Did you get a new computer for Christmas? Are you setting up a new computer for someone? We got a list of free programs that you should put on the new computer for the not-techie person and a list for the techie person.
The first thing you need to do is uninstall all those programs that come on the computer that are shareware and trialware and just advertisements. Directions for removing all this junk software is in a great PCWorld article.
List of programs for the non-techie
- Chrome – Our choice as the best web browser.
- Windows Live Essentials – a group of free Windows program like Mail, Movie Maker, Messender, and more.
- Microsoft Security Essentials – Our choice for the best free anti-Malware programs
- Open Office – Free Office suite program that is a replacement for Microsoft Office.
- GNU Cash – A free accounting program to replace Microsoft Money or Quicken.
- Foxit Reader – A faster and better alternative to Adobe Reader
- VLC – is a great program for playing just about any audio or video type.
- GIMP – A great image editor program that is a replacement for the very expensive Adobe Photoshop
- Pidgin – A great universal chat program.
- Evernote – A great note taking program that sync’s across multiple platforms
- 7-Zip – A file compression and de-compression program that works in multiple compression formats.
- Log Me In – Now add a remote access program so that when they call, you can remote into their computer and fix.
For the techie also add these program
- Notepad ++ – A great text editor writing and editing code.
- FileZilla – A great FTP program
- Kompozer – A WYSIWYG editor for web design
- Handbrake – A opensource program for ripping DVD
- Putty – A SSH and Telnet client program.
- Hijack This – A free program for cleaning up the computer, but should be only used by an expert as you can really mess up the computer.
- True Crypt – An open source, on the fly, encryption and de-encryption program.
Now installing these programs again and again on multiple computers can take a long time and allot of work. You can automate this process by using a program called Install Pad. This will let you install the latest version of you list of programs to each new computer.
