A while ago a friend who recently was given a Windows laptop asked if I could send him a list of links for applications that I thought would be useful for that machine. Rather than make it a one shot deal I thought it would be better to create a page with the information and thus be able to pass it along to anybody who might be interested in such a list rather than just one person.
Everything suggested below is FREE software, my favorite kind.
My main machine is a GNU/Linux box and I tend to use Windows sparingly and when I DO use it these are the applications that I have found to be useful:
The Firefox browser for surfing the web.
OpenOffice.org for most office needs.
Emacro is a portable configuration file that configures itself.
Launchy The Open Source Keystroke Launcher for Windows.
7-Zip for manipulating compressed files(zip, tgz, &c.)
Python, because everyone can use a good language.
According to Dave Barry everyone needs a good Anagram program on their box.
GNU utilities for Win32.
PowerPro lets you take control of how you use Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP.
The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) for all your image manipulation needs.
Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities.
There are a LOT more programs
suggested at Portable FreeWare
as well.
