05-28-2008, 02:44 PM
Here's a list of 25 freeware programs that folks "may find useful or even fun!" It's taken from one of the recent issues of Consumer Reports (the Electronics Buying Guide - Spring 200
, as I thought it'd be a useful page to photocopy while at work.
Security Software
General Programs
Utilities

Security Software
- Avast Virus Cleaner (www.avast.com) - Antivirus software (Consumer Reports tested and recommended)
- AVG Anti-Virus (http://free.grisoft.com) - Antivirus software
- Spybot Search & Destroy (www.spybot.info) - Antispyware program (Consumer Reports tested and recommended)
- Ad-Aware (www.lavasoftusa.com) - Antispyware software
- Comodo Free Firewall (www.personalfirewall.comodo.com - Software firewall
- McAfee SiteAdvisor (www.siteadvisor.com - Also runs on Macs with Firefox) - Add-on for Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers warns when surfing to web sites known to transmit viruses, spyware, pop-up ads, and other unpleasantries.
- Replicator (www.karenware.com) - Automatically backs up files, directories, entire drives.
General Programs
- Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net - Also runs on Mac OS X) - Multitracking audio recorder and editor. Also digitizes tapes, MiniDiscs, and vinyl recordings.
- Envisioneer Express (http://www.envisioneerexpress.com) - Create your own 3D home designs. Large download. Expanded pay version available.
- EssentialPIM Free (http://www.essentialpim.com) - Personal information manager that lets you import data from many different sources.
- GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) (http://www.gimp.org - Also runs on MAC OS X) - A replacement for Adobe Photoshop. Somewhat difficult to learn but full-featured. Check the download instructions carefully.
- DSpeech (http://dimio.altervista.org/eng) - Allows your computer to read text aloud. Also saves spoken text to MP3 or WAV file. Check the developer's page for free components you might need to download.
- GreatNews (http://curiostudio.com) - RSS feed reader that offers different view styles, including newspaper-style page layout.
- IrfanView (http://www.irfanview.com) - Handy image-viewing program. Also download and install the package of add-ons.
- Money Manager Ex (http://www.thezeal.com/software) - Money-management software that handles banking, investment, and budgeting.
- Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com) - Popular web browser that you can customize with many free downloadable extensions. [In addition, Firefox is also typically faster than IE and more secure!]
- OpenOffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org) - Complete office suite, including word processor and spreadsheet, compatible with Microsoft Office formats. (Large download)
- Picasa (http://picasa.google.com) - Google's photo-organizing and basic editing tool for those who don't need full-featured editing software such as the commercial Photoshop or free GIMP.
- W.bloggar (http://wbloggar.com) - Blogging software that lets you publish on most blogs. Handles multiple accounts. Includes a spelling checker.
- Weather Watcher (http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/weather...tcher.html) - Turns your computer desktop into a personal weather station for more than 77,000 cities worldwide.
Utilities
- Gadwin Printscreen (http://www.gadwin.com) - Expands your computer's screen-capture ability to entire screen or a selected area, Prints captured area, copies to Windows clipboard, sends by e-mail, or saves.
- Google Toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com) - Lets you conduct a wide range of searches from Internet Explorer and Firefox.
- MjM Free Photo Recovery Software (http://www.mjm.co.uk/freephotorecoverysoftware.html) - Recovers deleted JPEG images from many types of digital-camera media cards. Also recovers images from reformatted cards.
- Rename Master (http://joejoesoft.com) - Renames files in bulk with options to automatically insert or delete characters.
- Yankee Clipper 3 (http://www.intelexual.com/products) - Expands Windows clipboard by automatically saving anything you cut or copy. Also stores signatures and information that you can paste into many applications.
I Am the Sea
Need an easy way to host/link files and images? Check this thread!
Try to never just say, "My character isn't interested in that adventure." A lot of people mistake this for good roleplaying, because you are asserting your character's personality. Wrong. Good roleplaying should never bring the game to a screeching halt. One of your jobs as a player is to come up with a reason why your character would be interested in a plot. After all, your personality is entirely in your hands, not the DM's. Come up with a reason why the adventure (or the reward) might appeal to you, no matter how esoteric or roundabout the reasoning. -(Source)
Need an easy way to host/link files and images? Check this thread!
Try to never just say, "My character isn't interested in that adventure." A lot of people mistake this for good roleplaying, because you are asserting your character's personality. Wrong. Good roleplaying should never bring the game to a screeching halt. One of your jobs as a player is to come up with a reason why your character would be interested in a plot. After all, your personality is entirely in your hands, not the DM's. Come up with a reason why the adventure (or the reward) might appeal to you, no matter how esoteric or roundabout the reasoning. -(Source)