The Essentials – Windows 7 edition
I recently converted my work machine to Windows 7, which is so far a good experience and one I’m happy with. In the process, I gained a few new software tools and shed some old ones. Here’s the list of what I consider the essentials for my environment on Windows 7 (not including those from Microsoft Update):
- 7-zip
- Adobe Flash Plugin
- Beyond Compare 3 Pro
- CCleaner
- CDBurnerXP
- CubicExplorer
- Defraggler
- DeskPins
- Disk Space Fan
- doPDF
- Eclipse
- Evernote
- Everything (search)
- ffdshow
- HashCheck
- Inkscape
- Java
- Launchy
- LogMeIn
- Malwarebytes Anti-malware
- Microsoft Security Essentials
- Mozilla Firefox
- Mozilla Thunderbird (w/Lightning)
- Notepad++
- Paint.NET
- PDF XChange Viewer
- Picasa 3
- Python 2.6
- PyScripter
- RDTabs
- RENESIS Player Thumbnail plugin (SVG thumbnails in Explorer)
- TortoiseHg
- Virtual CloneDrive
- Windows Live Sync
- Windows Live Writer
- XML Notepad 2007
If this were a home machine, MozyHome Free would also be on the list. I also have some tools, such as Visual Studio, installed on a separate machine, so those don’t make the list.
One interesting thing I learned during this experience is to not use the download links provided by Google when searching for a product. More than one site had an old download link listed by Google, while visiting the main site search result and drilling to the downloads from there provided the most recent version. Caveat emptor.
Another pleasant surprise was CubicExplorer. While it lacks the dual-pane feature I like, it is otherwise a fine Windows Explorer substitute. I have used several other programs, most recently UltraExplorer and before that xplorer2, but have always become frustrated with some lack of polish in this area. CubicExplorer is simple and it works, while offering some nifty conveniences such as bookmarks that are simple to manage and, my new personal favorite, the ability to show the sort headers in any view style, details or not. Nice.