What do you consider to be the ONE BEST FREEWARE PROGRAM of all time?

[sk]

I must admit this poll was inspired by a recent surfing experience. I went to a site to try to link up a new avatar picture. When I right clicked on the image, a message popped up saying that the right click option had been disabled on the site because the webmaster did not want any images downloaded. While in fact I did and do respect that, I was still 'curious' as to just how effective the Proxomitron filter would be in overriding the block. So I fired up Proxo, reconfigured my connection, made sure 'allow right mouse clicks' was checked, refreshed the screen, and BINGO. It really works!

As I thought about that, and how many other things Proxo does, and the fact that it's been around seemingly forever and continues to not only keep pace but set the standard in so many areas, it made me realize that even though it's always been a hard program for me to use, no less master, it definitely ranks at the top of my "All Time Favorite" freeware list. So I wanted to post this and see what Freeware programs other members would nominate as their one single all time favorite.

sk

[jucabala]

1)Proxomitron
2)Jv16 PowerTools
3)Slowview
4)Bloodshed Dev-Pascal and Free Pascal

there are many others but i can't remember right now

[JacK]

Mandrake - Apache - Caldera OpenDOS

[Pieter_Arntz]

Narrowed it down to Adshield and JV16, but now I really can´t choose.
It was hard enough to eliminate Startup Control Panel, Spybot S&D, Regprot, Javacool´s software, Fastnet99, Favorg and others while trying to make a choice. ;)

Regards,

Pieter

[javacool]

-{ Quote: " quoting: sk link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=0#39224 date=1041603412]
I must admit this poll was inspired by a recent surfing experience. I went to a site to try to link up a new avatar picture. When I right clicked on the image, a message popped up saying that the right click option had been disabled on the site because the webmaster did not want any images downloaded. While in fact I did and do respect that, I was still 'curious' as to just how effective the Proxomitron filter would be in overriding the block. So I fired up Proxo, reconfigured my connection, made sure 'allow right mouse clicks' was checked, refreshed the screen, and BINGO. It really works!

As I thought about that, and how many other things Proxo does, and the fact that it's been around seemingly forever and continues to not only keep pace but set the standard in so many areas, it made me realize that even though it's always been a hard program for me to use, no less master, it definitely ranks at the top of my "All Time Favorite" freeware list. So I wanted to post this and see what Freeware programs other members would nominate as their one single all time favorite.

sk
" }-

Proxo & Mozilla
(Hey, I can't just give ONE.)

It wouldn't be fair if I even considered voting for my own software. ;)

BTW, not to hijack the thread, but in IE you can get around the "no-right-click JavaScript code" by simply holding down the right mouse button. As the pop-up appears, press the space bar (still holding down the right mouse button) and after the pop-up is removed, release the mouse button. The right-click context menu will appear. 8)

Best regards,

-Javacool

[Krusty]

ZoneAlarm; without ZA I wouldn´t be at wilders, Opera net browser;must , RegProt; without can´t live, SpywareBlaster and Spybot; how loud would you howl without them, MailWasher; bounce **** back to it´s source.......hhhmmm......may I continue later ? ;D

*Ari*

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: javacool link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=0#39251 date=1041611631]
BTW, not to hijack the thread, but in IE you can get around the "no-right-click JavaScript code" by simply holding down the right mouse button. As the pop-up appears, press the space bar (still holding down the right mouse button) and after the pop-up is removed, release the mouse button. The right-click context menu will appear. 8)

Best regards,

-Javacool
" }-Hey, with tips/tweaks like that, HIJACK AWAY, J.C. Seriously, though, thanks a lot; that's a k.a. tip!

sk

[sk]

Well, if I knew it was going to be so hard to just pick ONE, I would have made the question easier. I just figured since Widler's has, without a doubt, the brightest forum members anywhere on the net, that you all could handle it. I figured it would be insultingly redundant to just ask you to list ALL your favorites, like they do on other sites. But I promise; next time I'll try to make my questions a little easier. But I still bet SOMEBODY out there can pick 1 (ONE) (UNO) (EHAD) (EIN) etc. favorite.

:o 8) ;D

sk

(But when in Rome....I want to add in RegCleaner, AdAware, AdShield, Spybot S&D, Spider (for 98SE), IrfanView, and 602PC Suite, and of course all the really cool JavaCool Software from Wider's own resident JaveCool guy.)

