'30 Essential Free Pieces of Software'

[Slippy The Pimp]

do any other OS's compare?

or does Windows blow away the competition?

It depends on what your using your computer for.

For audio visual use- OSX

for gernal browsing- Windows xp

for versatility and networking- Unix

just depends

[Dirty Knowledge]

^ In a nutshell.

[VillainousV]

Good loox yo! Respect due, word lyfe! My photoshop trail just expired yesterday, so u saved my creative life wit that Gimpshop link yo. Pe@cE

[Jet Set]

That's an amazing list. I already installed openoffice a few days ago, but they're also listing some software I didn't know yet. cheers man.

[Sexy Jasper]

I build computers for people and a lot of the programs on that list I install by default.

Some essentials are missing from that list though.


1 - foobar2000 Best mp3 player I've come across
2 - Media Player Classic No bullshit media player
3 - FFDSHOW Codec pack with everything you need and you can configure just about anything
4 - Spybot Search&Destroy Everyone needs this

[Jet Set]

FFDSHOW better than this
Combined Community Codec Pack ( CCCP ) http://www.cccp-project.net/

[Sexy Jasper]

FFDSHOW better than this
Combined Community Codec Pack ( CCCP ) http://www.cccp-project.net/

Is it?

[Jet Set]

Sorry that was my line .
So
is FFDSHOW better than this
Combined Community Codec Pack ( CCCP ) http://www.cccp-project.net/ ?

[Sexy Jasper]

I hate messing with codecs cause you can screw up everything. I just use FFDSHOW because everyone who rip DVD's and such recommend it.

[LHX]

i tried that CCCP joint and was unsuccessful with it at the time

havent tried ffdshow yet

[Jet Set]

I got the cccp one on advice of an anime subbing site.

[GAYLORD]

i once installed "Ubuntu" the most popular Linux distribution on a pc i was going to sell anyway. Installation routine was pretty quick and internet options didn´t need to be configured. But I used it barely 20 minutes - just a bit surfing, trying Openoffice.org. It´s ok. But you have to install some codecs and drivers later by hand. That is because of the License I believe. Nevertheless even that is no problem. But because many programs I need for university are not available for Linux I use Windows.

I co-sign Jasper´s additions! foobar2000 is the shit! Espacially when it comes to tagging and it has low cpu-usage. It might be a bit hard to configure but there are several "packs" if you google it up. I use this one: http://doctordeath.org.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19

As for compressed formats: 7-zip! http://www.7-zip.org/ free and simple.

Browser: I use Opera but I guess it doesnt matter as long as you dont stick to IE

Instant-Messaging: Miranda>>Gaim www.miranda-im.org
looks shitty? same as with foobar: some nice packs outthere! http://www.miranda-pack.com/

Ok, something unsusual but nice imo: Schmap! Player http://www.schmap.com/
It´s like a digital city- and sightseeingguide. pretty cool

[Vegan]

I downloaded music cube and health monitor. One of the two had a virus in it that AVG cought. I wouldn't trust these programs.