Useful Programs

[Grinder]

Hmm some good ones there.

For me (Win7) its:

• AVG Free
• AllwaySync
• FileZilla

.. among others.

I'm working towards ripping my DVD library to a 2TB USB drive to play on my PS3. Does anyone have anything for that? (hope its not a hijack)

[Spacecadet]

I use the Xilisoft ultimate DVD ripper.
DVD Ripper - DVD ripping software, rip DVD to AVI, MPEG, DivX

[FiveTimes]

DVDShrink

[Spoiler]

Oh, all right then - all Mac-based except when cross-platform

(I'll take stuff that comes with the OS for granted - things like Safari, iMovie, iTunes, iDVD, and so forth.)

• Eclipse with various plugins:

snip...

I tried out Eclipse once, but not being a developer (have to do a little Perl cut\paste programming occasionally), I couldn't work out which version I should go for. Am using Komodo edit instead.

[JobsAGoodUn]

If you've used something like Acronis to create an image of a partition or disk then I recommend taking a serious look at the following:

Macrium Reflect Backup and Hard Disk Imaging for Windows 7, Vista, XP and Server 2003/2008

One of the things which it can do is create a bootable backup/restore system - on your existing hard disk - which can be really convenient if you need to bodger around with the operating system files. Usually you'd be thinking of booting off a CD to do that.

Their product is better than Acronis IMHO, and several times cheaper. UK author so your dollars will be put to a good cause within the UK.

[Sysman]

Not tried Ultraedit but texpad is cheaper at 16.50. Got the odd bug, like cursor sometimes not lining up with char at end of lines, but change to fixed width font sorts that.

Just came across this link today and thought it a useful addition to the thread:

Free Notepad replacements

[2BIT]

NotePad ++ (being able to configure your own syntax highlighting, its non-locking of files and it's ability to run code from the gui makes this tops)
ProcessExplorer
WinMerge
Agent Ransack
Paint.net
ReplaceEm
CCCleaner (program remover is superior to windows)

can get most of these portable versions too