;)

[Pieter_Arntz]

OK. If I have to pick one, then I´ll name the one I have recommended most for diagnosing problems:
Hijackthis 1.9

Regards,

Pieter

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Pieter_Arntz link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=0#39264 date=1041619147]
OK. If I have to pick one, then I´ll name the one I have recommended most for diagnosing problems:
Hijackthis 1.9

Regards,

Pieter
" }-Well, nobody said you HAD to. ;D
But it's always nice when the mods set a good example.
8)

[root]

Irfanview. Where every other graphics program has grown out of proportion and charged big bucks, Irfanview has improved, stayed usable by the avg guy and stayed free.
Jv16 power tools is a close second.

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: root link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=0#39305 date=1041630608]
Irfanview. Where every other graphics program has grown out of proportion and charged big bucks, Irfanview has improved, stayed usable by the avg guy and stayed free.
Jv16 power tools is a close second.
" }-Pixia? lol. But as you can see from my post, I am a big fan as well of Irfan and Irfanview. Irfanview was the first freeware program I sent money to the developer for, because of how much I appreciated the program and his efforts to develop, support, and improve it. Although as I somewhat jokingly said, Pixia does happen to be a very decent freeware photo editor. It's a different sort of program than Irfanview. Irfanview is sort of like the "Swiss Army Knife" of photo editors. (It slices...it dices...etc...lol). And honestly I like and use both. Here's the links to Pixia and Irfanview in case anyone is interested.

http://www.ab.wakwak.com/~knight/

http://www.irfanview.com/english.htm

(Plus Pixia comes complete with Takumi, the 'mascot girl' [sic]Their phrase, not mine.) :D

sl


Added URL tags

[snapdragin]

winamp (ver 3 has skins for the Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers) ;D ;D

snap

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: snapdragin link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=0#39368 date=1041655121]
winamp (ver 3 has skins for the Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers) ;D ;D

snap
" }-WINAMP...it really whips the llama's *SS!
Unfortunately, I happen to feel that unlike 2.81, which rocks, and kewl skins notwithstanding, 3.0 does something completely different to the llama's *SS.

:o :o :o(Did he just say *ss? :o :o :o He's gonna get in trouble)
8) ;D
sk

[snapdragin]

:o oh, you're in trouble...ROFL!

i don't have the version 3 yet (i still have 2.81 too)...i just want the Tower skins!! ;D

can i put another ONE best freeware program? yes? GREAT! ICQ! :-X

snap

[museheart]

That is a hard question. Hi everyone, this is my first post. With any luck I'll do it right. ;D

I probably would have said AdAware a few months ago, but they are very remiss in updating. I might have said Zone Alarm, not Zone Alarm Pro 3 with I was using when I was being hacked and could get no support, even after my computer was running again, I got no support. In my case my biggest beef was you guessed it, 'no support'. Maybe that doesn't count because I PAID them. :o

Recently I have been using Spybot S&D and I must say for freeware, Patrick really has his act together. I have seen so many improvements in such a short time I figure he is more than a geek, maybe a genius.

All in all, I would like to say that I commend all makers of freeware for the time, effort and the goodness in them. (I did say freeware, we all know that we have downloaded freeware that turns out to be anything but like the infamous 'GATOR.' Well, maybe you didn't, but when I was young to the Internet...

Peace,

MuSe

[Krusty]

Now, ok, seriously taken I have to confess System Mechanic is awesome tool....rescues alot.....even shareware is good enuff. I would vote for System Mechanic on this poll. It doesn´t just only clean up registry and do back up but it also has feature for optimizing net connection, both automatically and manually :) and it also has visual bandwith meter on it ! As well it cleans temp files and other junk extensions away. Once I used it I found my 98 even 100% faster, but I used my computer about one year without doing anything but surf, go figure.
It is worth of trying

Welcome MuSe, nice to have you here :)
'Ari*

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Krusty link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39402 date=1041664280]
Now, ok, seriously taken I have to confess System Mechanic is awesome tool....rescues alot.....even shareware is good enuff
" }- Ari - System Mechanic costs $59.95. $59.95 = Freeware? No. You can do better Ari; of that I am sure.

