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See also: Software Warnings

Messaging & Communication

Pidgin

This is a basic multi-platform IM client, it includes support for AIM, Yahoo, MSN and XMPP/Jabber/Google-talk. Consult administration for instructions on configuring for your Groupware.

Skype

For free computer-to-computer voice & video (if supported by your system) calling, Skype is essentially unbeatable. It is by far the most popular such system. (Tip: be sure to go into its configuration and disable the "start extras" option as it just eats up memory and doesn't do anything.

Productivity

OpenOffice 3

Openoffice 3 is about on feature parity with MS Office 2003. It is also not several hundred dollars and highly recommended over the idiotic MS works suite.

Gimp for Windows

Not quite as good as Photoshop but very, very close indeed. Only lack of proper support for CMYK colourspace & hi-bit images holds this fantastic program back from professional adoption.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a fantastic program that makes a folder on your computer that syncs with their servers. Anything you put in that folder then becomes accessible everywhere. For computers without Dropbox software, such as public computers, you can use the website. Dropbox works on all operating systems and you can say goodbye to manual syncing and fiddly stuff! Your administrator recommends putting your documents & other files you work on in your dropbox instead of My Documents. You get 2 gigabytes free, but you get a little extra free space if you use that link.

Foxit PDF reader

Recommended as an alternative to the bloated buggy Adobe PDF Reader.

PrimoPDF

Why pay hundreds for Adobe Acrobat when you can create PDF files from any software you can print from free? Install this software and print to the imaginary "primoPDF" printer to create PDF files. Something you took for granted on UNIX now on Windows.

Multimedia

VLC

VLC (AKA VideoLan client} is the swiss-army-knife of media players, if it can't play it, it probably doesn't exist; VLC is packed with incredible power and versatility. Recommended to have on hand and for better viewing of DVDs, etc. Can also be used as a decent A/V format/codec converter.

Handbrake

A wonderful program that can convert DVDs and pretty much any type of video file to MP4/H.264 very easily.

Internet

Chrome

Using Firefox? Think its slow and crashy? Try Chrome It's incredibly fast and the user interface is much more modern. (Also browse its Extensions. AdThwart highly recommended.)

Security

MS Security Essentials

Third Party antivirus, antispyware etc software is no longer required. Microsoft's own antivirus service is quite good, free and offers compelling speed advantages. Not to mention significantly lower resource usage. This is the antivirus software we recommend.

Software no Longer Recommended

Trillian Astra

This product has introduced ads into its user interface and our recommendation of it has been withdrawn

Xmarks

This product faces an uncertain future and has been acquired by Lastpass, a company with a poor security reputation. Categories: Windows