software-suggestions

GIMP

Sat, 29 May 2010 15:13:01 +0100

Now this program has been around awhile, but it surely worth mentioning. GIMP is a raster based graphics program which is very feature packed and easy to learn and use. Whether tweaking photos, designing web page images, icon design, or just for messing around...it rocks! This is a must have and beats many graphics programs.

GIMP Site

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SnapEase

Sat, 29 May 2010 15:13:45 +0100

Now that Blogs and Social Networking sites are so common place quick and efficient photo editing and uploading is necessary. This utility lets you do minor photo tweaks, such as crop, rotate, desaturate, rename, and/or remove the images and then you can either save the finished results or upload them from there to your repository of choice. If you do this kind of a thing often, this is a GREAT tool.

SnapEase site

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PathSync

Sat, 29 May 2010 15:14:18 +0100

This is a very simple, but incredibly useful program. It is designed to do one very helpful thing...keep two drives in sync, basically backup a drive. It's very easy and is quick.

PathSync site

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WinSplit Revolution

Sat, 29 May 2010 15:16:32 +0100

Now if you're using Windows 7 you may find the new Aero Snap very handy, but imagine it was more powerful. Introducing WinSplit Revolution...a utility that allows the use of drag and go or simple key commands (my favorite) to position windows quickly in a bunch of helpful places. Now you can position 4 windows in their own space quickly. This is a must. This program can also run portably to allow you to always have it with you on your flash drive. It works on Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 (x86 or x64 versions).

WinSplit Revolution site

Open Office

Sat, 29 May 2010 15:20:09 +0100

Still using Microsoft Office for Word, Excel, etc.? Well, there's a better way than shelling out $150 or more for each upgrade. Open Office, which is made by Sun Systems, allows opening and saving of ALL MS Office formats, + they also use more universal formats like ODF (which may someday be the new standard). This suite has a lot to offer and it also does more. One thing I love is it's ability to export PDFs, try that MS.

Open Office site

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7-Zip

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:09:55 +0100

Are you still using Win Zip to compress/zip files? And if you are, you're probably like many people using the evaluation, which means NAG screen of annoyance. Well, you can buy Win Zip, or you can download 7-Zip. 7-Zip allows compression and decompression in 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR and unpacking.only in ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, DEB, DMG, HFS, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MSI, NSIS, RAR, RPM, UDF, WIM, XAR and Z. This is the last compression utility you'll ever need again. Oh, and it is very efficient in compressing things, which translates to smaller files.

7-Zip site

Quick Media Converter

Sat, 01 May 2010 18:52:11 +0100

This is an excellent and easy utility for amateurs or even pros. This program lets you convert almost anything- WAV to AIFF, MP3 to ACC, whatever your need. The best thing of all, well aside from being free, is that this program has all of these features in one app. Very small installation for geeks like me.

Quick Media Converter site

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0

Sat, 01 May 2010 18:49:02 +0100

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0 is basically the best anti-virus you can get for free, even compared to Microsoft Security Essentials, which is also free. C-Net and PC World have reviewed it and have given AVG Free very high marks. This AV is very low on RAM munch, only using about 40-50 MB of RAM, compared to the usual 80-100 MB of RAM compared to Norton and McAfee. I have installed this on my wife's, mother-in-law's, grandmother-in-law's, and my own PCs. I have tried multiple AVs out there, including Avast, MS Security Essentials, Comodo- and find this is the best of the free AVs.

AVG Free site

CutePDF Writer

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:08:10 +0100

CutePDF Writer is one very hand application, and it works much different than any other application too. It does what it says- Writes PDFs, but instead of taking a file already created and exported it to PDF it prints the file to PDF. CutePDF even shows up with your typical Ink Jet and Laser printers. You say print and it lets you choose the name and location. It's that easy, oh and it's FREE!

CutePDF site

Revo Uninstaller

Sat, 01 May 2010 18:53:04 +0100

Revo Uninstaller is one great application. Now some of you may be thinking, "Why would I need this, all programs have uninstallers and if they don't Windows has it's Add/Remove feature..." While that is true, both ANY program's and Windows' Add/Remove app are not ideal. Here's why, when you uninstall a program MOST programs leave their 'program files' folder and sometimes some stuff in it + application data is left on your PC (if you ever decide to reinstall the app) + Registry info is still there. Now some of you say..."Who cares." Well the reason you should is it slows your computer drastically over time. Using Revo Uninstaller (Free or Pro) you can take care of all of this is one easy operation. If you don't feel comfortable messing with the registry keys (although they are managed a directed with Revo, they are tricky) don't. Removing the 'Program Files' folder and contents along with Application Data will really help your system. I have often wondered why Microsoft never had this kind of utility built in, but it seems they don't want to give too much power to the users, as things can be deleted and people will then blame guess who. If you don't feel real comfortable choose the 'Safe' mode of deletion. One other tip...when deleting registry keys follow the sub-directory down until you see a key in bold, as you may delete a key that is needed for other apps if you don't.

Revo Uninstaller site