Ask dotTechies: What is your favorite freeware software?
May 30, 2010 128
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In the huge world of software, there is a huge difference between paid-for software and freeware software. However, in each realm there are massive, headache-inducing numbers of choices and qualities. Free software is probably the second most popular thing to review on dotTech–there are 135 articles on them as of the time of writing this! After all, free things are a lot of time really great (although some times, they’re just worse as opposed to being bad). Today, I ask you on Ask dotTechies, what is your favorite piece of freeware software?
If I had to choose one or two, I’d say that my favorite would have to be either GIMP or Firefox. With GIMP, it’s like I don’t have to pay for Photoshop (although it is completely different in how you use it, it has the same basic functionality if you spend enough time learning it)! However, without Firefox I’d have to use Google Chrome or another browser.
Like the two of the last three Ask dotTechies, there is no poll for this thread; rather please share your input via the comments below: what is your favorite piece of freeware software?
About the author: Locutus View all posts by Locutus
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100th commenter! :D
1. Win Utilities
2. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
3. Puran Defrag
4. Google Chrome
5. Clean Mem
6. Ccleaner
7. REAL Player
8. Revo Uninstaller
9. Vista Switcher
10. Winsplit Revolution
…and 15 other programs or so. :P
~Joji~
In no particular order – except alphabetical:
- CCleaner
- Deflaggler
- EASEUS Partition manager
- FastStone Viewer
- FormatFactory
- ImgBurn
- Iobit’s ASC
- JV16 Tools
- Returnil
- Revo uninstaller
- VLC Player
- WinDirStat
JL
First, I get the choice between Ubuntu (installed via Wubi) and WinXP (with Emerge Desktop shell, and built-in add-ons MS forgot)
And then, on top of my head:
Comodo Firewall, Avast!, Spyware Terminator, Ad-Aware, Spyware Blaster, Spybot, MalwareBytes, HijackThis, NetMeter, PeerBlock
FireFox + Google apps
ThunderBird + Lightning
OpenOffice + WordNet, Lingoes + o3Find WinGUI
Erunt, cCleaner, CodeStuff Stater, Revo, Recuva, Sysnternals collection
HotKeyP, Q-dir, Everything, Syncback, MozBackup, 7-zip, WinCDemu
VLC, xnView, ImageSorter
Are we there, yet? More later. . . . (wink)
classic startbar
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/gallery.html
Allway Sync
Fast and smart file/folder/disc synchronization
and I love the portable version – great for flash drives and it’s fully functional for use sychronizing your hard drive folders without any installation. Lots of options.
I like those ones most:-
1. VLC
2. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
3. Puran Defrag
4. Firefox
5. Clean Mem
6. CCleaner
7. REAL Player SP
8. Revo Uninstaller
9. Skype
10.Recuva
11.7-Zip
12.Picasa
Me.Ri.Quota 1.8 – It’s never failed me yet:)
What is it???????
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/Me-Ri-Quota.shtml
Freeware is a frequently misused term and could mean different to different people.
Freeware, in my opinion, is free software (preferably within a GNU public license), and ..
* should not be a crippled trial/demo
* there should no nag screens
* definitely no adware/spyware/scumware
* it must have decent features which users would love and would not mind paying a few dollars to support the developers of the freeware for their excellent (and often undervalued) efforts!
The freeware that I definitely can as my favorites are th0se free software that I use the most often due to their inherent strengths, or are innovative and unique to stand out from the crowd of s0-called freeware.
And without further ado, here’s my must-have list (no particular order, just grab them all):
Avast
Microsoft Security Essentials
WinPatrol
Comodo
Firefox, G00gle Chrome, IE8, Maxthon
Everything
Open Office
CCleaner
Defraggler
JkDefrag
AutoHotkey
KMPlayer
Skype
HijackThis
Secunia Personal Inspector
FileHippo Update Checker
Format Factory
Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
SysInternals Suite (especially Autoruns and
Spyware Blaster
WordWeb
XNView
IZ-Arc
7-Zip
AudioGrabber
Revo Uninstaller
ZSoft Uninstaller
Recuva
Google Picasa
ImgBurn
Partition Wizard
Total Copy
TeraCopy
RocketDock
Notepad++
Paint.NET
Putty
WireShark
jv16 Powertools Lite
Lookout (Outlook Search plugin)
SandboxIE
Agent Ransack
Launchy
KeePass
Foxit PDF Reader
Hitman Pro
Q-Dir
PicPick
Free Download Manager
UltraVNC
VMWare Player
VirtualBox
SIW (System Information for Windows)
Allway Sync
xplorer² free
DropBox
PowerPro
doPdf
TrueCrypt
Mmm
FileMenuTools
Peerblock & uTorrent
Nirsoft Utils
Pitaschio
EverNote
People must not download from those file storage sites a whole lot otherwise they would mention JDownloader.
