I've noticed working on several computers that folks seems to have their favorite applications or utilities on their computers.

What is the application or utility on your computer that you cannot live without and what does it do? I'm always on the lookout for programs that can enhance my computing experience.

For me it is the following:
Copernic - desktop search tool
Favicon - "remembers" the customerized icons in your favorites
ObjectDock - creates a taskbar with zooming icons similar to the Mac
TweakUI - MS program to customize many components of Windows

Couple that come to mind for me are:

Firefox....to me there is no going back to IE

Ultramon....the best dual monitor app on the planet

Google Desktop Search....ncie little app

Ephpod...for my ipod..

Google Earth

Orb Network..so i can listen to my music at work when i want to

Zoom Player...much better than windows media for playing video files

Those are only a few of the ones that come to mind

These are my favorites

Diskeeper - best defrag utility #1 most important program for all my sytems
Norton ghost -keeps me backed up
Backup Magic -automates network data back up
Firefox
Dvdshrink - backing up my dvds to hard drive
theatertek- video playback software
ffdshow-video post processing
Nero burning rom professional- burning software
craxtion - xbox iso software

Thunderbird-open source email client that will do circles around Outlook Express.
Firefox
Picasso for managing digital photos. I own a copy of Adobe Photoshop elements which is richer than Picasso but Picasso is free and simpler to use.
Limewire peer to peer client
Adobe Premier Elements 2.0 for editing videos (the most stable software in this segment).
Partian Magic (in case you ever want to partition your hard disks after OS installation)
DVD Shrink to back up DVD (a must have with three kids and a dog)

Great idea! Here is the software that keeps my HTPC crankin'

DVD Decrypter and DAEMON Tools
To backup my DVDs to Hard Disk

SpeedFan to to keep my HTPC cool n' quiet.

McAfee VirusScan, Lavasoft Ad-Aware and ZoneAlarm
To handle security

ATI Catalyst, Multi Media Centre, Easylook, and Remote Wonder
For TV, DVR, DVD, FM and all the core HTPC functions

Audacity and MusicMatch Jukebox
To digitize my LP collection and manage my MP3's

Live365 Internet Radio

and of course Digital Home Canada for some of the best HDTV forums

I would like someone to give me a few of the major advantages of Firefox over Internet Explorer. I have used IE for years, but have not tried out Firefox. I am loathe to download new software for fear of bringing in viruses, spam, and spyware.

I would like someone to give me a few of the major advantages of Firefox over Internet Explorer. I have used IE for years, but have not tried out Firefox. I am loathe to download new software for fear of bringing in viruses, spam, and spyware.

that's the whole point of Firefox :D

FF is smarter and more customizable in many ways and especially how it handles potential malicious code. While MS has been slowly plugging holes in IE, many vulnerabilities remain exposed that, combined with its popularity with exploiters, make it less secure than FF and other alternative browsers.

Be forewarned that FF is less compatible with some sites (despite adhering more strictly to HTML guidelines) and may be a slightly slower to load pages. imo this does not outweigh its security benefits as you can use plugins that allow you to launch any stuborn page in IE right from within FF (like the notorious ytmnd pages). And I've not noticed significant delays in loading pages at all but that may be because I tab browse (something IE can't even do properly in its latest beta incarnation).

I have FF, Opera, and IE on my system and I rarely use anything else besides FF.

Net: Firefox, Thunderbird, Xnews.

GoogleEarth.

OpenOffice Spreadsheet (not necessarily that one, but I find a spreadsheet pretty handy for doing somewhat complex relational calculations, and tables of data , sometimes when simple math is done, or just tables).

I use MSpaint for my universal drawing program.

TyTool to process video from the TiVo.

Slowview (previously ACDsee) as my GP image viewer.

I'd like to get Qimage to print my photos.

