The Top 5 Game: Essential Software

So we were talking around the office about how all of our desk computers are completely shot to hell from years of software tests, installs/uninstalls, weird registry entries, and data fragmented up and down the block. Ok, my computer's in worse shape than most (they actually brought the beast down from SF for me, much to my dismay), but those of you who like to experiment on your own systems know how nice is it to stop the insanity and start over with a clean slate.

This brings me to today's Top 5 Game:
If you had to choose, what five programs do you consider must-installs on a fresh and clean OS?

Here are mine (XP):

1. AIM (but only when combined with AIMutation for tabbed browsing, etc)

2. iTunes

3. WinRAR

4. Firefox (extensions: IE View, BugMeNot, Firesomething, GoogleBar to start)

5. Spybot Search & Destroy

Ok, what are your faves?

Comments

[matt]

here is one more for you.

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-6b8e63fb10-4b1565a0ef-16ec52c472

[Noel]

PuTTY, x-chat, epsilon, winkey32, vmware

[Matt C]

Now there's a good way to get the comments section going...

I'll put a couple top 5's up here

First, the top 5 listed programs in my Start Menu:

Paint Shop Pro 8FileZillaNotepadWordAdobe Illustrator CS

Favorite 5 Freeware

BitTorrentPicasaw.bloggarDVD Decrypter/DVD Shrinkand I'm not much of an IM'er, but when I need it, Trillian

Favorite 5 I use for work-related ventures

PublisherWindows Movie MakerCutePDFPaint Shop ProFirstClass (email system)

Favorite 5 I should have paid for

Paint Shop ProAdobe Illustrator CSNero 6 UltraFrontpagePublisher

[Kevin]

1. Gaim2. OpenOffice3. Umm, that's all I can think of, lol, I've only had Linux for a few days..

[Steve Sizemore]

0- Abiword (open source MS Word Replacement)1- Firefox2- Nero3- DVD Shrink4- Flash FXP (best FTP program out there)5- UltraEdit (awesome txt editor)6- iTunes7- WinRar8- GMail Notifier9- Secure SSH

[SDC]

Pornosaur. /blush

[nevarius]

my first five would have to be mostly security related:1. norton internet security 2004 w/anti-virus2. ad-aware3. spybot search and destory4. trojan hunter (picks up what 1-3 dont)5. trillian (why have multi IM's when one will do)

[JamesB]

if anyone wants a gmail invite, im me on aim: jbjr1712 and we can work something out

[Matt]

just wondering how did the original gmail invites come out.

[vakky]

1. Firefox2. Winamp 2.813. Ad-Aware4. Photoshop5. CoreFTP

and, I doubt you do, but I always gotta have these games:6. Starcraft7. All Age of Empires games (not counting AoM)8 or 9. Some version of Unreal Tournament.

[Devin]

Notice how everyone is saying the same thing??

1. Winamp2. Newsbin Pro3. Trillian4. BS Player and codecs5. Keepass6. Soulseek7. Firefox8. Open Office

[POMP]

1. AVG Anti-Virus2. ZoneAlarm3. Spybot Search & Destroy / SpywareBlaster4. Ad-aware5. Firefox

Get your Gmail invites while they last at www.pomp.us

[Cory]

Hey all! If you go over to my website, http://www.geocities.com/hackdot_com , there are 5 g-mail invites. First five to click on the link gets the invite! Please only one invite per person!

[Eric]

Here are my top 5:1.Firefox (plus many extensions)2.Thunderbird (plus many extensions)3.RSS Reader4.iTunes5.Mobydock DX (thanks Sarah!)

Some other notables- Spyware Doctor, Yahoo Messenger, Trillian, Mozilla 1.8 alpha, Steam, DVD Decryptor, DVD Shrink

[Steve]

When CodeWeavers finally releases new version of CrossOver Office, I'll be able to use iTunes in linux.

I'm thinking at this point, I'll use windows for for developing windows applications and linux for everything else.

[GmailGuy]

With me the free ipods and ill give a gmail accountemail me at gmailswapguy@dodgeit.com

[CzarDestructo]

Firefox is over rated, Opera has been doing these same things for years without the need for a bunch of plugins.

1. Opera2. Gaim3. Winamp4. Soulseek5. Leech FTP

[Josh]

I have to pick 5? Bah.

