How many freeware/open source applications do you use?

[Antmeister]

After I abandoned Outlook for the latest build of Thunderbird, I began to realize I have a number of open source/freeware applications on my computer that I use frequently.

This includes:

OpenOffice
Filezilla
Thunderbird
Firefox
NVu - Web authoring
Windows Snapshot Maker - screenshot utility
Rainlendar - desktop calendar
ZoneAlarm - firewall
Avast! - virus scan
Copernic desktop search
uTorrent
PHP Designer 2006
InfanView
...and many more! This does not even include games that I have.


So my question is where do you rank as a freeware/open source user?

[Cuckoo]

Yeah, I use a lot as well. In fact, I can't remember the last time I bought any software because there are so many great free programs available (although I have donated to developers on multiple occasions).

On that list alone, I use OpenOffice, Thunderbird, FF, ZA and Irfanview. I also use AVG anti-virus and many others including some video and audio software.

[Antmeister]

Yeah, I use a lot as well. In fact, I can't remember the last time I bought any software because there are so many great free programs available (although I have donated to developers on multiple occasions).

On that list alone, I use OpenOffice, Thunderbird, FF, ZA and Irfanview. I also use AVG anti-virus and many others including some video and audio software.

Nice. I am liking this trend that is happening lately. There are a number of freeware programs (especially in the open source realm) that have competed well with commercial applications.

[Lorena]

I pretty much guessed; Antmeister constantly updates my computer so I'm out of the loop on what we bought and what's actually free.

[Cuckoo]

Just out of curiosity, I went and counted them. There are 26 that I either use all the time (those mentioned above) or on a fairly regular basis (those like AdAware or Spybot).

I may have missed some, but it seems I'm certainly a Master. :D

[Lorena]

Just out of curiosity, I went and counted them. There are 26 that I either use all the time (those mentioned above) or on a fairly regular basis (those like AdAware or Spybot).

I may have missed some, but it seems I'm certainly a Master. :D

But are you the master of your own domain?

[Cuckoo]

But are you the master of your own domain?

Oh no, Oh no. I've been married for quite a while, which always necessitates early exit from any such contests... :D

[sterlingice]

This should have been a checklist poll :)
There are a lot of things we tend to take for granted which really are freeware, tho I'm not counting "parts of the OS" in Windows Media Player or IE.

Firefox
Opera
Trillian
mIRC (sysreset)
Eudora (tho it's "sponsored" to be free)
Open Office
Edit Pad Lite
Acrobat Reader
DivX Player
Real Player
Quicktime (well, they are all freeware for the basic versions)
Smart FTP
FTP Genius
Zip Genius
AVG AntiVirus
Zone Alarm
Adaware
Spybot
Hijack This
CCleaner

I guess the final tally is 20. Of course, this doesn't include my Linux partition. This is just in Windows.

SI

[Pumpy Tudors]

I want to use all the software you link me to, Antmeister. :D :D :D :D :D

luv u man ;) :) :) :D

[MJ4H]

Just going through my IconBox plugins in bblean:


FileZilla
Konfabulator
MirandaIM
Firefox
Thunderbird
Opera
Pine
RealVNC
ePrompter
Skype
SmartFTP
A43
Nexus File Manager
Audacity
CDex
DeepBurner
iTunes
Quintessential Player
Winamp
Open Office
Eclipse IDE
Blackbox 4 Windows (bblean)
Antivir
Apache
AutoHotkey
Azureus
Diagram Designer
Gimp
IrfanView
AdAware
Lexpert
Litestep
Real Alternative
RocketDock
SpeedFan
Spybot
Sygate Personal Firewall
TaskSwitchXP
TreeSize
VideoLAN
WinHTTrack
XnView
XNews
ZipGenius
QMixer
SFPack

I actually have more that I use regularly, but these are only the ones that people besides me might use, too.

[Daimyo]

I voted 1-4 because the only ones I use regulary are Firefox, Thunderbird, and Irfanview, but I use a lot of freeware for irregular or one off things like divxtodvd and dvdshrink for converting AVIs from my digital video camera to DVD files.

I'm also not counting things like iTunes, Quicktime, and Acrobat, etc that are provided at no charge, but only because they make their money off you using it other areas... Also not counting my linux boxes... only Windows.

[jbmagic]

After I abandoned Outlook for the latest build of Thunderbird, I began to realize I have a number of open source/freeware applications on my computer that I use frequently.

This includes:

OpenOffice
Filezilla
Thunderbird
Firefox
NVu - Web authoring
Windows Snapshot Maker - screenshot utility
Rainlendar - desktop calendar
ZoneAlarm - firewall
Avast! - virus scan
Copernic desktop search
uTorrent
PHP Designer 2006
InfanView
...and many more! This doess not even including games that I have.


