The Top 5 Game: Essential Software

So we were talking around the office about how all of our desk computers are completely shot to hell from years of software tests, installs/uninstalls, weird registry entries, and data fragmented up and down the block. Ok, my computer's in worse shape than most (they actually brought the beast down from SF for me, much to my dismay), but those of you who like to experiment on your own systems know how nice is it to stop the insanity and start over with a clean slate.

This brings me to today's Top 5 Game: If you had to choose, what five programs do you consider must-installs on a fresh and clean OS? Here are mine (XP):

1. AIM (but only when combined with AIMutation for tabbed browsing, etc)

2. iTunes

3. WinRAR

4. Firefox (extensions: IE View, BugMeNot, Firesomething, GoogleBar to start)

5. Spybot Search & Destroy

Ok, what are your faves?

Comments

[Brandon]

You should add SmartFTP to that list.
P.S. first post

[Sean LaFianza]

definitly CuteFTP and shareaza should be on the list
and BTW... just checked the 'sarahcam' your hair grows freakin' fast!

[Trevor]

The last time I used Firefox Bugmenot wasn't working. Anyone know anything about this?

[Tim B]

FeedDemon is a good app to have. Adaware and spyblaster are useful also.

[ensiform]

Ad-Aware SE seems much better than Spybot even though i use both. Ad-Aware updates like daily instead of weekly like Spybot.

SmartFTP is good and Shareaza. I really dont prefer AIM i would much rather suggest Trillian or GAIM.

The All-Seeing Eye is a good Server Browser and will run forever if you just tell it let me run for 7 more days.

WinRar and Winzip are good archive apps.

Alcohol 120% is a really good burning/iso app but its not free.

Acronis True Image is a very good backup utility and you can get your system back exactly like it was within minutes depending on the size of your hard drive(s).

ensiform

[Matt]

Hmm... let's see.

1. Firefox (on the PC) and Safari on the mac.
2. iTunes.
3. Filezilla/WebDAV built-in Mac OS X.
4. Thunderbird.
5. Adium/AIM (for PC).

[Anna]

1 winRAR
2 CuteFTP
3 Trillian
4 Photoshop
5 Nero

[Dave]

Hey Sarah and others... What AV protection do you use? What about a software firewall if any? I use Norton and love it. Others have claimed they think McAfee is much much better but I just wanted other's opinions. Thanks guys.

Some other (freebies!) that havent been mentioned:
1. Skype (the coolest thing since the pop-tart)
2. Air Snare for catching wireless leeches on your network
3. Proxy+
4. Dead AIM 3 with AIM v5.2.3292
5. Open Office

[eagle 1]

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-2df3993fc9-aa3285df81
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-fbaa54e76d-8d12f7d9db
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-8217ab7455-e32c7e3283
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-228047c99e-9c24b578bb
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-844da365af-5feaf05638
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-351fa5057d-d66a7eb6d0

[Ewan]

1.Slimbrowser
2.Eprompter
3.Sygate Firewall
4.MSN Messenger
5.Symantec Corporate Antivirus

[eagle 1]

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-99f59ae788-43c160b5a0-04da30c228

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-99f59ae788-2aaabad237-d6d71e5ef7

[Sean LaFiaza]

uh wow.... those gmail links were unexpected.. and thank you very very much!

[Bill]

1-Mozilla
2-Trillian
3-Paint Shop Pro 8
4-FTP Voyager
5-Nortons (not Patrick)
6-Ad-Aware & SpyBot S&D

[Brian]

Dave, THANKS for the gmail !!!

[corey kuank]

1 DVD X COPY
2 AIM
3 IDEN WEB JAL
4 SPY BOT
5 EXCEL
6 PHOTOSHOP CS

[eagle 1]

that wasn't dave the name of the poster is UNDER the post and your very welcome

[Brian]

Sorry about that... THANK YOU!!! Eagle 1 for the gmail.

[Peter]

wow.. umm..
1. AIM and MSN messengers... MUST have for me.. lol
2. winamp.. gotta listen to my music..
3. photoshop 7 for my computer drawings..
4. download accelerator plus
5. winzip

and it doesnt really count.. but winxp service pack 2.. its really helpful.

[Groovy tunes]

1. Firefox
2. Thunderbird
3. Winrar
4. Thumbsplus
5-6. Grisoft Aniti-virus - Adaware SE

Can't have just 5!

[Steve]

I'm using linux now :)

Anyway here's my top 7:

1) KOPETE (AIM,ICC,Jabber,MSN,Yahoo)
2) Open Office (like ms office)
3) Mozilla (best browser)
4) Kontact (Mail and News)
5) XMMS (like winamp)
6) XMPCR2 (XM on linux)
7) K3b (burn cds/dvds)

[nealhamburger]

1. Spybot Search and Destroy
2. Firefox
3. Ad-aware
4. Cut FTP
5. Emule

[Jason]

1-Trillian
2-Winrar
3-Flashfxp
4-Daemon Tools
5-mIRC

[SuperAfroBoy]

i'm not mad or anything, i just want to make it clear that those first six gmail invites were mine. Eagle just copied them from my comment on the last news item.

[sikkor]

The 1st thing on a fresh and clean XP?

