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Lee's 10 favorite free Windows programs of 2009
It's amazing how many apps we review over the course of a year. There's no way I could count the number of times I've run appwiz.cpl (add/remove programs) on my desktop and laptop in the past twelve months. Certain apps, however, stand the test of time. The ten I've listed after the jump are permanent fixtures on my Window systems - some old, some new, but all awesome.
I don't spend as much time on system maintenance as I should, but I care enough about my PC to have set up scheduled CCleaner tasks to remove the numerous temp files polluting my hard drive and tidy up registry clutter. The portable version is another of my go-to USB flash drive apps.
Comodo Easy VPN
It's a totally free Hamachi alternative, and it just sits in my tray quietly keeping me connected to my remote systems. I use it along with UltraVNC for remote troubleshooting from time to time and for direct access to shared folders and printers over the 'net.
While I'm a little bummed that I can't make use of the Amazon MP3 store integration that was recently added (being in Canada and all), I'd still much rather run DVDJohn's alternative than the Apple-prescribed iTunes. Once DoubleTwist supported my iPod Touch, I switched and never looked back.
LastPass
Every time a new browser gets released, I'm testing it on one system or another. Keeping my passwords in sync on my iPod Touch, Linux virtual machines, and Windows systems would be a real pain in the butt if it wasn't for LastPass.
Besdies providing an awesome sync tool, LastPass' built-in strong password generator has made it easy for me to stop using the same password I've used since freshman year at college. Er...not that that's what I was doing before, of course. That's just irresponsible...
MalwareBytes
I [expletive deleted] love MalwareBytes. No single piece of software has saved me more hours of frustratingly tedious labor this year. The few times I can't get MB to clean a system, well, it's just too far gone to bother cleaning anyway and a reformat is the only way to go.
Some day, a better malware cleanup tool will come along. My money is on it being the next major version of MalwareBytes.
I used to default to Photoshop for pretty much all of my image editing tasks - because it was there. However, I got tired of slow startup and unnecessary overhead and went looking for an alternative for my everyday edits. Paint.Net has been exactly what I needed. It's lightweight and still packs more than enough features to get the job done.
Yes, I'm cheating and taking a two-fer on this.
I tried, but I just couldn't convince myself to leave these two off my list. Even though I suck horribly at it, QuakeLive is just too damn much FPS fun for me to stay away. Every time I sign in, I feel like I'm back in college - challenging my roomate to yet another Doom deathmatch over our null modem cable.
As for Heroes...Well...After dealing with an uppity customer, few things are as satisfyingly soothing as destroying something with a tank for free.
Sumatra PDF
I'd say about 99% of the time I need to do anything with a PDF, it's all about reading. I seldom need to be able to fill forms or anything like that. Sumatra is incredibly small, fast to open, and there's even a portable version - which is a permanent fixture on my USB flash drive.
uTorrent
So much to download, so little time. Thank you, uTorrent for all the torrent-managing goodness you've provided me in 2009. As is the case with Sumatra, I don't need all the fancy extra features of an app like Vuze - uTorrent's compact simplicity is more than enough for me.
...and last but not least, every new web browser released in 2009. Just about everyone who develops a web browser debuted faster, smarter, and generally vastly improved versions this year.
While I've been using Google Chrome recently, Opera 10.5 and Firefox 3.7 are also sharing web browsing duties on my systems. There's no denying that all three are much improved. Besides the usual suspects, browsers like Arora, Flock,QTWebkit, Maxthon, and SRWare Iron also made big strides this year.
You can download my three current browsers here - keep in mind, these are all unstable so only install them if you're ok with buggy (possibly crash-prone) software:
- Google Chrome Dev Channel
- Mozilla Firefox 3.7a1pre
- Opera 10.5 pre-alpha (scroll to the bottom)
Comments
15
Subscribe to commentsRollinsDec 28th 2009 2:15PM
I definitely agree with most of the items on your list.
That said, I tried out Sumatra PDF, but Foxit Reader still seems to work better. I ran into a few PDFs that Sumatra wouldn't open that Foxit opened without a hitch. Also, Sumatra seems to insist on opening with a window that's too tall for my laptop's 1200x800 screen. It's annoying that Foxit tries to install an Ask.com toolbar during its installation process, though.
