find WiFi spots)
* Monolingual: http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ (yes, I'm putting an asterisk by this. If you want to get rid of foreign-language files that you're never going to use, download this and be amazed at how much space you can get off your computer. Are you ever going to use that Mac configuration in KLINGON?)
. Xslimmer: http://www.xslimmer.com/ (NOT free, but well worth the $13 license (which also allows for indefinite free upgrades). Clean your universal binaries to get rid of files that you will never run on your Intel or PPC)
. Handbrake : http://handbrake.fr/ (rip DVDs)
For other free Mac programs, google free+mac. You'll be surprised at how much comes up.
Note I didn't mention a Spyware remover in this list. There's a good reason for that.  |
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LostInEmulation
Penguin
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 1271
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| DevilInPgh wrote: |
* Monolingual: http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ (yes, I'm putting an asterisk by this. If you want to get rid of foreign-language files that you're never going to use, download this and be amazed at how much space you can get off your computer. Are you ever going to use that Mac configuration in KLINGON?) |
I occasionally have access to a Mac of someone... tell me more about the Klingon!
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I am no native speaker. Please contact me, if I made grammatical mistakes in the posting above.
GENERATION 20: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment. |
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wolphin
Velociraptor
Joined: Aug 16, 2007
Posts: 442
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:03 am Post subject: |
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| LostInEmulation wrote: | | DevilInPgh wrote: |
* Monolingual: http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ (yes, I'm putting an asterisk by this. If you want to get rid of foreign-language files that you're never going to use, download this and be amazed at how much space you can get off your computer. Are you ever going to use that Mac configuration in KLINGON?) |
I occasionally have access to a Mac of someone... tell me more about the Klingon! |
I thought he was joking...then I actually looked and sure enough, there was a klingon language set for mac os x installed!
Monolingual is pretty awesome...even if you deselect languages during install, you can still end up with some extras left over with other apps. |
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Aaron_Mason
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 04, 2005
Age: 23
Posts: 630
Location: Bathurst, Australia
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:34 am Post subject: |
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On the subject of removing unnecessary crap from your OS, there's also XP Lite (if you have XP). To remove the most crap you need to buy the full version ($40), but the speed and space benefits would far outweigh the cost. If you can get 50 friends in, you can get a licence for as little as $20... good luck with that.
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I'm the same as I was when I was six years old - Modest Mouse |
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patrick6
Phoenix
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Joined: Feb 24, 2008
Posts: 1901
Location: London, U.K.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: |
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| Aaron_Mason wrote: | | On the subject of removing unnecessary crap from your OS, there's also XP Lite (if you have XP). To remove the most crap you need to buy the full version ($40), but the speed and space benefits would far outweigh the cost. If you can get 50 friends in, you can get a licence for as little as $20... good luck with that. |
Nlite is better in my opinion. You clean the crap before installing the OS. |
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Fogman
Econo-class Iconoclast
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Age: 41
Posts: 2054
Location: SC, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: |
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Pat666rick, Emule installs new.net malware as an active componant of the free version of their software. --I highly advise against using it as a p2p filesharing client.
Here's some programs that I consider essential on my computer. (without links to pirate editions.
Adobe Photoshop (will run under WINE on x86 *NIX flavors)
Winamp (provided that you search their plugins directory for the VST hostbridge plugin, and use a decent free Parametric EQ like the Paris EQ, instead of the useless graphic EQ that ships with Winamp*)
CDEx (GNU CD ripper that utilises the LAME encoder)
Steinberg WaveLab and Cubase (Will NOT run under WINE on *NIX flavors)
Opera Web browser
Firefox Web Browser
I do NOT recommend using Audacity for audio editing, as it's quite unfunctional when it comes to serious Audio Production. Linux/MacOS users have the option of using Ardour, (google 'Ardour' for the website) as a much better alternative. --Sadly, Windows users do not have this option, unless code savvy users feel the need to hack the code, and port it to work on Windows.
* Later releases of Winamp will defeat the functionality of the Paris EQ if you levae the default 'ON' selection of the 'Audio Compression/Auto Leveling option on, turn it off, or get an older version, ( I currently use V5.24, with 'Check for New Version on Startup' deselected)
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patrick6
Phoenix
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Joined: Feb 24, 2008
Posts: 1901
Location: London, U.K.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:05 am Post subject: |
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| Fogman wrote: | | Pat666rick, Emule installs new.net malware as an active componant of the free version of their software. --I highly advise against using it as a p2p filesharing client. |
Wrong. You're thinking of Edonkey2000. Emule is, and will always be 100% clean. I've been using Emule for over 3 years now, It's great software.