1. Trillian Pro 22. Winamp3. mIRC4. Dreamweaver MX5. Photoshop

[Jake]

I guess I have different priorities then everyone else since I have been using my computer mainly for schoolwork lately.

1) Office 2003 Professional w/ Office OneNote2) Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.03) CuteFTP Professional 3.34) FeedDemon5) Programming Compilers (Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET, etc.)

[michael]

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-4071ef22a5-821fea9827-646ceb9daehttp://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-4071ef22a5-d8971a50b6-92e2f74f25http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-4071ef22a5-7321a42799-e4b3f5a549

Enjoy!!!

[GoTeamCanada]

I have 6 GMail invites if anyone is interested. Just drop me a line at BomberManiac "AT" gmail "DOT" com and I'd be happy to send you an invite. Cheers. :)

[john]

I have four Gmail invites. E-mail meif you want one.

[queenlynx]

I'm giving away gmail at my blog http://queenlynx.blogspot.com

[furgy]

badger,badger,badger,badger,badger,mushroom mushroom

[POMP]

www.pomp.us is gonna have a Gmail blowout sometime after midnight (MST) tonight.

[Corin]

1) Gaim2) WS_FTP Pro3) Firefox4) MS Office 20005) Visual Studio 2005 Express

[Poolside]

Instead of AIM I would have installed MSM with "Secway"-By encrypting messages before they leave your computer to the Internet, SimpLite-MSN prevents eavesdroppers from reading your personal MSN Messenger conversations.www.secway.com

[Louis]

AVG free anti virus software!!!

[JR]

1) AVG Anti-Virus2) Zonealarm3) Spybot4) Ad-Aware5) Spyware Blaster

[smeager]

here you go more to comehttps://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-3a29206cd9-03a493ffb5-1e880c133b

[ThundaOne]

I HAVE 0 MORE GMAIL ACCOUNTS TO GIVE!

[mike]

another one:http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-dcab043217-569ccbf9a3-d2cc3b4faa

http://www.go-download.com

[Matt Hakkers]

Thnx ThundaOne for the gmail invite!!!

[michael]

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-4071ef22a5-f1b2d23c51-33dd8cda5b

One more for kicks. Enjoy!

[michael]

link has been used

[Steve]

Sarah, I think my next system is going to be Gentoo linux. Takes a while to install; but everything is configurable during install including kernel.

[J Mac]

I couldn't find a place to post any gmail invites on kevin rose dot com, so if you want any, email me as I have 6 to give away!

seattlesportsfan@gmail.com

Good luck!

[Matt]

J Mac thanks so much finally off aol yay

[J Mac]

No problem. Enjoy the gmail. :)

I still have 3 Invites left!!

seattlesportsfan@gmail.com

[Matt]

J Mac add them 2 the kevin rose gmail list @ kevinrose.com

[J-Mac]

I have already posted 40 there... these I felt like givin them away now... :)

[Zach]

Thanks for the Gmail J-Mac

[Patrick]

Definitly Firefox and Spyboy S&D. I prefer IZArc over WinRaR et al cause it freeware and it supports ton of archive formats (rar, ace, arj, and zip etc).

If you want to try IZArc you get it from Snapfile.com

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/izarc.html

I have 6 Gmail invites if anyone is interested. Just send me an email at address provided (prh_99@yahoo.com) (the first 6 people get the invites). I would post my gmail address but spam bots have nasty habit of harvesting email addresses and I don't want to fill it up with requests of invites.

[joey]

send me your request for invite.

[Coronaboy]

1. WinRAR2. Trillian3. AdAware SE4. Open Office5. Firefox

[Eagle.007]

Zone AlarmAVG Anti VirusAD AwareFirefoxAIM

[Eagle.007]

Zone AlarmAVG Anti VirusAD AwareFirefoxAIM

[James]

I just sent 6 to Kevin for the give away, and figured I'd post some to Sarah's site also.....enjoy em!

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-d932489bae-f0ae54848e-19c74b66d2http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-d932489bae-e38c46c897-f278a79933http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-d932489bae-a1fd0c8e66-4754f706fahttp://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-d932489bae-05059b6ee5-0da792e1b4http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-d932489bae-dc4a97f9b5-1a516432a5http://gmail.google.com/gmail/a-d932489bae-d129cf3f03-f764b20b76

[Andy]

Email if you would like a gmail invite.

andy.ca@gmail.com

[Andrew]

Hey James thanks for the Gmail! I've been trying to get one for months!