So my question is where do you rank as a freeware/open source user?

how is avast virus scan? does it slow your system down?

thanks

[Antmeister]

how is avast virus scan? does it slow your system down?

thanks

I have noticed no significant slowdown, but I also haven't compared the speed with AVG. I just recently started using it after learning about it from OldGiants. What I like about it is that is updates automatically without intervention and it also does a complete scan of your system before it activates Windows. There is no need to update the engine as AVG does once in a while, but you do have to re-register once a year. Not too bad. Have it on two computers at this time as it doesn't appear to interfere with the daily routines. Played games with it on, designed a few things and no slow down that I am seeing.

[Antmeister]

Just going through my IconBox plugins in bblean:


FileZilla
Konfabulator
MirandaIM
Firefox
Thunderbird
Opera
Pine
RealVNC
ePrompter
Skype
SmartFTP
A43
Nexus File Manager
Audacity
CDex
DeepBurner
iTunes
Quintessential Player
Winamp
Open Office
Eclipse IDE
Blackbox 4 Windows (bblean)
Antivir
Apache
AutoHotkey
Azureus
Diagram Designer
Gimp
IrfanView
AdAware
Lexpert
Litestep
Real Alternative
RocketDock
SpeedFan
Spybot
Sygate Personal Firewall
TaskSwitchXP
TreeSize
VideoLAN
WinHTTrack
XnView
XNews
ZipGenius
QMixer
SFPack

I actually have more that I use regularly, but these are only the ones that people besides me might use, too.


Nice list. You have a few programs I haven't seen before. RocketDock, QMixer, XNews, ePrompter and SFPack and foreign to me.

[jbmagic]

is open office better to use than microsoft office if you have it?

[Antmeister]

is open office better to use than microsoft office if you have it?

I can't say Open Office is better. Especially if you have become accustomed to using Microsoft applications on a daily basis. But for home use, it is great because it is safer. Microsoft products get targeted for more attacks than any other. Plus the other big advantage is that it is free and it has more than enough functions to do things for home, school and work.

What is also nice about this software is that the interface is very similar. You can even open up Microsoft documents in it as well. The only difference is that is doesn't include its own email software in the package, but you can always download Thunderbird if you are looking for an alternative to this as well.

[Antmeister]

...FTP Genius...

I had no idea that this was an addon to ZipGenius. Now I am going to try it out. It looks promising.

[Easy Mac]

Freeware I use:
Firebird
Thunderbird
AVG
Avast
Spybot
Ad-Aware
Microsoft Anti-Spyware (technically free)
Ubuntu Linux
Flock
Ewido
CCleaner
EasyCleaner
Diskeeper Lite
Sunbird
Kerio
GBPVR
MLSM
CacheMan
FoxItReader
PDFCreator
Miranda
Gizmo
Solecismic FTP
Skype
AutoGK
DVD Decrypter
DVD Shrink
Audacity
VLC
Itunes
Winamp
Xvid
Aida32
7-Zip
AC3 Filter
Cutterman
Folder Share
Orb
Irfanview
MusicBrainz
Peer Guardian 2
Picasa
Paint.Net
Opera

[jbmagic]

Freeware I use:
AVG
Avast



it is recommended not to use more than one virus program on the same system.

[Easy Mac]

it is recommended not to use more than one virus program on the same system.
Thanks. 2 computers though.

[sterlingice]

I had no idea that this was an addon to ZipGenius. Now I am going to try it out. It looks promising.It's not bad, it's pretty and bubbly like ZipGenius is, but I think it lacks some of the functionality of the heartier ones like SmartFTP. So, if you want a little all-in-one, it works well, but it doesn't have some of the heavy lifting.

SI

[Groundhog]

Thanks for some great app suggestions guys. Just installed Thunderbird - looking like a good replacement thus far!

[Antmeister]

It's not bad, it's pretty and bubbly like ZipGenius is, but I think it lacks some of the functionality of the heartier ones like SmartFTP. So, if you want a little all-in-one, it works well, but it doesn't have some of the heavy lifting.

SI

Yeah, just had a look at it and I will stick with Filezilla. But SmartFTP does look tempting. However that need isn't here quite yet for that software.

[jbmagic]

what better to use 7-zip or ZipGenius?


does filezilla do resume ?

[Antmeister]

what better to use 7-zip or ZipGenius?


does filezilla do resume ?

I prefer and use ZipGenius since it can even save to the 7-zip format. So in my opinion, I would use ZipGenius and also for the fact that it can open up other compression formats.

And yes, Filezilla does have an ability to resume.

