|
Viewed 2672 times. 2 people liked this blog. You can rate it below if you haven't already.
-->
I'm currently in the process of reformatting my laptop and reinstalling windows xp and all of my software. I finished the format/install OS part of the job last night and plan on getting started on setting up windows how I like it and getting all my apps up and running tonight and over the next few days. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to see if anyone has any essential Windows software (musical or non-musical) I should check out. I'm just looking for recommendations of little tools that make life easier, or make your computing experience more pleasant. Or programs that you just can't live without. Preferably freeware/shareware/donationware, but anything else is great as well.
I know, I know, OSX! (already have an OSX system, thanks) ...or Linux! (tried it, may come back to it eventually), right thanks, that's out of the way.
Here's a couple tools I've found that I love and absolutely MUST install on any windows computer...
Coolmon (www.coolmon.org) - a system stats tool that's simple, unobstrusive, and customizable. there's a new version in development, but it's difficult to use right now, so i'm sticking with the original.
Folder Size (http://foldersize.sourceforge.net ) - a shell extension that allows you to see folder size in the detail view in explorer. not sure why this isn't part of windows to begin with, but it's definitely handy.
So what have you got? What's essential on Windows these days?
| |
Comments
07/06/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
deltasleep
FLStudio 6
Ad-Aware
Trillian
Winamp
Winrar
those are the first things I put on my new computer.
edited: Jul 06 2006
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
tantan
Google Desktop - their local search utility is teh shizz
spyware doctor, if you don't mind subscribing to a virus / adware service, easily the best of the pay-for-play cleanup tools
Knights of the Old Republic 
07/06/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Zanf
AVG from free.grisoft.com - free anti virus.
spacemonger
daemon tools for mounting disk images
tweakUI powertoys from M$
Firefox & thunderbird & shedloads of extensions
GAIM [rather than trillian]
winamp
VLC player
NFO viewer
07/06/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
airliner
hey zanf - what are the upsides of GAIM? i've looked at it, but haven't really seen the appeal or superiority yet. on the IM subject, anyone have any thoughts on miranda IM? seems ok, but the installation/customization process seemed waaaay more complicated than it needed to be last time i looked.
edited: Jul 06 2006
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Zanf
I did used to use Trillian on Xp but then where Ive been using Linux for the past couple of months, Ive got very aquainted with GAIM.
Not sure of any great benefits except I am aware of some of the actions of people I chat to. I get notifications of how long they have been idle, if they close the chat window, if they are typing - I know you have this with trillian but if the other person started to type something then stopped, it wopuld look like they were continuing to type. With GAIM, its works entirely on active keystrokes. If they stop typing - it shows that.
Also I have downloaded a plugin that does RSA encryption - havent used it yet but no chat apart from skype chat [akaik] encrypts the text.
link <= GAIM [look for windows port on menu]
link <= encryption plugin
07/06/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
papergoose
zonealarm free.
fl studio.
vice versa (for backups, DO IT.)
quicktime alternative.
07/06/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
airliner
mm, backups....i've been doing them manually, but i've also lost two hard drives in the last couple of years. probably time for a better solution, eh?
07/06/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Dozius
airliner said: "on the IM subject, anyone have any thoughts on miranda IM?"
I use miranda, if you don't like fiddling with things then it's not for you. If your a total feature nazi and hate IM software that comes with six billion super happy fun smiley vid easy candy instant features that you can't disable then it might be worth a look. It's continually being developed and the core and plugin system appeals to someone like me that would rather add features when I need them and have full control over them. Took me maybe an afternoon to get it up and running, looking and functioning the way I want and it was totally worth it.
Although, there's plans for a new 'official' build this month so if you wait til that comes out then you can download the installer and get all the new features already packaged and stable.
some stuff that hasnt been mentioned
foxit
spybot
jv16 power tools
unlocker
and if your into graphics
gimp
inkscape
I did all my system tweaks by editing the registry so I dont know how good any of those tweak programs are but if you go here you can find some interesting things. Especially the little shell object creator to make icons on your desktop that are multi-functional.
edited: Jul 07 2006
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
relcad
Slick Run cuts out a lot of mouse clicks and start => run etc. when i'm developing - also helps me keep my desktop clean
link
if you run multiple monitors, ultra mon is the bomb (gives you a task bar on each monitor among other things) - 40 bucks tho
link
MIDI Yoke link or LoopBe link allow you to route MIDI out of your DAW and back into it or to other DAWs
07/07/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
dynamo
SyncBack for backups link
07/07/06
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
rivot
5:37pm
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
airliner
relcad: ultramon is fucking awesome! thanks for the link to that one. it's like all the stuff that microsoft SHOULD have thought of for multiple monitor users.
Register / login
|
^
EM411 is Copyright 2001-2008 EM411.com
All rights reserved. | Contact | RSS
|
