Software Good Free Utility/Productivity Programs

beancounter

beancounter

The Fire That Burns Within
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In my experience, it's challenging to find high quality free utility programs, so I thought a thread devoted to the subject would be useful.

Please add any programs you've had a good experience with.

As always, scan any file you download with an antivirus program before running it.

Here are some good ones I've found:

CCleaner: A program for cleaning your hard drive and regstry. IMO, the best all in one out there.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

Smart defrag. A good defrager, although it's not needed for Windows 7.
http://www.iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html

Open Office: Everyone knows about this, but just in case you didn't:
http://www.openoffice.org/

and Libre Office:
http://www.libreoffice.org/

Zoner Photo: a photo editing program:
http://free.zoner.com/

Process Lasso:
http://bitsum.com/processlasso/

Speccy: To find out info on your PC hardware
http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Websites for free downloads
http://filehippo.com/
http://www.majorgeeks.com/

This site is hit or miss. Sometimes good stuff, often crap-ware.
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/
 
I have used the GIMP photo program for years and years on Linux and Windows machines. You don't have to shell out hundreds of dollars for Photoshop. Admittedly I only do basic photo editing, but the program is capable of advanced manipulations.
I have used Open Office also and always recommend it.
 
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For many years, there was a list of the best freeware put together by the chief participants in the Usenet alt.comp.freeware (ACF) discussion group. This list was called "Pricelessware." Unfortunately, the last such list came out in 2008. You can still find the list (with links to the download sites) here:

http://www.manitoulinislandindex.com/revisedfreeware.html

[Other useful freeware is listed here, too.]

The list is broken down by categories.

Now, some will say that the idea of consulting a 2008 list is just stupid and hopelessly outdated. But this is not necessarily so. If "the GIMP" was listed as one of the best photo editing programs, just go to their website and download the current version. And so on.

Suit yourself.
 
beancounter said:
Thanks Joe. Lot's of great choices!

Do me a favor. If it's not obvious, please indicate what the program is for/what it does?
Click to expand...

I'm about half-way through the list. Let me finish posting the list, then I can go back and fill in descriptions.

Which programs are "not obvious" and need descriptions? You tell me.
 
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