- Audacity (audio recording/editing)
- DVD Shrink (DVD back-up)
- Firefox (browser) & Thunderbird (e-mail client)
- OpenOffice (office suite)
- Paint Shop Pro (graphics)
- Windows Movie Maker (self-explanatory)
- Zone Alarm (firewall)

I recommend these killer apps for Windows:

1. XPLite, 2000Lite, 98Lite - http://www.litepc.com - amazing for getting rid of forced MS crap that you never use so that your PC runs smoother, faster, leaner, and more securely than before

2. TweakUI - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx - forget about the other PowerToys listed there, just get TweakUI so that you can customize your system to get rid of forced, crappy, bloated MS settings so that your PC runs smoother and faster than before

3. Firefox/Thunderbird - web browser and email app

4. OpenOffice.org - office suite

Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com/) - for quick image viewing/modifying

Mp3Tag (http://www.mp3tag.de/en/) - for fixing up mp3 tags and filenames

WinSCP (http://winscp.net/eng/index.php) - Windows secure copy client

UltraEdit (http://www.ultraedit.com/) - My favorite editor

Dexpot (http://www.dexpot.de/en/index2.html) - very flexible virtual desktop app


Quintessential Player (http://www.quinnware.com/) - My preferred audio player

Anapod (http://www.redchairsoftware.com/) - What I use to load my iPod instead of iTunes

Yahoo Widgets (http://widgets.yahoo.com/) - A fun little addon. There are even wigets for NHL hockey teams, Ottawa gas prices, you can even view the Ottawa traffic cameras.

Firefox - the best Internet browser period!
Thunderbird - the best email program period!
Grabit to grab binaries from usenet
Foobar2k - the best audio player
Adaware
Bitdefender 8 free antivirus
A-squared anti-malware
Soundforge + CD Architect
EAC + LAME for ripping and encoding mp3s
Word 2003 for typing

Browser: Firefox 1.5
Email client: Thunderbird
mp3 frontend: AudioGrabber
mp3 encoder: LAME
audio editor: Audacity
XP utility: Tweak UI
anti-virus: AVG
MS IDE: Visual Studio Express Edition
Open Source IDE: Eclipse

Well, this is an interesting thread...

I like Spybot Search and Destroy, keeps all the little buggys at bay

Regscrubxp (type that in google, it's the first hit). Keeps the registry clean.

Firefox. This is simply the best way to surf the web. Tabbed browsing and the bookmarks toolbar are simply awesome. Never mind the way it stops popups!!

Wincustomize...A great way to make XP alot more attractive.

Daemon Tools...allows me to play games without putting a disc in the drive.

Microsoft Bootvis. Makes your computer boot faster. Works very well.

On my desktop I have Shutdown and Reboot icons. Much slicker than Start->Shutdown->Shutdown.

The new Google Pack with Updater (http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36196) got me thinking about useful and free utilities.

Besides some of the ones on this list like Adobe Acrobat, I use a text editor called EditPad Lite. A more advanced EditPad Pro is available but I find the Lite version excellent and meets all my needs.

Do you have any free or inexpensive favourites?

Desktop Sidebar (http://www.desktopsidebar.com) - I was so impressed by this piece of software that I volunteered to maintain the server and forums.

I use all of the following free software programs and they all work great:

- Ad-Aware (anti-spyware)
- Audacity (audio recording/editing)
- AVG Free (anti-virus)
- DVD Shrink (DVD back-up)
- Firefox (browser)
- OpenOffice (office suite)
- Spybot Search & Destroy (anti-spyware)
- Thunderbird (e-mail client)
- Windows Movie Maker (self-explanatory)
- Zone Alarm (firewall)

See also this thread (http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35291).

DVDShrink.
Power Strip (no, this does not let you watch free porn).
Tweak UI.

I missed this thread in the pre-xmas rush so after eljay's post, I have merged the two threads. Apologies - Hugh

firefox - for tabbed browsing

daemon-tools - virtual hard drives

peerguardian 2 - hides me from the MPAA and RIAA, I think

powerstrip - to use my CRT display as my computer monitor

trillian - cuz my friends all use different messenger clients

diskeeper - i never have to defrag

zoomplayer - more customizable than any other media player

speedfan - just to monitor temps once in a while

GBPVR - excellent free HTPC software

Winamp - for music