Software Recommendations

Here's a collection of freeware/shareware that I use all the time. No ads, no BS. Just good applications.

StartupCop	PC Magazine has a collection of some +100 tools, applications, games, and other stuff. Now, the downloads are only available by subscription. In addition to boot time troubleshooting, StartupCop is useful for cleaning out crap from your boot flow. When Windows starts up, it automatically launches a number of programs for you. Some of these come from the Startup folder. Windows also looks in six other locations for files that should be launched at startup. Startup Cop helps you handle problems with programs that are automatically launched at startup by listing them and letting you disable, enable, or delete them. See http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp. Since you can't get it for free anymore from PC Magazine, download here if conscience permits.
	CoffeeCup Free FTP (version 3.0) is the loss leader version of CoffeeCup Software's full product, Direct FTP. The Free version supports drag and drop, somewhat Explorer-like browsing, but/and has a few inobtrusive ads sprinkled in. The full product supports direct HTLM editing on the server and making a zip of your web site. The Free version is available from various download sources (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-01,GGLD:en&q=coffeecup+free+ftp), but not from the company's web page where you can get the full version: http://www.coffeecup.com/.
	Pdf995 is a printer plug-in which allows you to create high quality .pdf files from any Windows app (without paying megabuck to Adobe). I've used pdf995 for some technical publications. Screaming fast and dead nuts accurate. Nice job! Pdf995 makes it easy and affordable to create professional-quality documents in the popular PDF file format. Its easy-to-use interface helps you to create PDF files by simply selecting the "print" command from any application, creating documents which can be viewed on any computer with a PDF viewer. Nagware (put up with a few browser popups on each use) or optional US$10 Shareware (worth it): http://www.pdf995.com/
Ad-aware	Screens your PC for all sorts of snoop and nuisance software, such as pop-up ads and cookies, and other less benign applications (got Gator? Doh!!). "Ad-aware is THE award winning, multi-trackware detection and removal utility (designed for Windows 98 / 98SE / ME / NT40 / 2000 / XP Home / XP Pro) that will comprehensively scan your memory, registry, hard, removable and optical drives for known Datamining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, Keyloggers, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components." Freeware to personal users!!! Published by Swedes. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
	An excellent screen saver which displays your selection of digital photos. Supports your choice of specific directories, transition effectsz, pause and manually step forward and backward through the collection, and even play music files. I've been using this guy's app since ~1998, and have given him several suggestions along the way. V1.4 is freeware. V2 software is US$14 (and is fair compensation for an excellent product) http://www.gphotoshow.com/
RPN Calc	I grew up on RPN calculators. My first was an HP-25, the first of their programmable calculators, and then a HP-41C with card reader,... (who cares). Anyway, when I have to punch up some numbers I much prefer to use RPN over the standard Windows calculator or any with and equals button. Here's a Windows RPN calculator that I've used for many years (check out the file dates in the .zip!). It is programmable, supports a full boat of eng and trig functions, the stack is visible, copy/paste the X-reg from/to the Windows clipboard, and is easily driven from the keyboard. Legacy Systems doesn't seem to be around anymore, so here's the full install version (.zip). If you find someone to pay the $15 shareware fee to, do as you see fit.
	PSP is an easy-to-use picture editor. I use it primarily for cropping, resizing, and sorting pictures into directories. Erik uses it for doctoring up pictures of his friends. $70 at Costco. ~$20 on ebay. http://www.jasc.com/
	ImageWalker is the app that I use to build my photo collection web pages (i.e., with thumbnails on the left). US$20 requested shareware fee. http://www.imagewalker.com/
	WinMX is a non-ad-based peer-to-peer file sharing app. Don't mess with Kazah or Morpheous; you'll only mess up your system and be pestered by ads. "WinMX is a FREE file-sharing program like no other. It allows you to connect, download, and share files with MILLIONS of other users through the decentralized WinMX Peer Network. Once WinMX is installed, you'll have access to one of the largest and most diverse networks of shared media files in the world. And unlike many other 'peer to peer' software providers, we respect your privacy and will never sell you out to spyware. When you download WinMX, you're getting WinMX and only WinMX, no bundled spyware, no ads, no B.S." Freeware. http://www.winmx.com/
dBpowerAMP Music Converter	Shell extension (extends your Windows Explorer right click menu) for a "Convert to" option for .wav to/from mp3 files. Companion app provides convenient ripping audio CDs. A hover pop-up provides extensive details for audio files. Base dMC is freeware. Lots of codecs and other apps that may be worth your money. http://www.dbpoweramp.com/
Directory Toolkit	An excellent app for comparing and synching two directories. I use DirTK most often for creating accumulated backups on CDRWs of my personal file directory trees. US$25 shareware. http://www.funduc.com/
AuctionMagic Snipe	Rather than getting involved in a bidding war, use Snipe to place your maximum bid in the last 10 seconds of an an eBay auction. Worth its weight in gold. The author regularly posts updates when eBay changes there pages. US$13 shareware. http://www.merlinsoftware.com/auctionmagic/
	UD allows you to farm out your spare compute cycles to worthy causes, like analysis of chemicals for cancer cures. Can be set to run all the time as a low priority process on XP, or only as a screen saver. Intel was a partner/sponsor when this effort was kicked off. Freeware. http://www.ud.com/

Try buying commercial software on eBay. OEM versions are often available. WindowsXP, Roxio, PSP, PowerDVD, ...

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Last updated: March 20, 2005