- drivers for motherboard, video, music, printer
- Iomega REV drivers,
- firewall and antivir apps,
- miranda,
- and finally all other crap.

[Scott]

1. Desktop Sidebar
2. Spybot
3. WinPatrol (thanks Sarah)
4. PGP
5. Norton Anti-Virus

[John]

1. Opera (Browser- Windows)
2. LeafChat (IRC)
3. Gtray (Thanks for telling me about it)
4. Azureus (BitTorrent)
5. Daemon Tools (Creates virtual drives and emulates PC Games)

[Chris]

Thanks for the G-Mail invites...although I didn't get one. :( Your welcome to e-mail me a private invite. :)

Anyways, my top 5:

1. Trillian
2. FireFox
3. DreamWeaver MX
4. Fireworks MX
5. Windows Media Player.

[Patrick]

Full version of Mozilla
WinAmp v 5
SpywareBlaster
AdAware
WinBar

[ThundaOne]

Anyone want free GMAIL Account? Send me an Email. Also, add my site to ur favs: rollinthunda.tk

[JS5981]

1.Firefox
2.Ad-Aware
3.Itunes
4.Kazza Lite Resurrection (Thanks D-tipper)
5.Nero

[ThundaOne]

Sorry, 4 got to tell u my email... email is rollinthunda@dodgeit.com

[Kalidor]

1.Trillian
2.PuTTY
3.Totalcommander
4.Firefox
5.TheBrain

[ThundaOne]

1. KaZaA Lite
2. FireFox
3. Mozilla Composer
4. Norton Antivirus
5. Spybot: Search & Destroy

[eagle 1]

sorry bout that superafroboy, but they were taking too long and i knew people wanted them in here your cooueration was very helpful

[ThundaOne]

Yer, speaking of GMAIL accounts, GET A GMAIL ACCOUNT BY TELLING ME U WANT ONE! rollinthunda@dodgeit.com ! Visit my site: www.rollinthunda.tk

[WalkerBurgin]

I've got 6 Gmail invites, email me if you'd like one:
WalkerBurgin[at]Gmail[dot]com

[trev]

AVG is a must.. better then norton and mcafre also free updates woot!

[Steve]

I Like Norton Ghost. I Can restore a system in a snap with it. unlike other backup software where it looks for file to file, ghost is a bit for bit. I don't usually care for norton (symantec) products, but this one I like. :o)

[tgourley]

1. Firefox (*THE* Web browser)
2. IrfanView (Awesome image viewer/editor)
3. Crimson Editor (Powerful programmer's text editor)
4. Thunderbird (Mozilla e-mail client)
5. Spybot Search & Destroy (a must have)

Now 5 more apps that will out the 'geek' in me:
1. Perl (I'm a perl geek)
2. J2SE with the Netbeans IDE (I'm also a java geek)
3. PuTTY (neeeeed SSH access!)
4. Drempels (purty eye candy on the desktop)
5. Filezilla (Open source AWESOME FTP client. Ditch SmartFTP and use this!!!)

[cary]

what about trillian

[Jackie]

1) AVG FREE (easily the best AV i've used)
2) AIM
3) Firefox
4) Partition magic
5) Spy Bot (although I've found since I no longer use IE I really dont need this).

[lc]

1) Service Pack 1
2) Internet Explorer 6 sp1
3) Blaster worm patch
4) Firefox
5) Winrar

[Eagle.007]

if anyone wants gmail just ask, send me your requests subjectline Gmail Invites

[SuperAfroBoy]

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-704c1ce77d-79923c387f
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-0be8e2970b-0e8fc53471
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-6f30b04788-e25a268143
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-1b12325f5b-cf4a82a4b8
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-c1ab991093-15d42a66c1
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-de1a35ce79-ed79b098ea-fe0514c67b

Copy, paste, be happy. And remember the name, SuperAfroBoy.

[AubunAlum]

Ok fellow members of the Geek Squad. Here are MY top 5!

1.) iTunes
2.) Microsoft Office 2003 Professional
3.) Adobe Audition 1.5
4.) Macromedia Studio MX
5.) Knoppix STD

Honorable Mention:
1.) Adobe Photoshop CS
2.) StyleXP 2.12
3.) AdsGone 2004
4.) Sony SoundForge 7.0
5.) DVD Audio Ripper

[h0ju]

5. Winamp
4. Aim
3. FireFox
2. VirtualVcr
1. sysreset

[FreezerBurn]

Thanks SuperAfroBoy for the gmail invite.

Ok onto the 5 tops when setting a new puter up...

AVG - Antivirus
SpyBot/Adaware/Spyware Blaster - I consider them the same
Firefox - Browser
ZoneAlarm - Firewall (Free Version)
OpenOffice.org - Documents, spreadsheets, presentations

Catch the theme??? All are FREE :)

[SgtPepper007]

Thanks for the invite SuperAfroBoy!

1. iTunes
2. iPhoto
3. iLife
4. Adobe Premiere
5. OpenOffice.org

[Download-This]

FireFox (to view the interweb)
Daemon-Tools (to load cdrom/dvd images)
WinRar (to unpack *everything*
XNEWS (for usenet binary access)
Winamp (to listen to music)

Without these 5 programs, I'd be lost (or just really really bored).

[redfusion]

winamp
mIRC
trillian pro
firefox
dantz retrospect