Even look what Softpedia says:
"Softpedia guarantees that eMule 0.49a Final is 100% FREE, which means it is a freeware product (both for personal and commercial use) that does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors."
"This software product was tested thoroughly and was found absolutely clean, therefore it can be installed with no concern by any computer user."
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/File-Sharing/eMule.shtml
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Of course I don't have to look at Softpedia to know that it's 100% clean since I'm computer savvy. I just provided that link for people who are paranoid to install it on their systems. |
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Fogman
Econo-class Iconoclast
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Age: 41
Posts: 2054
Location: SC, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:28 am Post subject: |
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| pat666rick wrote: | You're thinking of Edonkey2000. Emule is, and will always be 100% clean. I've been using Emule for over 3 years now, It's great software.
"This software product was tested thoroughly and was found absolutely clean, therefore it can be installed with no concern by any computer user." |
My mixup then, sorry. Thanks for the link, but I have no real use for p2p clients as most of the music that I listen to is for the most part not available via p2p networks.
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"Blessed are the Distinctly Alien, for they shall inherit the Earth." -- Genesis P. Orridge |
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Encyclopedia
Raven
Joined: Apr 12, 2008
Posts: 110
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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PDF-XChange Viewer instead of Foxit Reader. Last time I checked, the Foxit Reader leaves marks on your annotations that can only be removed by buying the full version. Foxit also has slightly poorer render quality than Adobe's reader. PDF-XChage Viewer is also freeware, and doesn't have these problems. It has lots of features, but still isn't bloated like Adobe's reader.
If you really don't care about the extra features or image quality, because all you want is to be able to read PDFs, then use Sumatra Reader. It's even smaller and lighter than Foxit (and cruder I guess). It even has a portable version.
I see you mentioned Paint.NET AND Photoshop AND the GIMP. I'm not sure why you want all three, but consider Project Dogwaffle too. It's an actual painting program (for making paintings from scratch), whereas Photoshop/GIMP are more for photo editing. Photoshop/GIMP are good for modifying an existing picture, but not so good at creating a new one (even though they seem to be used for that a lot).
uTorrent is a very popular choice. It's lightweight and it works. However, if you want more features, consider Vuze, the successor to Azureus. It has a built-in video player complete with codecs, for example. You might consider it bloated if you don't want all the features though.
Other useful stuff I recommend:
http://www.spamgourmet.com/
You can only get spammed if a spammer knows your email address. If you create a new webmail accoun
I typically use Bittyrant as my bittorrent client. It's a modification of Azureus, so it isn't as light as uTorrent. Bittyrant is designed to maximize your download speed. It isn't a leech, it just gives your upload bandwidth to the fastest peers first, so you get the most download bandwidth share possible.
Winrar isn't free. If you just want to handle the most popular formats go with the freeware jZip instead (jZip uses the same engine as the open-source 7-zip, but has a nicer interface).
If, on the other hand, you want to handle every kind of format in one program, use IZArc! It can handle like, 50 different formats. And it's freeware!
I do NOT recommend Ad-Aware anymore. It used to be good, but hasn't kept up with the times. There's better free stuff out there.
Spyware Terminator, and Avast! scanner top the list. You don't need both. Avast! also includes good antivirus and anti-rootkit. You shouldn't have more than one active antivirus either (they can interfere with each other).
You need an antivirus, but there wasn't one on your "essential" list! For the commercial products, Kaspersky is probably the best at the moment, but there are free antivirus products that still work well. If you don't use Avast!, consider Avira anti-vir. It's free and has an excellent detection rate.
You didn't mention a firewall either. If you're behind a NAT you may not really need one (the router acts as a kind of firewall), however if you aren't (and you don't already have some other firewall) I would recommend Online Armor. It's free, user-friendly and includes HIPS too.
I would highly recommend Sandboxie to anyone willing to take the time to learn to use it. (it's not that hard). Sandboxie is a sandbox. It lets you isolate most applications from the rest of your system. It blocks and redirects things like disk writes and registry entries. You can safely install a program you don't trust in a sandbox. If bad stuff happens, just erase the sanbox, and all the problems go away. I always surf inside a sandbox. Even if you have the best commercial security products and always keep up with you security patches, they won't protect you from the new stuff. The so-called zero day threats. A sandbox will though.
Sandboxie is shareware. You get most of the functionality, but can't use more than one sandbox at once. Also, after about a month it will nag you. I liked it enough that I got the full version. |
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