Favorite Files

1. 7-Zip (32-bit)
2. Audacity for Windows
3. AudioShell
4. CDex
5. DirectX Redistributable
6. EditPad Lite for Windows
7. Exact Audio Copy
8. Foxit Reader
9. Fraps for Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista
10. Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE)
11. KeyNote
12. LAME
13. Media Player Classic - Home Cinema
14. Media Player Classic for Windows 2000/XP
15. Mp3tag
16. Mumble for Windows
17. musikCube
18. nLite
19. OpenOffice.org for Windows
20. Opera for Windows
21. Paint.NET
22. PuTTY
23. Songbird
24. Stellarium for Windows
25. Trillian
26. VLC (VideoLAN) for Windows
27. VMware Player
28. WinSCP
29. wxMusik for Windows
30. XnView for Windows

Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - RyanVM's Windows XP Post-SP2 Update Pack

   2.1.10 (May 14, 2007)

   @ Use all three; see below.
   
   This pack used as the author packaged it for is to make your custom install CD/DVD up-to-date at the time is burned. Using either Ryan's Integrator or nLite, you start with a security updated install. From there you can easily use Autopatcher to keep up to date.
   
   This package is excellent and I give an A for effort and a 5 for hitting all targets.

2. 
   Review - MediaMonkey

   2.5.5.992 RC6 (Jan 21, 2007)

   For those complaining of lack of video, etc, check out VID4wa Video Plug-in, found on the MediaMonkey and Winamp Plug-ins Input/Output Plug-ins page (http://www.mediamonkey.com/inputs.htm) and the homepage @ http://rc4wa.narod.ru/
   
   I would rate this a 5 if the pro options were available in the freeware. Yes, it isn't a huge difference (but enough of one) and you get what pay for. Yet, in all likelihood, donations would increase beyond the current income from pro keys.

3. 
   Review - XnView for Windows

   1.90 Alpha 2 (Oct 23, 2006)

   Quote from the XnView Official Forums Alpha Release thread:
   "+ Download portals and websites must link to final versions of XnView only, and in no case link to this Alpha version."
   
   Now for the review: I used to use Infranview (still good), until I discovered XnView. Fast and so configurable, it is the top of the heap for image browsers/convertors/basic editors. Get the release versions though ;)

4. 
   Review - Blender for Windows

   2.36 (Mar 30, 2005)

   The latest round of bug fixes makes this a must have. Feature rich and richer with each release. Excellent community that are always willing to help. Opensource wins again.
   
   Having trouble downloading? Click the homepage link to the right. Click the "Here you can download Blender 2.36 for all platforms" link on that homepage which points to http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Blender.31.0.html for a large list of mirrors.
   
   People who rate a program a 1 based on their own inability to click an on an url should be banned from reviews.

5. 
   Review - Radeon Omega Drivers

   2.5.97a (Dec 28, 2004)

   Five (5)
   
   I've been an ATI vidcard user for years and have been using Omega's drivers for almost as long. The beta was a bit quirky, but this v2.5.97a set is back to the normal, beyond excellence level.
   
   Radlinker gives you access to all the tweaking you can for ATI cards. The included free MultiRes is all the extra you need to keep everything running at your chosen refresh rate.

6. Comment - DOJ to Release Secret Spy Program Docs

   2.5.97a (Feb 1, 2007 - 4:22 PM)

   There is good example of putting far too much emphasise and attention on party labels.
   
   Right and Wrong is not determined by party affiliation.

7. Comment - Sophos on Symantec's Vista Complaints

   2.5.97a (Sep 28, 2006 - 10:01 PM)

   I'm one of those that usually cheers against MS in these suits and issues. However, in this I side with MS.
   
   The integrity of the OS is at issue. Securing and maintaining that integrity is not only the right of the OS devs, but their obligation. An operating system core that is not as bulletproof as possible is one that is less stable and unable to BE an operating system.

8. Comment - Yahoo! Denies E-Mail Access to Family of Dead Marine

   2.5.97a (Dec 23, 2004 - 5:07 AM)

   While initial reaction to this would be along the lines of 'how callous can Yahoo be?', the privacy of those living overrides that reaction.
   
   We live in a different world than that of even 10 years ago. Part of maintaining a will, and of a servicemember's predeployment actions (power of attorney, etc), should be to safeguard usernames and passwords for just such a need.
   
   When was the last time you made a hardcopy backup of your online accounts?