Voted other, I have no favorites. Most? Please identify the items in the list that are not free. I think all of them are free.
To be honest, the only really free options of this poll are SkyDrive and Hotmail. The others require a genuine Windows license.
One would presume with most of the items in that list, one would have Windows installed in the first place. Having said that, most of those items will work regardless of "genuine".
Internet Explorer , Microsoft Security Essentials , Movie Maker ,Live Instant Messenger , Media Center , Paint , Windows Media Player , Photo Gallery , Photo Viewer all comes with windows . Since windows is a paid OS , all are part of my payment * Dont want to have a word fight with this , thats my point of view..
Microsoft Visual Studio (Express) is probably the one I have the most respect for. I do also use IE9, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Media Player and Hotmail though.
There's nothing in that list that I use except for the paint utility that comes with Windows, and that only rarely. If you include Sysinternals apps (owned by MS) I do use those and utilities like dependency walker, orca, command line hash tools, etc.
It was so hard to choose, but I picked Microsoft Security Essentials. I don't use it anymore, but it's an impressive program that's both powerful and lightweight.
Well if we dig deep enough, everything is paid software - even Linux - unless places start giving away free hard drives and monitors.
Anyone consider Windows Firewall? I know it doesn't get much fanfare. But after traveling the anti-leak circuit for years I finally decided POC protection wasn't worth the hassle. Unless I have a security suite that includes a good firewall I'm gonna use the one built into Windows. It's got low resource usage, very few conflicts, not a lot of noise and just does what it claims to do.
All the bundled items such as Paint, Media Player/Center are not free as you can only get them are part of Windows. PS Linux is not free as in cost-free, only in freedom. There are paid versions.
We really do take this free <=> non-free to the silly-a extremes. I am typing this from a 100% free version of Linuix. I paid absolutely nothing for it or the additional programs installed on it. Now I suppose you could say it's not free because I pay for my Internet service so a cost is incurred. That is just plain silly. Just as silly saying nothing is free with Windows. The above mentioned items are included free of charge with your paid version of Windows. You purchased the Operating System, the rest is extra. A while back I said I had no favorites. I changed my mind regarding favorite free "Microsoft" service or program. I've been helping a friend with Windows Live Mail, while it will not be replacing my current email client program, the program is pretty nice and I will give it a favorite grade. I will toss in Hotmail too, I have three accounts.
Heh, I was just pointing out to the poster that Linux is not always cost-free. I am typing this from a 100% free version of Windows 7. I paid absolutely nothing for it or the additional programs installed on it. Your right I could say the spare wheel is included free of charge with my car. So why do you have to pay extra to get a version with Media Centre in ? Paint is included in Windows and is part of the licence fee you pay. Others such as the Live stuff are free extras IMHO. Cheers, Nick.
HeHe, enjoyed your response. I won't take this any further, though it could be fun. But this is way off topic. Oh, just to stay on topic. Another favorite "free" (in part) Microsoft program, which falls in the the Other category is Skype. In fact I rate it as my number one favorite over WLM and Hotmail.
one thing microsoft doing better than any of its other services is with no doubt MSE. maybe messenger and hotmail following that.
outlook.com has to be the best yet,before that i did not use hotmail for a long time,but after upgrading to outlook,things are much better.
MSE. Even taking into account all of the various criticisms of it as an AV, it is still effective, light, reliable & easy to use.
