so if you were installing a new operating system what would be your favorite softwares you have to have

i ask cause ive been ignoring Skype & Google desktop (when configured as a sidebar) for all this time and just found out how useful it can be
so hopefully will find some new helpful programs out there

7/24/2008 1:39:46 AM

STARCRAFT
DIABLO2

7/24/2008 1:51:50 AM

WinRAR - I've used it so long and so often I sometimes forget when I'm on a newly formatted system that it's not automatically there.
Firefox 3
Thunderbird

7/24/2008 1:57:16 AM

AVG Free edition for anti-virus

7/24/2008 2:46:51 AM

WinRAR is a godsend.

There's this little app I use on all my computers now, but I can't send it out because the guy that wrote it doesn't want it going public It makes windows 10,000 times better

7/24/2008 3:11:47 AM

well what the hell does it do at least? lol

7/24/2008 7:58:15 AM

Yeah, now you've got me curious.

Let me guess... is it called Fedora? Maybe it's just an "app" that frees up system resources by disabling all of the stupid services no one uses.

[Edited on July 24, 2008 at 8:29 AM. Reason : -]

7/24/2008 8:27:44 AM

ultramon

7/24/2008 9:06:59 AM

newsleecher

7/24/2008 10:15:06 AM

Quote :

"WinRAR is a godsend."

unless you're getting it for free (i know they do that sometimes), why would you use this over 7-zip? 7-zip is better, IMO, and is free without having to torrent it

that said, i have a suite of programs:

spybot
ad-aware
symantec endpoint protection (or avg if you're not with the university)
winamp
k-lite mega codec pack (includes wmp classic)
cdburnerxp
irfanview
7-zip
foxit reader (replaces adobe reader)

bunch of others i can't remember

7/24/2008 10:22:40 AM

Quote :

"k-lite mega codec pack (includes wmp classic)"

i stay away from codec packs

i just try to get the ones i need

7/24/2008 10:25:48 AM

^ well, i do a lot of a/v stuff, so it might be more appropriate for my situation than for most others...but i really do think the k-lite pack is the best

7/24/2008 10:28:41 AM

codec packs suck, they will screw up your computer royally, half of them double up on codecs confusing Windows on which codec to use when.

all you need is ffdshow, Haali's Media Splitter, and AC3Filter, why would you need anything else?

my list:
Picasa
Paint.NET
FileZilla
CCleaner
Folding@Home
PDFCreator
FoxitReader
LogMeIn
Hamachi
Google Earth
Pidgin
RocketDock
WinRAR
AVG Anti-Virus
Mozy
Spyware Blaster
Spybot Search & Destroy
Microsoft XP Powertoys
Winamp
uTorrent
Mozilla Firefox

7/24/2008 10:57:53 AM

After a re-format, it's always:

-Office
-Visual Studio
-Adobe Premiere
-Photoshop
-WinRAR
-AIM
-Finale

7/24/2008 12:16:43 PM

wow, i really like logmein, thanks for the tip

7/24/2008 12:30:34 PM

Quote :

"codec packs suck, they will screw up your computer royally, half of them double up on codecs confusing Windows on which codec to use when."

i've used k-lite for years and have NEVER EVER EVER had a problem...unless you're aware of something regarding this particular pack that i'm not, then i think your statement is subjective and untrue

7/24/2008 12:36:55 PM

http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2004/07/04/9546.aspx

Quote :

"In addition to them being pirated, they install out-of-date versions and versions that can confilt with each other. Why do I need the DivX decoder from DivX Networks and a build of the XviD decoder? The DivX decoder will decode XviD. The 3ivX decoder, also included, will also decode DivX and XviD content. So, DivX, XviD, 3ivX, all can help decode the same video formats. Confused? Windows is too. In addition many “Codec Packs” come with ffdshow, this also decodes both DivX and XviD (ffdshow is open source and should be the only decoder you install, goto SourceForge.net for more) The files installed from Microsoft will break the Windows Media Encoder, anyway why do you need to install files included in Windows to begin with? Does that make any sence? This thing had many files from WMP 8, why? WMP is a part of Windows, this thing only installs on Windows! I seem to also see the famous DivX Audio Codec, this being an OLD hack on WMA. This will break a few things in Windows too."

if it works for you so be it. but i got everything i need and it's free (non-pirated) in about 3 downloads and i know what i'm installing.