If I had to make such a list, I'd probably include Microsoft Security Essentials as well. Most people still chug along with the bloated trialware included on their PCs and convincing them to give it up for free software from companies they don't recognize has always been a chore. MSE gives the common folk an alternative from a company they already trust. It also helps that it's not a bad piece of software.
NeoprimalDec 28th 2009 2:20PM
Since you get to add Lastpass to that list, may I suggest Xmarks? I personally love that as well, bookmark sync should be built into browsers, and Chrome has the right idea - BUT, what about those of use who use several? Ahh - that's where Xmarks comes in super handy.
Instead of Comodo EasyVPN I use Teamviewer 5 with it's VPN plugin, but since I don't VPN a whole lot, it may not be as easy or friendly as EasyVPN.
Everything else is spot on. Great list.
techpopsDec 28th 2009 2:34PM
@Rollins I agree with what you're saying about security essentials.
I'll just list some of the lesser known stuff I couldn't have lived without in 09
Everything - How I love this mind bogglingly fast search that doesn't require massive indexes and finds obscure stuff i regularly search for that other search tools either don't find or need special attention to configure.
Tag&Rename 3 - The god of managing meta data for mp3's
TextAloud - It reads articles to me in a sexy womans voice. You can't ask for more from a reader.
WindowManager - Helps bring sanity back to Windows 7 windows, allowing you to have them open where you want them to open.
Windows7FirewallControl (X64) - Addon for the Windows firewall, allows control of outgoing traffic from nice easy to deal with popup notifcations.
Daniel BloisDec 28th 2009 2:52PM
Techpops,
do you have a link to WindowManager or are you talking about the manager built into windows 7?
techpopsDec 28th 2009 8:38PM
Sorry I was being lazy not including url's
http://desksoft.com/WindowManager.htm
Only sad thing is it isn't free, I'm in the UK so the final cost for me buying it was £7.59 which I can live with as it was driving me crazy those windows opening all over the place. Now I have all my windows and most applications open at a specific size and place on the screen so they don't obscure my sidebar and dock and none of that stupid tiling of windows as you open more.
I honestly thought 7 would have solved that problem. Back on XP i used to use two free tools that did the same. One was called Autosizer and the other was OpenWide (which handled the file dialog boxes) I was a bit bummed out that neither worked in Windows 7.
BiomechDec 28th 2009 9:11PM
AutoSizer works fine on Windows 7 for me. I'm using it on my laptop and desktop; both installations run fine.
LooisDec 28th 2009 7:22PM
Awesome, now I have an iTunes alternative (doubletwist). Thanks :)
techpopsDec 28th 2009 8:45PM
Forgot to add that there is one free alternative I found called WindowsWhere. It's more a hack than anything but it does work for fixing where the file explorer windows open, but doesn't have the extra features of WindowManager.
http://code.google.com/p/windowswhere/wiki/WindowsWhere
techpopsDec 28th 2009 10:48PM
@biomech just downloaded latest version and still doesn't affect any windows or programs for me. I'm using Win7 64bit, are you running the 32bit version?
OzVicDec 28th 2009 11:59PM
I work in IT Tech Support, doing 3rd party support for many companies..
I love MalwareBytes, love it, LOVE IT!
While Trend & Symantec just sit there swirling away like doofus's - thinking nothings wrong ... I MBAM that malware away!
Saved me many hours of heartache.
railmaniacDec 29th 2009 10:08AM
Quake Live is available for Linux and Mac as well.
lajlevDec 30th 2009 10:05AM
Great list
Thomas Alan HessJan 12th 2010 7:32PM
Lee,
You are FANTASTIC. I used the Anti-malware you suggested and it worked brilliantly. Have had an issue with my computer for two years. Have paid for Norton 360 and it did not accomplish what your suggested program did. I am now back up to speed and wanted to thank you for your expertise. You have got a new fan!
Lee MathewsJan 11th 2010 10:48PM
Glad to be of service, Thomas!
Comments like yours are the reason we keep blogging. We're here to help...also to screw around now and again, but primarily to help
;)
micahflores1129Jan 17th 2010 9:22AM
I found most of the statements true.
I also love Paint.net and Quakelive :)
Hope to read and learn more about interesting sites and maybe about some interesting and helpful tools as well. One thing that I was able to find is a site for software converters. There's a lot to check on:
http://www.soliddocuments.com/products.htm?product=SolidConverterPDF
PDF to Word