[Emiliano]

My list:

-Firefox
-Thunderbird
-Juice (podcast receiver)
-Videora (converts videos in the iPod format)
-Audiograbber
-Autodown
-DeepBurner
-Google Talk
-Skype
-Mp3gain
-Mp3tag
-Picasa2
-Trillian
-Winamp
-Avast
-Kerio Personal Firewall
-Azureus
-ZipGenius
-xp-Antispy
-Acrobat Reader
-Quicktime
-Real player
-iTunes
-Ad-aware

and, well, a big one:
-Mandriva Linux 2006

[OldGiants]

I have noticed no significant slowdown, but I also haven't compared the speed with AVG. I just recently started using it after learning about it from OldGiants. What I like about it is that is updates automatically without intervention and it also does a complete scan of your system before it activates Windows. There is no need to update the engine as AVG does once in a while, but you do have to re-register once a year. Not too bad. Have it on two computers at this time as it doesn't appear to interfere with the daily routines. Played games with it on, designed a few things and no slow down that I am seeing.I've been running it since October on my older system (Windows 98 SE, 600mhz CPU) and Avast! can occaisionally slow down my system when it updates the virus check. But this happens 99% of the time at start up, so I simply wait until I get the 'updated' message and I'm good to go. It is otherwise terrific and I highly recommend it.

[OldGiants]

Stuff I use regularly:

1) Firefox
2) Thunderbird
3) Avast!
4) Crap Cleaner
5) Irfanview
6) Ace FTP
7) IZ Arc (file compression)

That's what's on my desk top. There's more I futz with like Open Office.

[Antmeister]

...Just going through my IconBox plugins in bblean...

Just checked this one out and I still don't know what it is or what it does. I thought it may be a desktop enhancement, but it looks like something much more. What is this bblean?

[Antmeister]

-Juice (podcast receiver)
-Videora (converts videos in the iPod format)
-Kerio Personal Firewall


Thanks Emiliano, I think I will add these to the freeware list.

[Antmeister]

I've been running it since October on my older system (Windows 98 SE, 600mhz CPU) and Avast! can occaisionally slow down my system when it updates the virus check. But this happens 99% of the time at start up, so I simply wait until I get the 'updated' message and I'm good to go. It is otherwise terrific and I highly recommend it.

Good point. I never thought about the slowdown with the update. And yes, I agree this a terrific virus scanner.

[Drake]

I used Avast until I recently acquired the ZoneAlarm security suite. Avast was far and away the best anti-virus software I'd ever used (especially after using that crappy Norton Corporate garbage, which I'd used for years because I got it free from work).

I still haven't fully decided to trust ZoneAlarm over an Avast/Kerio mix.

[Antmeister]

I used Avast until I recently acquired the ZoneAlarm security suite. Avast was far and away the best anti-virus software I'd ever used (especially after using that crappy Norton Corporate garbage, which I'd used for years because I got it free from work).

I still haven't fully decided to trust ZoneAlarm over an Avast/Kerio mix.

Now that I have Avast, I am going to try out this Kerio. I currently use ZoneAlarm as my firewall, but I noticed that a number of people are using Kerio.

[OldGiants]

This site has lots of freeware links, many of which have been pointed out by Antmeister already, but a few are new names to me:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

I found this while using StumbleUpon, a cool extention for Firefox. Its the best time-waster I've found, and, unlike Mine Sweeper, you will have links to come back to, and much to download.

[Emiliano]

Thanks Emiliano, I think I will add these to the freeware list.
:cool:

Really, great job on the freeware page Ant. For the iPod users, I got 2 more links:
-iTunes XHTML Playlist (http://www.softpedia.com/get/IPOD-TOOLS/Other-IPOD-tools-Updates/iTunes-XHTML-Playlist.shtml) (export your iTunes library into an XHTML page)
-ml_ipod (http://www.mlipod.com/index.php?page=home) (use your iPod with Winamp)
I thought about making "the iPod thread" or something to collect everything, but I'm too lazy at the moment...

[Antmeister]

This site has lots of freeware links, many of which have been pointed out by Antmeister already, but a few are new names to me:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

I found this while using StumbleUpon, a cool extention for Firefox. Its the best time-waster I've found, and, unlike Mine Sweeper, you will have links to come back to, and much to download.

Yeah, I am a StumbleUpon fanatic on certain times of the month. As far as your link, terpkristin already gave me the heads up on this one and I added it on the freeware list a while back. It is on the other section, I think.

[Antmeister]

:cool:

Really, great job on the freeware page Ant. For the iPod users, I got 2 more links:
-iTunes XHTML Playlist (http://www.softpedia.com/get/IPOD-TOOLS/Other-IPOD-tools-Updates/iTunes-XHTML-Playlist.shtml) (export your iTunes library into an XHTML page)
-ml_ipod (http://www.mlipod.com/index.php?page=home) (use your iPod with Winamp)
I thought about making "the iPod thread" or something to collect everything, but I'm too lazy at the moment...

Nice....I gotta look more into that mlipod. I like WinAmp.

[jbmagic]

Antmeister71:

another free ipod software is called Sharepod.

http://www.sturm.net.nz/website.php?Section=iPod+Programs&Page=SharePod


and Pod Player is a freeware application to be used with your iPod. It allows you to play music from your iPod while it is connected to your PC. ...

http://www.ipodsoft.com/index.php?/software/podplayer

[Emiliano]

Interesting stuff jb, thanks. Although I use iTunes, and I like it a lot, I'll probably try these out sometimes.