[Edited on July 24, 2008 at 12:48 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2008 12:42:21 PM

Quote :

"i got everything i need and it's free (non-pirated) in about 3 1 downloads and i know what i'm installing."

again...while some crappy codec packs might be problematic, k-lite is not

7/24/2008 12:50:30 PM

Quote :

"Finale"

Switch to Sibelius (http://www.sibelius.com/). You'll be glad you did.

7/24/2008 12:51:12 PM

^^that article i posted was about the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

And if you knew what you were installing in 1 download, why the f*ck would you install 3 4 different DivX codecs? And why would you be using pirated codecs?

If you're going to use a codec pack, why not use the free and known better compatibility of CCCP

from http://www.neowin.net/news/software/08/06/29/cccp-combined-community-codec-pack-2008-06-28-beta:

Quote :

"Posted by zachdms on 21 Jul 2008 - 19:00 Why are you so abusive to the notion that the K-Lite team might have made some serious mistakes? I believe they've fixed up most of their horrible errors in newer builds, but they certainly did cause a huge amount of people to crash when they did things like register a bad DirectShow filter (IAC) on Vista. The notion that they're testing what they're doing is questionable when others have to bring it to their attention when they create big problems like that. The notion that what they're shipping now is reliable is questionable in that it's usually taken a significant length of time for them to notice and fix issues... after they've corrupted thousands or millions of systems. They're warez and their quality control has kind of sucked over time. If you want to be an apologist for them, I'm confused, but it's your party. On the one hand, they're certainly better than the blazingly stupid Nimo or ACE, but on the other they are probably the 2nd most damaging codec pack that has ever existed. So they've got that positiveness going for them. I have an archive of codec packs and helped get certain stupid things in K-Lite fixed. They know of the problems, I know of the problems. If them making stupid mistakes and breaking users bothers you, take it up with them. They should be more stable now, but the proof is in the pudding. Speaking for myself only as always."

[Edited on July 24, 2008 at 12:58 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2008 12:56:52 PM

QuickSilver

7/24/2008 12:56:53 PM

oh man do i love me some logmein
best program ive seen in a while, hopefully they'll keep it free

7/24/2008 12:57:52 PM

^^Launchy is another good one for Windows

also:
Audacity
TrueCrypt

[Edited on July 24, 2008 at 1:04 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2008 1:02:07 PM

what are some of the best launchers for windows? Dash and launchy?

7/24/2008 1:40:10 PM

How does LogMeIn compare to Remote Desktop that's built into XP?

7/24/2008 1:41:47 PM

Quote :

"CCleaner"

7/24/2008 1:42:57 PM

^^logmein is web based so you don't need windows.

7/24/2008 1:43:43 PM

LogMeIn is zero-config when it comes to using remote desktop behind a firewall. You just install it and it's ready. Can access from anywhere using a internet browser.

If you're ok with configuring the firewall, RDP has more features, but as far as I know you need RDC installed on the client.

7/24/2008 1:44:14 PM

^how do you like launchy?

i watched this and was very impressed:
http://www.trydash.com/home/dash-video-tour/

7/24/2008 1:47:06 PM

i use RocketDock... i used Launchy for a bit, but didn't like using that kind of system, to each their own.

here's a run-down:
http://lifehacker.com/392569/best-application-launchers

[Edited on July 24, 2008 at 2:00 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2008 1:56:36 PM

that's a dock, i meant text based. About to install the trial of dash.

7/24/2008 1:59:04 PM

application launcher is an application launcher.

like i said i didn't like the type of application launcher

Launchy is free btw.

