Free Software/Programs

from WinCustomize Forums

No this isn't about a great new site for free software or programs, sorry. :-"

I wonder how many members of the community have free software and programs that they have picked up over the years and used the heck out of and haven't took the time to consider what went into making that software available.  I know that I haven't.

I came across Stardock, WinCustomize and all this great software about five years ago.  At the same time a found other free software/programs that people were skinning for that just went great on the desktop and have been using the heck out of.

For what ever reason, today was the day that the light bulb lite up over my head and I thought about this.  A piece of free software that I have been using just had been updated and it cost me nothing.  Of course I started to try and figure out just how does that work.  I didn't pay for the program and I get updates without even thinking about it.  The head started to hurt!

With a little help, from another member of the community, I realized that the folks making the free stuff will take donations, go figure.

So, do you donate to the folks whose free software and programs you are using?

The why we should I think is pretty clear.

Oh and SysMetrix is a great little program, give it a try if you haven't :sun:

http://www.xymantix.com/sysmetrix/

I made you read the whole thread before I told you what the program was, shame on me. :rofl:

 

community
2,781 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sysmetrix has been updated so that it can now read the weather again. The new version is 3.43.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Too true Philly. I guess we assume that if it's on the Internet then it's free. The Homer Simpson syndrome that lurks in all of us. Now you've got me feeling guilty, and I dont even have the software. :erk:    

Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well, I really though more people used free software, guess not. :S

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

A list of free apps I maintain . . ignore teh numbering.

   1. Firefox    Love it.  Love the extensions
   2. VLC Media Player    Plays everything
   3. Ubuntu    Dual boot to this sometimes but not often.  It's the *nix I'd use if I had to.
   4. Open Office    Still a bit slow but gets the job done
   5. Pidgin    Great all-in-on chat client.  It's my IRC client of choince
   8. Gmail    It's my go to mail client
   9. Adium    When I had the Mac this was my chat client
  10. CCleaner    A mainstay for those of us who install and unistall often
  11. Picasa    The new plug-ins make this even better
  13. Google    Everyone but Jafo loves this.  It must be good, right?
  15. GIMP    It makes my brain bleed but it's free and powerful
  16. Foobar 2000    I use this to re-tag my music.  Powerful.
  17. Thunderbird    Used to use it before gmail.  Good Outlook replacement.
  18. 7-Zip    Oh yeah baby.  Right there.
  19. DropBox    Sharing skins through this is super easy.
  21. Winamp    Stopped using years ago.  Didn't do anything that much better than anything else.
  22. Google Apps    I wrote this list in that.  :)
  23. AVG Antivirus    Gets the job done with lowish resource use
  25. IrfanView    Been using this since the internet was a baby
  27. Chrome    Played with it . . Using it more and more
  28. Google Calendar    Oh. Yeah.
  30. Skype    My Mom is in Iraq and we use this now and again.
  31. Linux    See Ubuntu
  32. Paint.NET    Easy and gets the job done.  Istart here and fire up GIMP when needed.
  33. Ad-Aware    I used to use this but don't anymore.  Using Windows Defender
  35. Google Docs    See the other google entries
  36. LogMeIn    I've used this with SD tech support a few times. Easy like pie.
  38. TrueCrypt    LOVE THE HELL OUT OF THIS!
  40. FileZilla    It's a standard for a reason.  It rocks.
  42. PortableApps.com    Tried and was satisfied but not my thing
  45. UltraVNC    This rocks for getting the job done.
  46. VirtualBox    I use this and VirtualPC.  I like the snapshots here more.
  47. Lastpass  Why use anything else?  Why remember all those other passwords?

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 3
Well, I really though more people used free software, guess not.
End of Philly0381's quote

I've got lots of free software that is worth paying for--Sysmetrix is a good example. I've donated money, but not as much as I would if I could. I'd recommend freewarefiles.com as a safe place to go.

I have threads in the forums at skinnalicious.net that list free software, free graphics software and free games. Just go to the home page and scroll down to the forums.

http://www.skinnalicious.net/

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Lists of free softwasre or programs you have is cool if you want to show them, more interesting would be how many did you make a donation to.  :-"

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

ClocX -- best free clock ever, at least for my line of work, due to the alarm feature with a sweet, quiet little popup window that tells me when to start work and when to clock out.  Totally skinnable, with no more than a .png and a few alterations to the .ini file.  I couldn't survive without it. 

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 6
Lists of free softwasre or programs you have is cool if you want to show them, more interesting would be how many did you make a donation to. 
End of Philly0381's quote

That's just mean. Now I have to reveal to the world the honest truth--I've made one donation in two and a half years of using a computer.