sk

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: museheart link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39392 date=1041662366]
That is a hard question. Hi everyone, this is my first post. With any luck I'll do it right. ;D
I probably would have said AdAware a few months ago, but they are very remiss in updating. I might have said Zone Alarm, not Zone Alarm Pro 3 with I was using when I was being hacked and could get no support, even after my computer was running again, I got no support. In my case my biggest beef was you guessed it, 'no support'. Maybe that doesn't count because I PAID them. :o
Recently I have been using Spybot S&D and I must say for freeware, Patrick really has his act together. I have seen so many improvements in such a short time I figure he is more than a geek, maybe a genius.
All in all, I would like to say that I commend all makers of freeware for the time, effort and the goodness in them. (I did say freeware, we all know that we have downloaded freeware that turns out to be anything but like the infamous 'GATOR.' Well, maybe you didn't, but when I was young to the Internet...
Peace,

MuSe
" }- And so....is that your FINAL ANSWER, MuSe? ;D
Well, even if you didn't really answer the question, you learned a valuable lesson here at Wilders: There ARE no 'right' answers, MuSe. Wait. I mean...there are no 'wrong' answers here at Wilder's....wait...I mean...there are no answers.....wait....oh, Peace to everyone.

::)

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: " quoting: sk link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=0#39224 date=1041603412]
see what Freeware programs other members would nominate as their one single all time favorite.
" }-

My all time favorite freeware: Gator, closely followed by Xupiter and GetRight ... (only KIDDING!)

Have a nice weekend, Acadia.

[Pieter_Arntz]

Hi Acadia,

The first two programs you mentioned have one serious flaw in common. SpywareBlaster won´t let me install them. ;D
The reason why you would mention GetRight in the same context escapes me.
Would you care to clarify?

Regards,

Pieter

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Pieter_Arntz link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39445 date=1041689125]
The reason why you would mention GetRight in the same context escapes me.
" }-

http://makeashorterlink.com/?D298125F2

[Pieter_Arntz]

Ah. Thnx for that.
Seems to depend on what version (http://www.tom-cat.com/cgi-bin/spybase/spybase.cgi?view_records=1&name=^G|^G&re=1&sb=4&so=ascend&nh=2) you´re using.

Regards,

Pieter

[Krusty]

SK

No, I stick on System Mechanic ::)
I was new at all networks, all I was good at was M$ office, I got troubles and System Mechanic shareware helped me.

Have a very nice weekend *Ari*

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Krusty link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39491 date=1041698914]
SK

No, I stick on System Mechanic ::)
I was new at all networks, all I was good at was M$ office, I got troubles and System Mechanic shareware helped me.

Have a very nice weekend *Ari*
" }- Hmmmm...well, I think it would be a great idea then if you started a "What do you consider to be the ONE BEST SHAREWARE PROGRAM of all time?" thread. That way, you could list your favorite shareware program, and others could also, and it wouldn't get mixed up, with people coming to a thread looking for freeware and finding shareware programs mixed in. I'm sure you can understand the logic of wanting to keep the two separate, can't you?

sk

[Primrose]

Hi SK,

You started this thread with the statement..."I must admit this poll was inspired by a recent surfing experience. I went to a site to try to link up a new avatar picture. When I right clicked on the image, a message popped up saying that the right click option had been disabled on the site because the webmaster did not want any images downloaded."


But the real world is that if you were able to see the image on yout monitor....no matter what the right click could NOT do...you already had a copy of the image in some form of a .gif...jpg..or other inside your Temporary Internet File or else you would never have seen the image.


;D



I do not have a favorite one at this time....so I will just say it's the next one I download...but I sure do like those .swf.
and listening to music and plays over the Internet at the BBC..the software that renders all of it was Free.

