What FREE programs would YOU bundle with a new PC?

[DereX888]

There are very very few common uses of crappy PDF for a 'normal' user.

The idea is to provide a delivery format that the normal user can't edit such as a plain text file. There's certainly other uses such as manuals and publications that are going to contain many sources for material all wrapped up into a single file.

Yes, I agree (Manuals came to my mind too when I was writing previous reply) but only partially, because youre talking about the past IMHO...
However, in this day, even standard HTML format (that can contain much more than PDF ever will) packed with a high compression such az 7zip does much better job in both ways: compressibility and ubiquity.
Obviously almost every operating system big and small has a web browser capable of reading HTML (so no need for some idiotic proprietary multimegabyte PDF reader) and in most cases it would be more practical too (because even low-copressed ZIP files can be open and read on vast majority of devices, if not possibly on all devices, starting from modern mobile phones up to any obscure PC operating systems you can imagine).
Can you read PDF on a java-based "dumb" cellphone? You can't. Yet there are many ZIP tools for Java Mobile Edition that take tiny fraction of the size of PDF Reader (which isn't available for such platform anyways), and every dumbphone can display standard HTML pages on its built-in browser

I won't comment on "format that the normal user can't edit such as a plain text file" because I'm sure you know that if someone is willing to forge i.e. invoice, PDF format isn't any problem even for as unknowledgeable person as me...

[thecoalman]

The trouble with HTML is you have multiple files, browser compatibility, printer scaling issues etc. PDF avoids all that because the document is rendered the same each and every time.

I won't comment on "format that the normal user can't edit such as a plain text file" because I'm sure you know that if someone is willing to forge i.e. invoice, PDF format isn't any problem even for as unknowledgeable person as me...

What I should have said was can't edit it easily or even mistakenly.

[ahhaa]

Red!
those annoying pop ups from Adobe that tells you a PDF you've had for ten years should have the latest version of reader just to open it.

good list!

[Delerious]

I'd add Comodo Firewall

[MJA]

comodo is nice,but it doesn't block ads

[DereX888]

. if its free, it is available on the web, isn't it?

I work with computers, and not a day goes by that I don't discover some "new" tools that's been around for years already. It's not about the ability to have them for free, but rather to know they exist at all. Pre-load the system, and no problems.

Well, thats obvious never-ending cycle of innovations and information overload.
I too discover almost daily some new tool or app thats been around for ages yet I never heard about it before.
Its normal.

But it doesn't mean every app you guys mentioned (I agree most *are* good and I would suggest'em myself) should be pre-loaded on a new PC!
Come on, many of them are updated often on a weekly basis, so why to include some older versions anyways?
If anything, if you really must, then 'suggest' (instead of pre-load) and new PC should have got some well categorized (on Default User's level) Bookmarks or Favorites with thousands of links to software choices, instead of those usual Microsoft's links to its own crap.
That way user could go to software's home page, read mpore about it, decide on his/her own does he want/need it or not.
But its impossible, since it would have to Microsoft to do so (and accordingly the coders of non-Msoft OSes).

I still say PC's should always come blank, with no OS at all.
Force customers to have ( = to make) choices, and at least some of them would want to learn a bit about their options before making any decisions.
The way it is now, unless they build it themselves, they all pay for PC (hardware) and yet another extra "forced tax" to Microsoft (for Windows OS). Can you buy any PC without Windows? You can't, only few "chosen ones" models are out there in the stores, and there is no way you could buy *this* model without any OS if it comes with pre-loaded. Its like with dairy products in USA - whether you want it or not, theyre all kosher - and even though there are very few people even among Jewish population of USA who care about it, virtually every dairy consument pays some "forced tax" to a local Rabbi for the "kosher stamp/seal of approval" of his milk or butter
Normally you just can't buy them without it.

Get rid of pre-loaded OSes entirely and you get rid of any current and potential future monopolies.

[ofbarea]

For cleaning up all the temporary files of Windows and other application I bundle CCleaner.

For undelete, unerase and File Recovery try Recuva.

And in Windows XP to delete the files and directories that the OS locks for non-apparent reasons Unlocker.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Its like with dairy products in USA - whether you want it or not, theyre all kosher - and even though there are very few people even among Jewish population of USA who care about it, virtually every dairy consument pays some "forced tax" to a local Rabbi for the "kosher stamp/seal of approval" of his milk or butter
Normally you just can't buy them without it.

I don't know where you get your information but it's wrong and your statement smells of anti-semitism.
http://www.adl.org/special_reports/kosher_tax/print.asp

[DereX888]

Its like with dairy products in USA - whether you want it or not, theyre all kosher - and even though there are very few people even among Jewish population of USA who care about it, virtually every dairy consument pays some "forced tax" to a local Rabbi for the "kosher stamp/seal of approval" of his milk or butter
Normally you just can't buy them without it.

I don't know where you get your information but it's wrong and your statement smells of anti-semitism.
http://www.adl.org/special_reports/kosher_tax/print.asp

If I say (state the fact) that 13% of population in USA is BLACK, does that smell like racism to you as well?
Perhaps get your head out of politically correct ass for once?

