Necessary Software for New Computers

[trust]

What are some necessary or useful/recommended applications for new computers?

I got a laptop a couple of days ago for senior year, it was inexpensive but it's supposed to go to my sister when I go to college and get a nice one. (Though I plan to tell them that a 9 year old does not need a laptop and that I should keep it and get a Mac so that I have a Mac and Windows machine and just give her my desktop or something.)

Currently I have:

Norton
Windows Defender (Microsoft Antispyware)
Microsoft Office 2003
Rhapsody
Gaim
Firefox
Yahoo Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
DVD Play (it came bundled...I haven't tried it out yet but it may be replaced with PowerDVD)
Student 2006 (I have this on my main computer...it's a legal copy but I don't have the isos or install discs I don't think. I'm not sure if I can install it or whatever on my laptop still. I think I might have to download it from bittorrent and then use my serial.)

I'm looking mostly for productivity stuff, as I don't plan on using this for much more than listening to music, talking to friends, schoolwork, and burning dvds. (My desktop doesn't have a dvd burner and it's a hassle to go downstairs and use the other computer to burn dvds)

Thanks

[CrAz3D]

Photoshop is always nice

[Joe]

First, I suggest replacing Photoshop and MSOffice with Gimp and OpenOffice. I've had less issues with the latter programs. After installing Gaim, Yahoo Messenger is essentially useless. Norton is (was?) notorious for wrecking all kinds of outgoing gaming server connections (to name one, StealthBot had tons of issues), so personally I use ClamWin for anti-virus. As for spyware, I'd much rather trust my box to S&D + TeaTimer (built in realtime anti-spyware) than Windows Defender, but MS Antispyware seemed alright back in beta.

[Newby]

If he's on Windows, Joe, might as well use software tailored to the OS. Gimp and OpenOffice are crap in Windows.

Trust: Replace Norton with Kaspersky. I can hook up a 1 year license if you want. Did I mention that license autorenews itself?

[RoMi]

Gimp doesn't come close to photoshop.  If its a laptop get NetStumbler, never know when you need an open access point (iago knows my wifi hopping habits).  Process Explorer & notepad2 replace their windows equivalents.  I put VMware on my laptop, and carry a Linux live dvd, to save on space which is usually at a premium on a laptop, and boot that when I want to do something in Linux.

[Warrior]

First, I suggest replacing Photoshop and MSOffice with Gimp and OpenOffice. I've had less issues with the latter programs. After installing Gaim, Yahoo Messenger is essentially useless. Norton is (was?) notorious for wrecking all kinds of outgoing gaming server connections (to name one, StealthBot had tons of issues), so personally I use ClamWin for anti-virus. As for spyware, I'd much rather trust my box to S&D + TeaTimer (built in realtime anti-spyware) than Windows Defender, but MS Antispyware seemed alright back in beta.

Open Office doesnt come close to Microsoft Office.

[Krazed]

I like OpenOffice, the load times are just slow as shit for me.

[trust]

k well I'm not getting gimp or open office. though my mom uses open office at work. (thanks to me installing it)

[Krazed]

Uhm!! I always install WoW, WinRAR (the windows stock ones suck), Some spyware shit, an Anti-Virus, aim, winamp, and thats about it. Windows Office is nice to have. Oh right, need to install firefox. And maybe thunderbird, thats nice too if you use email a lot.

[trust]

I have Firefox, no ned for an email client because I just use gmail with gmail notifer and that works fine for me. I don't use winamp since I pay $10/month for Rhapsody, and most single media files I just play in WMP. But good suggestion on winrar I hadn't thought about decompression programs.

[zorm]

7zip is way nicer than WinRAR and free too.

My personal computers run without antivirus and antispyware so those would probably be the first things to be deleted if it was me. I have better things to waste cpu cycles on!

How about a text editor? I've been using Editplus for years and it hasn't made me disappointed yet. Its so good that I'm actually considering buying it.

Although you said you weren't another for me is Media Player Classic and ffdshow. I can play pretty much anything with those two.

[Newby]

A comparison of 7zip and WinRAR showed 7zip jumped to 100% CPU Usage in every aspect. I forgot but IIRC it was on digg a while ago, and the author concluded with "7zip may outperform WinRAR occasionally, but all around WinRAR is still the winner" or something to that effect.

[Blaze]

MagicISO, Daemon tools.

[deadly7]

7zip is way nicer than WinRAR and free too.

WinRAR is free.  Despite the fact that after the 40-day mark an annoying message pops up every time you open it saying "Please buy WinRAR" or something, it still lets you use it.

[zorm]

A comparison of 7zip and WinRAR showed 7zip jumped to 100% CPU Usage in every aspect. I forgot but IIRC it was on digg a while ago, and the author concluded with "7zip may outperform WinRAR occasionally, but all around WinRAR is still the winner" or something to that effect.

Dunno, I've been using 7zip for years now and have no complaints. It works very well. It may use 100% cpu or close to it but who cares? Most of the time if I'm unzipping something thats acceptable but note that I haven't seen this behavior.