[sig]

I use a number of freeware apps and others have also mentioned some very good ones. But for allowing me to surf the internet the way I want to, I'd say Proxomitron with its configurability and the various user filter sets available, is the one (free) app I would least want to do without. :)

[javacool]

-{ Quote: " quoting: sig link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39515 date=1041708809]
I use a number of freeware apps and others have also mentioned some very good ones. But for allowing me to surf the internet the way I want to, I'd say Proxomitron with its configurability and the various user filter sets available, is the one (free) app I would least want to do without. :)
" }-

After much consideration, I must come to the conclusion that Proxomitron is also my "one favorite/best free app". (It was a tough choice over Mozilla.) ;D

Best regards,

-Javacool

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: javacool link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39517 date=1041709981]
After much consideration, I must come to the conclusion that Proxomitron is also my "one favorite/best free app". (It was a tough choice over Mozilla.) ;D
Best regards,
-Javacool
" }- Well, sure it was a tough choice Javacool; that's what makes it so much fun trying to boil it down to just one. ;D (As an aside, while there do exist alternatives to Mozilla (Beonex, for example) (< ....... I bet you thought I was going to say IE...heh heh), there do not really exist any true alternatives to Proxo. That's more or less the conclusion I came to and why I chose it; Proxo is so helpful and is so truly unique - and has remained so for quite some, despite the almost impossible odds that somebody else would have copied it by now - that I figured it earned the top spot. But that is in no way a knock on any other program - they're ALL GREAT. And they all deserve credit. I don't even want to think what surfing would be like without AdShield and Spybot (and I still have a soft spot for AdAware. But that's for another post.) It's just that there can only be one 'one'. And that's why I thought this post would be kewl.
;)
sk

[Krusty]

Sk....

Ok, damnit, you forced me to confess I used System Mechanic as a freeware :'( Happy now ?

be well ;)
*Ari*

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Primrose link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39509 date=1041707429]
I do not have a favorite one at this time....so I will just say it's the next one I download...but I sure do like those .swf.
and listening to music and plays over the Internet at the BBC..the software that renders all of it was Free.
" }- Well, ok. Thanks anyway for the .jpg tip.

sk

[sk]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Krusty link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39531 date=1041713843]
Sk....Ok, damnit, you forced me to confess I used System Mechanic as a freeware :'( Happy now ? be well ;)
*Ari* " }- I see...well, now...that changes everything, doesn't it? I guess there's really only one thing to say in a case such as this: "DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS...AFTER ALL, HE IS A PROFESSIONAL!!"
8)
sk

[JayK]

Proxomitron for me too.

People say it's too hard to use. But I'm a genius so it doesnt apply to me ;D

[Acadia]

Ok, so which statement is true: you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about when you say that you’re a genius OR one of the reasons that you’re a genius is because you’re smart enough to realize that you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about?


Acadia

[JayK]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Acadia link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=30#40167 date=1041957488]
Ok, so which statement is true: you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about when you say that you’re a genius OR one of the reasons that you’re a genius is because you’re smart enough to realize that you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about?


Acadia
" }-

Neither. I don't even know if the statement "I dont know what I'm talking about." is right. It probably is, most of the time.

[sk]

I want a 're-do'!! :o After some more careful reflection, and owing to the fact that I'm basically fickle, I would like to nominate another candidate: WinMX. I was thinking about WinMX on the ride to work today. In the wake of the Napster funeral pyre I tried a couple of different programs. Morpheus, some program that had something to do with some satellite something that I never did understand it and always got busy error messages and never got the thing to work, and iMesh, that kicked major butt but turned out to be spyware. The only two I ended up using for a while were WinMX and Morpheus. Aside from the fact that after a while there were more ads on Morpheus than on the outfield fences in a minor league ball park, the program just bogged down constantly. WinMX, on the other hand, is one of the cleanest interfaces I've seen, considering how much is packed into it. There has never been a single ad, and aside from a help system that is virtually non-existent aside from online help, which does seem to be improving, WinMX has kept to its philosophies as it's kept going and building and growing. Nothing replaces Napster for me, but as I've learned how to use the .wsx files and incorporate some of the OpenNap programs, WinMX has probably contributed more to my overall computing enjoyment than any other single program. I'm not saying it's better, worse, or the same than similar products that I haven't mentioned; only that of the ones I've used, WinMX is the best, and from all my freeware programs, it has contributed the most to my overall computing enjoyment. And what better criteria for choosing a 'best' can there be than that?

sk

[Paul Wilders]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Acadia link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=30#40167 date=1041957488]
Ok, so which statement is true: you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about when you say that you’re a genius OR one of the reasons that you’re a genius is because you’re smart enough to realize that you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about?