Please prove me wrong (and no, milk bought straight from a farmer somewhere in Idaho doen't count) then make bullshit accusations.
After I read about this, I was checking it out during my last trip through eastern coast. I haven't found non-kosher milk in ANY of the stores of NYC where I checked many, and neither throughout most of NY State, VT, PA, RI and others on the way. The first one I found was in Quebec City, Quebec. Same thing in Ontario Province of Canada.
Of course I wasn't able to check *every* store and product, but based on my random check up throughout quite largely populated part of North America, I am sure this information (about all or vast majority dairy products being kosher) found on one of the obscure sites in fact IS correct.

How come youre not picking on me for my pointing to Microsoft's "forced tax"? Thats far more important issue than any Jewish-related matters of the world. Its OK to pick on anyone else but not on "the Jews" because it is antisemitism by default or something? Gimme a break LOL

PS
You think I didn't check myself what ADL has to say on the subject?
Yet what do you expect me to say - "yes, its a KKK antijewish propaganda" as ADL states, while once I became aware of it and checked out the stores myself, I couldn't find any non-kosher milk myself either? LOL!

[mats.hogberg]

Please keep this thread on topic. I'd like to avoid closing it.

/Mats

[t0nee1]

Back to topic, personally I wouldn't bundle anything as I prefer a nice clean fast pc, w/o all the resource hogging SW on new systems.
And just install what I want/need....JMHO and 2cents to boot....

[mats.hogberg]

Well, this is why I build my computers myself - But when it comes to laptops, the options are limited.
Bought a HP Pavilion the other day - fortunately, (most of) the crapware wasn't installed, but merely included on the HDD, with the desktop icon pointing to the installation app.

/Mats

[Bjs]

In my case , I'd have to load up my entire data base which includes dvds and cds from over the years .

I run a nett sweep once in a while to confirm if a product still remains in tact as being actually freeware , and not bundled with crapware , really annoying these days .

Basically making sure of updated products , and also archiving those for older os's .

I would not go so far as to include them already installed , but on a multiple disc set in which the recipient can in their own leisure make the decision if a program should be installed , entirely depending on their particular needs , with the exception of avg free being installed , and updated by default .

I give them 3 cds , which includes all the programs , each product has a unique webpage with various snaps of the main screens which includes information about the product , its usage , supported os types , and the website links ... Also links to various help files and how too's included on the dvd .

This disc set also contains many patches related to older os requirements , nolonger supported by ms , and notes about when they should be installed and why .

A dvd which includes many guides (many nolonger available online) , custom help files , and various none copyrighted video clips as many ask about video editing these days .

If the guide was written by someone else , it is noted as such , I do not plagiarize others works .

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Just helping those out that are still stuck on dialup .

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At the moment I am writing a new html help file related to using several free auto cd products , which seems to be the current "in thing" at this moment here .

I'll squeeze several into that one .

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As for those comments on the gimp , it depends on many things as to why one user would experience issues with a product .

But in my books , the gimp has never caused any problems for me under win98 through to xp / 2000 .

Im just happy the animation part is working well at my end .

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Finally , I agree with t0nee1 about not screwing up a perfectly good running system by loading it up with a heap of products that the end user may never use in the units entire service life .

Whats that now these days ? ... about 3 days ... lol

Not only that , but when you hit start , program files , the list may be so huge as to not fit all on the screen and make navigation tight ... Ive seen a few like this before .

[SCDVD]

I would supply a system with nothing on it but a clean install of Windows and the relevant device drivers. I agree there is a great deal of very worthwhile free software that many people would find useful. I would include a large selection of these but wouldn't install them. Instead, I would load the installation files in a directory on the hard disc drive along with a description sheet that describes each one. This way a user could install the ones that are relevant to his or her needs and not clutter their system with software they have no use for.

[SCDVD]

Double posted - sorry.

[handyguy]

XP!

At any rate most of these would be nice:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

[DereX888]

Actually, what few users suggested is best solution:
Bundle an extra disc with all the (useful) freeware.

But I'd still prefer PC's to be sold without any pre-loaded OS at all. Let the customer choose.

[Ron B]

With XP Pro or Vista Ultimate, people probably know what they are doing, so just give them the OS and let them figure it out.
For more casual users, I'd include CCleaner and Adaware so they don't get jacked as soon as they get on the internet. I think the best AV is NOD32, for $30 extra, it would be worth it, but people tend to go for the cheapest route.

[RabidDog]

Nope I disagree .. the Pc should be loaded up with every stinking piece of Hi-smelling rot-ware that is prepared to pay to be there. Then when you get it home wipe the disk re-install your software of choice onto your really cheap subsidized computer and away you go

[SCDVD]

The only problem with that is the only way you can rebuild your system is to use the system restore disc that came with your computer and it puts all the junk back on you computer again.

[ahhaa]

The only problem with that is the only way you can rebuild your system is to use the system restore disc that came with your computer and it puts all the junk back on you computer again.

well, what you can do now that HDs are so cheap is when you get your machine setup just right - clone it onto a new HD and have a real backup ready to go!

[DereX888]

The only problem with that is the only way you can rebuild your system is to use the system restore disc that came with your computer and it puts all the junk back on you computer again.

well, what you can do now that HDs are so cheap is when you get your machine setup just right - clone it onto a new HD and have a real backup ready to go!

I don't think theyre that cheap.
You'd buy another large HDD cheaper...