It takes far less time to perform a format and re-installation of Windows these days. Instead, I’ve found that re-doing the list of the software tools that I currently have installed and then getting them setup actually takes up the the bulk of my time. To ease things along, I’ve decided to make a list of the current software that I am actively using – loosely categorized into Applications, Internet, Media, Antimalware and Utilities.
Those listed with an (*) are paid/commercial software; the rest are freeware or open-source software. Also, note that while the client software listed under “Utilities (Cloud)” are all free, I do pay a recurring fee for the associated cloud services.
Applications
- Microsoft Office 2010* (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook)
- BlackBerry Desktop Software – Software to manage my BlackBerry smartphone
- Dragon Naturallyspeaking 11.5* – The top voice-recognition software on Windows
- FeedDemon – Windows RSS reader that syncs with Google Reader
- Foxit Reader 5.0 – One of the fastest PDF readers
- Notepad++ – A very powerful text editor
- SmartDraw VP* – Visual processor for quick and easy visuals
- Snagit 10* – Premiere screen-capture software for the Windows platform
- IrfanView – Lighting-fast and lightweight image viewer
- SOTI Pocket Controller-Pro for BlackBerry* – Lets me access my BlackBerry smartphone from the desktop
- XNote Stopwatch* – Professional countdown/timer/stopwatch/clock software
- 7-Zip – A powerful file archiver
- Kindle for PC
- Google Chrome – Web browser software
- Internet Explorer 9 – Web browser software
- Mozilla Firefox – Web browser software
- FileZilla – FTP client software
- Trillian* – Multi-IM client
- iTunes – Enough said
- Windows Media Player – Enough said
- Media Player Classic – Free audio and video player for Windows
- Handbrake – Multiplatform video transcoder
- Creative Smart Recorder – Very useful sound recording software that came with my Sound Blaster X-Fi
Antimalware (Security software)
- Microsoft Security Essentials – Free antivirus scanner by Microsoft
- Faronics Anti-Executable (Standard)* – Whitelisting software
Utilities (Cloud)
- SugarSync Manager – Keeps my documents in for real-time backup protection
- ResophNotes – A simplenotes client to share text notes with my iPhone, iPad
- RescueTime – Software to automatically monitor how you spend your time
- MobileNoter Sync Client – To sync OneNote notebooks to iOS
Utilities (Runs in background)
- Unofficial Apple Wireless Keyboard Support – Helps your Apple Wireless Keyboard work better on Windows
- Synology Assistant – Free utility to help print from the Synology 1511+ NAS
- MaxiVista* – Lets you tap monitors on a spare PC as an extended screen for your Primary PC
- Matrox PowerDesk – Comes free with Matrox TripleHead2Go to manage multiple monitors
- SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive – Software to mount CD/DVD images
- SlySoft AnyDVD* – Removes copy protection from DVDs