[Edited on July 24, 2008 at 2:02 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2008 2:01:09 PM

aim 4.8

7/24/2008 2:03:41 PM

haven't read everything but ones that probably haven't been mentioned yet:

Hamachi
Synergy
VirtuaWin

7/24/2008 3:12:02 PM

winrar
aim lite
ultramon
firefox
media player classic
acronis true image
winamp
imgburn
dvd decrypter
truecrypt

7/24/2008 3:23:39 PM

^^Synergy, how could i forget that... love it! (along with UltraMon if your using 2 screens with 1 PC)

7/24/2008 3:26:30 PM

Quote :

"that article i posted was about the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack. And if you knew what you were installing in 1 download, why the f*ck would you install 3 4 different DivX codecs? And why would you be using pirated codecs?"

you MIGHT want to consider posting an article new than FOUR YEARS OLD...what is that, a millenia in intarweb time? it has nothing in it that is valid in the here and now...good try, though

the second quote you listed is some random dude's viewpoint...i give him about as much credit as i give YOU in this argument - i'm not asking that you LIKE my chosen codec pack, but i do ask that you bring forth some current and valid reasons NOT to like it before you rip into it...when you can do that, come back and try again...and if you do (btw, i don't mean finding 2 or 3 RANDOM complaints, because i can find that regarding even "perfect" software), i'll gladly admit that what i'm doing is potentially problematic (although i've NEVER had a single problem, and neither has windows)

Quote :

"The CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack) is a DirectShow filter pack specifically built for playing anime."

although i did laugh, and thank you for that

[Edited on July 24, 2008 at 4:12 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2008 4:05:18 PM

I've used k-lite since I've used the fucking internet and I've never had a problem.

7/24/2008 4:07:43 PM

^^i thought you may get a kick out of that.

point being, the people creating the codec pack have no idea what they are doing, they're just creating an installer for hundreds of codecs without recognizing the ill-effects it MAY have.

i've used k-lite before as well, that was until Windows wouldn't play a divX file correctly, i kept getting pink striping in all my videos, that was until I uninstalled k-lite, installed ffdshow and it worked flawlessly.

and even though the article is 4 years old, i don't see anything that has changed since then. k-lite still has pirated codecs and it still incorporates more than one codec for certain types. so it's possible they've fixed the Vista bug and a couple other ones, but it's clear they aren't too concerned with compatibility, just cramming as many codecs into one installer as they can.

Quote :

"if it works for you so be it. but i got everything i need and it's free (non-pirated) in about 3 downloads and i know what i'm installing."

7/24/2008 4:18:36 PM

Quote :

"unless you're getting it for free (i know they do that sometimes"

Did they change it so the "trial" actually ends now? I've still got a "trial" version on machines that's about 2 years old. No torrent or anything like that, just a few second "this is a trial" blurb when you open something.

7/24/2008 5:40:11 PM

^Yea it's just nagware.

Quote :

"what are some of the best launchers for windows? Dash and launchy?"

That's hilarious. Dash is almost exactly what my little app does, except it's insanely more extended than that. I'll have to send them the link to Dash, they'll get a kick out of it for sure.

Man I can't believe all the crud some of yall put on your computers. Office, CS3 Design Premium, Antivirus (Norton at home, E-Trust on everything else), and WinRAR is it for me.

7/24/2008 5:53:13 PM

i love my crud... and i didn't think you ran Antivirus!?!?!

7/24/2008 5:56:56 PM

^can't beat free.

7/24/2008 7:44:43 PM

anyone tried digsby?

7/25/2008 12:02:10 PM

pdfcreator
ultraiso
dropbox
vlc player
veoh (searches and plays videos from veoh,google/youtube,yahoo)
joost
vuze(azereus)

add to list

vmware player

[Edited on July 25, 2008 at 12:21 PM. Reason : add]

7/25/2008 12:20:23 PM

Quote :

"^^Synergy, how could i forget that... love it! (along with UltraMon if your using 2 screens with 1 PC)"

does it work with vista?

7/25/2008 1:25:37 PM

synergy? yes.

7/25/2008 1:44:59 PM

Synergy works between virtually every operating system.

7/25/2008 2:30:32 PM

notepad++

7/25/2008 6:11:07 PM

imageshackert
sysinternals kit
deskspace

7/26/2008 4:27:16 PM