What's the "cool software" you use?

Basically, I've bored myself within recent years, not really running into many new exciting softwares. I can remember back when discovering there were other browsers than IE, others AVs than Norton, other media players than WMP, but that hasn't happened much recently and I find myself pretty bored, lol.

So, basically, the point of this thread is to just get some recommended software to "play" with more or less. I found myself searching for a trial version of a corporate AV last week (didn't have any luck, unfortunately) because I wanted to setup a VMWare farm and familiarize myself some more with big business rollouts.

Also, OS is not so dependent either as I'm playing with several Linux distros atm including FC6T2, Ubuntu and a full Gentoo compilation.

So, let's throw some ideas out, please!

 

Litestep kept me busy when I was new to it. It was exciting to see it eating 6MB of RAM on an old 1Ghz, 384 RAM rig that was after I dropped windowblinds so I really felt the difference. And also trying to create the smallest, working, windowsxp installer.

But these are old so..

And lately after a terrible pc crash, ive been testing restore/rollback software. Backontrack, Deepfreeze, Clean slate, Shadow user, shadow surfer, FDISR, rollbackrx. I tried them all in a span of a week.

Cheers

Dina

 

if u have time and you really want to try a new software, then get ur windows 2000/xp/2003 cd and try out nlite.

it lets u integrate hotfixes, update pack or drivers. u can also remove many windows components and make an unattended cd.

 

Very cool, definitely gonna give that a shot at work. I fix PCs for a living so reinstallation is a common occurence.

 

Linux is pretty cool

 

FirstDefense-ISR for
- immediate system recovery (inside/outside Windows)
- second and fastest backup solution
- different work and test environments
A software that still doesn't bore me and makes me feel invincible, one of the psychological side effects of FirstDefense-ISR.

 

If you have to do a lot of repetitive tasks on the computer, then a macro automation program like MacroExpress can really save you a lot of time. It lets an ordinary user combine and control multiple programs. A program that has a useful but recessed feature can be made easily accessible with a keypress, that's a cool software.
Roboform, TrueCrypt, and OpenOffice are pretty cool too.

 

network detective:

http://detective.surfnet.nl/en/index_en.html

 

RoboForm: http://www.roboform.com/ "Password Manager, Form Filler, Password Generator, Fill & Save Forms " I use this DAILY. Even to come here.

 

yes roboform is a very good utility,but how's that cool??

 

Not only does it make your life easier and more secure, it wears sunglasses when you log in.

 

you said :

Boredom waining abit now then
Konqueror browser
Gimp

metapad
systrayplayer
desktopsidebar
ubcd4win
FirstDefence ISR and TrueCrypt

 

Any response I made to that wouldn't be worth a tinker's damn because what's "cool" is strictly a value judgment and not subject to logical debate. Having said that, I'll conclude by saying:

It's cool because I say it is.

OP asked for recommendations on software that is worth "playing" with. RoboForm is that. If you don't agree, don't play.

 

We've been using Xen for a couple of months now, that's pretty cool. We're running a fair few production machines on it now.

Also I posted a list of the software I keep on my USB key for installation and diagnosis 2 weeks ago on my blog. I think all that stuff is cool too

 

modotate is pretty cool

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=165513&st=0

 

AUSTRUMI

Austrumi is a bootable Live CD Linux distro. it uses the Enlightenment Window Manager. it's so small (50MB) the whole thing is booted into memory meaning you can take the CD out and copy stuff onto a blank CD if you need to, or watch a film, and all the programs launch very quickly.

here's a review of Austrumi with screenshots
http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/6800

Home Page
http://cyti.latgola.lv/ruuni/index_en.html

Direct Download
http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/austrumi/austrumi-1.2.0.iso

MD5
http://ovh.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/austrumi/austrumi-1.2.0.md5
b3051f2b3d6552c60077ae97cb74d5ef *austrumi-1.2.0.iso

 

no problems there dude,i am also using it full-time for my 33 odd web-accounts including the one here at wilders..
and also "devinco"'s point is pretty valid..it roboform wears a sunglass!

 

Hehe....I didn't understand what Devinco meant until I looked up on my toolbar and saw that.

 

Hi. Thanks for the info. And more importantly the small download. I honestly have been thinking of trying out linux. Would you recommend this to a newbie at linux? The only reason I havent tried is because lately Ive been stuck with dialup and trying to download a 700MB iso...

Are there other distros which have a small download and you can recommend to a new (willing to learn and patient ) user?

Thanks.

Sorry for going offtopic.

 

hi, yes there are a few mini distros, there's also Puppy Linux at 60 MB and Damn Small Linux at 50MB. but, i'd try Austrumi first, i haven't used this newest version with the Enlightenment Window Manager so i can't say how easy it is to use, in the past it's used other Window Managers.

i think these smaller distros are abit difficult for a first go, but they are still great. i don't really like DSL as something to use every day, it's main use is to help recover broken computers so it's more functional rather then pretty GUIs and ease of use, that's why i think Austrumi is good, it definitely looks better.

if you have dial-up you probably won't get them working on the internet, you really need a hardware router and ISP for that.

you can also get distros from linux magazines, they just about always have livecds on the cover. some have two editions of the same magazine - one version will have 1 or 2 cds and the other, which is better, has a dvd. so try and get a dvd if you buy a magazine. good luck.

btw, be careful if you download Puppy Linux because i think the barebones version hasn't got a GUI, there are firefox and Opera GUI version though.

 

Hi Dina,

That 50MB Linux OS does look cool.
But there is no need to limit your choice based on download size alone.
There are some threads here on Wilder's about how to get the big Linux Distros on CD for little to no cost delivered to you.

 

this is free
https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

 

Wow. Thanks for the replies Devinco and iceni60. Yes Ive read theyre available in some magazines, Ive looked around and from where Im at right now, let's just say it's gona be hard to find one.

Thanks iceni60 for that link, I have just finished applying, said its gona take 6-10 weeks, Im betting on the maximum.But that's alright.

At the moment, Ill probably go with Austrumi to get more exposure. Ive been wanting to try it a long time but now I got the time so Im really eager to learn.

@ iceni60

Was it your desktop I saw earlier? I remember clicking on a link on someone's signature. Wow.

 

This is very useful thanks I keep a lot of things on my flash drives but this list is very cool. I am looking at PStart to see how it works. I got a flash drive as a prize with U3 launchpad software in it with portable applications but I didn't like the fact it would take a drive letter permanently plus the removable one I still haven't use it but liked the idea of running portable stuff.
I have a 4Gb + another 1GB which aren't full of other things so maybe work on this for a selection of things now. Sorry to go Off Topic from the original post.

 

Smiley Extra for Firefox.