Acadia
" }-

Gents, please don't bicker - different views are just fine: subtle personal attacks: none of us actually need it ;)

regards.

paul

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Forum Admin link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=30#40251 date=1041980850]
-{ Quote: " quoting: Acadia link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=30#40167 date=1041957488]


Gents, please don't bicker - different views are just fine: subtle personal attacks: none of us actually need it ;)

regards.

paul
" }-

" }-

WHOOOOOOOA. I swear upon the Holy Name of the Lord that I was just having fun; I didn't mean it as a personal attack upon anyone. I wasn't even engaged in the thread. I am very, VERY sorry if anyone took it that way. From now on I'll save the "fun" comments for 10-for. Again, sorry to everyone.

[Paul Wilders]

Acadia,

-{ Quote: "WHOOOOOOOA. I swear upon the Holy Name of the Lord that I was just having fun; I didn't mean it as a personal attack upon anyone. I wasn't even engaged in the thread. I am very, VERY sorry if anyone took it that way. From now on I'll save the "fun" comments for 10-for. Again, sorry to everyone." }-

Hold your horses ;) - I never implied you wanted to attack anyone. No need for apologies either. I'm just acting pro-active here. As it is, we aren't that fond of purely personal conflicts.

regards.

paul

[Krusty]

Hey peeps...!

May I change my mind? Is EasyCleaner familiar for anyone ? I hardly never change my mind :P . I make an exception now, forgive me ?

Acadia, howdy, think it that way Admin Paul noticed you are here too, I would take that as a compliment ;) 8) , is okay.

friendliest *Ari*

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Krusty link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=30#40255 date=1041982230]

Acadia, howdy, think it that way Admin Paul noticed you are here too, I would take that as a compliment ;) 8) , is okay.

friendliest *Ari*
" }-

Thanks. I was just having fun with JayK's seeming cute contradiction between his Personal Text and his actual post ... just pure fun. But I guess it is best for the Administrators to play it safe rather than be sorry ... an ounce of prevention is worth more than a ton of cure. See ya.

[luv2bsecure]

Acadia,

Real quick --- about your post.......

One thing we have to remember is the global nature of this forum. What you wrote, I have heard many times in many different ways, all coming from a Mark Twain quote.

(loosely translating):

"Are you really smart? Or are you only smart because you realize you are not? Or, is it the other way around?"

So, I knew what you were saying. But Mark Twain is probably not the most read writer by the Dutch. Or, if so, I would be very surprised (except maybe Huck Finn). So I hope you DO realize Paul was simply stepping in to PREVENT something. If he lived in South Central Pennsylvania, he probably would have recognized what you were saying. We HAVE to remember the global nature of Wilders. Paul wouldn't "jump in" just to "jump in" - rest assured. Just wanted you to understand since you're fairly new --- that we just have to remember the planet is small - but oh so large.

John
Luv2BSecure

[luv2bsecure]

OH!!!!

My favorite FREEWARE program of all time:

Powerdesk. Though I think they started charging for it recently.

John

[Tassie_Devils]

-{ Quote: " quoting: sk link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=30#39571 date=1041721519]
-{ Quote: " quoting: Krusty link=board=19;threadid=5937;start=15#39531 date=1041713843]
Sk....Ok, damnit, you forced me to confess I used System Mechanic as a freeware :'( Happy now ? be well ;)
*Ari* " }- I see...well, now...that changes everything, doesn't it? I guess there's really only one thing to say in a case such as this: "DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS...AFTER ALL, HE IS A PROFESSIONAL!!"
8)
sk
" }-ROLF.

Krusty, you are wicked! lol. sk, love the reply.

For me the best ONE would be my current "FOLDER OF TOOLS" heh!

yep, I cheated, hey, it's only ONE folder, but has all of JC's tools and Spybot, etc.

[solarpowered candle]

Mailwasher for me

http://www.mailwasher.net/

[tepi]

The best freeware program of all time? Undoubtedly Mark Russinovich's superb System File Defragmenter 'PageDefrag,' for reasons which I've fully explained in another thread (though I also love ERUNT):

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=5970;start=msg107674#msg107674

How you guys get by without this, unless you're using something much fancier, I really don't know.

Cheers