Computer Reboot: Software

Linux Software:

Each Linux distribution ships with varying software to do particular tasks. Below is a list of programs that are widely available for common tasks on Linux.

Windows Software:

On any Windows computer we work on, we install a collection of free software that we call Windows Ware. It includes the following:

  • OpenOffice.org - A free Microsoft Office alternative that can read and write all the file formats Microsoft Office can, without the high price.
  • Mozilla Firefox - A fully functional, fast, and secure browser that is comparable to Internet Explorer in Windows.
  • Google Chrome - Chrome is a fast and secure web browers made by Google.
  • Mozilla Thunderbird - Mozilla Thunderbird is a great Email client, comparable to Outlook. It is easy to set up because it automatically configures your account settings once you give it an email address.
  • Deluge Bittorent Client - Deluge is a free, multi-platform (Windows, Linux, Mac) BitTorrent client that has plugin support.
  • VLC Media Player - A free multi-platfrom media player, comparable to Windows Media Player, that plays just about anything, from DVD's to any movie file format to ripped images of Video DVD's.
  • GNU Cash - GnuCash is free accounting software, comparable to Quickbooks, that follows good accounting practices. GnuCash allows you to track bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses.
  • Audacity - Open source software for recording and editing sounds. It supports recording live audio, editing MP3's, cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together, and much more!
  • Wine - Wine lets you run Windows software on other operating systems, including Linux. With Wine, you can install and run these applications just like you would in Windows.
  • GIMP - GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is free image software, comparable to Photoshop, and used for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, such as Linux, in many languages.
  • K3B CD/DVD Burning - K3B is a free cd/dvd burner/ripping utility, comparable to Nero™.
  • Blender - Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.
  • OpenOffice.org - A free Microsoft Office alternative that can read and write all the file formats Microsoft Office can, without the high price.
  • Mozilla Firefox - A free internet browser that is safer than Internet Explorer. It has many advantages such as the ability to install plugins and themes.
  • VLC Media Player - A free multi-platform media player that plays just about anything, from DVD's to any movie file format to ripped images of Video DVD's.
  • Clamwin - Clamwin Anti-Virus is a free antivirus software. All the updates are free and they will always be free.
  • Spybot Search and Destroy - Spybot Search & Destroy is a free anti-spyware utility that is very effective in removing malicious software from your Windows system.
  • CCleaner - CCleaner, or "Crap Cleaner", removes unwanted and unused files that clog up a Windows system.
  • Defraggler - Defraggler is a defragging utility that is faster than the Windows utility and has some other useful options.
  • Infrarecorder - Infrarecorder is a free CD/DVD burning program, which is a good replacement program for proprietary programs such as Roxio and Nero.
  • µTorrent - µTorrent is a free, fast, and lightweight BitTorrent client. Very useful in downloading large files such as Linux distributions!
  • Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) is a fast, efficient, and very useful scanner.