With JDownloader, you never have to directly mess with those file sharing site links again while downloading (stuff like Megaupload, RapidShare, etc). It has a database of hundreds and hundreds of those sites, updated regularly. I love the program. I download game mods (mostly driving sims) and other types of files that are shared on those types of sites (karaoke) and JDownloader makes it really easy. It automatically monitor those “countdowns” for you, and even prompts you for passwords and capchas. It’s just an awesome program- Download files off fileshares would be so fussy without it.
Another program is Fences, the free version from Stardock. It did wonders for the desktop for my HTPC. Cleaned up all those icons and made the desktop attractive and functional. My friends kept asking me how did I “made the icons do that” or “is it another operating system” after seeing it. When you arrange things correctly with Fences, everything looks good and works great on the desktop.
Hi Ashraf,
Is there any chance you could post a list of some of the programs people have mentioned?
Foolishly I didn’t make a note of those that others have mentioned and now the first 100 posts have been removed.
I always discover great programs when you ask people for suggestions.
Thanks.
@A. S.:
You snapped me out of my procrastination, when you said -
THE FIRST 100 COMMENTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
I was going to swear, profusely.
But I didn’t have to, because you will find there is a link at the bottom, where you can go back (in jumps of 50) to earlier postings.
But you do raise a good point -
It would be great if someone could build up a grid, with programs across the top, and post numbers down the side.
That way we can firstly check the totals at the bottom, and then work down the list to read comments(find their post number) that the members made.
Would be nice if the most popular programs’ columns were starting from the left.
If that is too daunting, to build in a web page, perhaps an excel spreadsheet could be available for downloading.
Rob (aka Lazy Bas…d)
.
@Jharel:
I have Orbit downloader installed.
I was attempting to download a difficult to get video, and that was why I installed Orbit.
Recently I was downloading some really large files for a neighbor.
They were going to take many hours, so I canceled, and right clicked to tell Orbit to handle them. They downloaded in 25% of the time (4 times quicker).
I guess that ability is available in JDownloader
Could you elaborate a bit more on the other benefits of JDownloader
Thanks,
Rob
Sorry, I’ve seen “Older Comments” numerous times and yet it hasn’t registered with me what it means. I guess they haven’t been removed. My brain needs rebooting at times.
@Jharel: That JDownloader program sounds good. I also download a lot of mods, especially for the racing sim rFactor, so JDownloader could help.
Thanks for the info.
@A. S.: http://cogizio.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2010/06/totals.html
:D
Thanks Locutus, for the list.
That allowed me to see that no one has recommended Puppy Linux LiveCD
For those looking to try Linux, painlessly, you must try it -
- It loads into memory(small memory usage), and runs from there.
- The CD can be removed, and the CD drive is available whilst still in the session.
- It easily identifies, and ‘Loads’ (shows) all the internal and external drives.
- It is a friendly OS to use (for those lacking Linux experience, eg me).
- When you are getting used to it (playing with it), and fine tuning it (or adding programs), you can RETAIN ALL of that.
As you exit your session, it offers to save it ALL for you, and all you have to do is plug in a thumb drive, and it will create the file, that will remember all of your settings, etc.
Even those that hate the thought of Linux, will love it.
It is Brilliant.
I would go for version 4.3.1
There is a version 5 out now, called Lucid, but I suspect it is still a wee bit beta.
@RobCr: Puppy Linux FTW.
LiberKey
@RobCr: JDownloader is specifically designed to handle those file upload sites like megaupload, rapidshare, and a lot of others. If you do not download from those upload sites then JDownload is still good to have but those sites are what I use the program for. Many sites in Europe and Asia use those upload sites to store files referenced from message boards.
@A. S.:
agree, with your post, anyone there like to collect all the free programs there is mention here, and add download links to it
!all power to Ashraf
Ocio Perú
Hello every one.
With all the software named here, I wonder sometime for what are those softwares useful.
If those software are not in the category of almost known by every body like CCleaner or similar. It would be nice to give a small indication of is utility, and as some do putting the link of it.
Thanks, that was just a little thinking from a lazy guy.
@Locutus:
Thanks for the Synapsis (#115)
- I just printed it for a handy little guide
@Philippe: I agree that it would save time if the purpose of the program is very briefly stated, as all of us do not share the same interests or needs. It means you have to spend time searching for info about various programs named in the posts, only to find that it falls in a category that is not of interest to you. The program names are often somewhat obscure and do not offer a clue as to it’s purpose.
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