Filed under: Lists
[This post is infrequently updated. Last Update - 7/2008]
This is not meant to be a one-stop shop for the best programs around. It’s just a list of few programs I use are like that other people might not have known about but could find useful. This list took me awhile to compile because I usually try at least a bunch problems before deciding which one I like best.
Expectations: free | quick | small | simple/ease of use | not bloated with useless features | low resource consumption (CPU/RAM)
[Programs] = similar (possibly more popular, but inferior) programs
AutoStitch - Panorama Creator / Photo Stitcher - 1.0mb
+automatically stitches together a large panorama from a collection of images
AVG Anti-Virus - Antivirus - 47.0mb - [Norton, McAfee]
+install and forget about it, exactly what I expect from an Anti-Virus program +frequently downloads new virus definitions
*Avast! is also great, just heavier on resources
CCleaner - System Optimization / Privacy Tool - 2.8mb
+quick +cleans all kinds of junk (temp files, cache, etc) +registry scanner
Drive Rescue - Data Recovery - 1.0mb
+when my HD’s FAT was corrupted, this was the ONLY free program (out of the 30+ I tested) that could find all of my files and recover them with the filenames intact
*1.9d is the last freeware version. They were bought out and this program is now being sold as FILERECOVERY.
Gadwin PrintScreen - Screen Capture / Window Capture - 2.8mb - [PrtScn Button]
+want to send someone a quick screenshot (not fullscreen)? it could not be easier with this program +hit printscreen, it saves selected area (rectangle, window, or fullscreen) to file/clipboard
*alternative: Screen Grab Pro
FastStone Image Viewer - Image Viewer - 4.1mb - [ACDSee, IrfanView, Picasa]
+feature loaded but easy to use +the more you use it the more you will like it +cannot compliment enough
Firefox - Web Browser - 7.8mb
*check out my Firefox extensions page
FolderSize - Shell Extension - 0.2mb
+adds new column to the Details view in Windows Explorer that shows the size of files/folders
*alternative: WinDirStat - disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool
FoxIt Reader - PDF Reader - 2.6mb - [Adobe Reader]
+quick +small +single .exe file (no install required)
*related: PDF Split and Merge - split and merge pdf documents
IZarc - Free File Compressor / File Archiver - 3.6mb - [WinZip, 7-Zip, WinRAR]
+better GUI then 7-Zip
*just as good if not better: ZipGenius
LogMeIn - Remote Access / Desktop Control Software - 9.5mb - [GoToMyPC, PCAnywhere, Remote Desktop]
+secure +works behind corporate firewalls +quick/simple install +java based GUI +great for troubleshooting remotely
*if you also need FileTransfer/Remote Printing try Ultr@VNC
ReNamer - Batch File Renamer - 1.4mb
Startup Control Panel - Startup Utility - 0.1mb
Startup Monitor - Startup Utility - 0.1mb
+a lot of programs have these features, none are as small/simple +startup monitor alerts you when any program wants to register itself to run at system startup, this is GREAT FOR STOPPING SPYWARE. It alerts you, hit “deny” if its a bogus program, end of threat.
SyncBack Freeware - File Backup/Synchronization - 1.8mb
*also good: SyncToy
TweakUI - System Resources Tune-Up - 0.1mb
+loads of tweaks for windows
µTorrent - BitTorrent client - 0.2mb
+efficient +feature rich +very small footprint +single .exe file (no install required)
xplorer2 - File Manager / Windows Explorer Replacement - 2.7mb
+lightweight +dual pane +folder tabs
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This is very helpful(most of it).
Comment by Ashlee 04.15.06 @ 10:14 pm