Mike Brawley Exploring the World!

Programs I can’t live without!

I have had plenty of people ask me what I run on my computer and what programs they should run.  Well It's hard to tell someone what programs they should run as I do not know what you use your computer for.  But I can tell you what programs I run and cant live without.  Last night I built a new computer as I have been running the same computer for about 5 years now. It was definitely time to upgrade.  So here is the list of programs I installed as soon as I finished installing Windows. You will note that all of the programs listed below are free and available to download.

• Firefox (A web browser that I prefer over Internet Explorer for its extensions)
• Xmarks (Extension for Firefox (allows me to sync my bookmarks between my computers)
• Web Developer (A Firefox extension that adds a web developer toolbar with all sorts of useful things)
• Toggle Web Developer Toolbar (adds an icon to toggle the Web Developer Toolbar)
• Google Chrome (Yes I run more then one web browser. I basically just use chrome to view my business email.)
• Adobe Flash Player (Almost every website today requires adobe flash to play animated adds or watching movies.)
• Foxit Reader (A lightweight Acrobat file reader that I prefer over Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• Dropbox (Dropbox is a file sync tool to sync files between multiple computers. Great tool if you have a desktop and a laptop and want to have some files available on both.)
• Notepad++ (Can't live without this text editor. It's an advanced version of notepad with line numbers and highlights multiple types of code for those that prefer to edit code with a txt editor.)
• FileZilla Client (An open source FTP file transfer application. I use this for uploading website files.)
• OpenOffice (An open source office suite that is comparable to Microsoft Office)
• MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD-ROM (A virtual CD/DVD-Rom software allowing you to mount ISO images and have them show up as if you have multiple DVD drives.)
• uTorrent (A torrent downloading application for downloading Torrents.)
• WINAMP (A great media player that I have been using since middle school.)
• TeamViewer (A remote access application that you can use to remotely access your computer or give remote support to others. Free for personal use.)
• doPDF (A PDF print distiller for creating PDF files from any program by printing to doPDF.)
• KeePass  (A password manager application for storing passwords)
• KeeFox (A Firefox plugin to integrate KeePass into Firefox)
• VLC Media Player (A free open source multimedia player.)
• Microsoft Security Essentials (a free Anti-Virus program that Microsoft released a few years ago.)
• 7-Zip (Open Source file compression software)
• Backup Planet (Online Backup software so I know I will never loose any data)

Find more great open soure applications to fit your needs at GetLEET.com  GeetLEET.com is a website I created to post open source applications that I use from time to time. Mainly a place so I can actually remember what I have used and find where to download it again.