Video
VirtualDub - Best video compression program evar.
Adobe Premiere - GREAT video editing program
mplayer - Win32 port or Linux native, it's still a great program. mplayer > videolan
Media Player Classic - More video playing options than NASA mission control.
UltraMon - Best program for working with Dual/multiple monitors. Allows you to control any number of aspects of setup, such as screensavers, backgrounds, cloning and disabling monitors, etc.
Audio
Winamp - No explanation
FL Studio - Best Techno music proggie ever. Good for other stuff too.
Network
UltraVNC - Nothin more useful than taking over an idiot friend's PC when he fudges it up for the 500th time.
SSH - Without it, my schooltime would be boring as hell.
Internet
Firefox - Just because its the fastest, most compatible, most feature-filled, and stable internet alternative browser available.
Thunderbird - Compliments Firefox well.
CuteFTP Pro - Oldie but a goodie. Still lovin it to this day.
Bittorent - How else would I get all my anime?!
Editing
GTKRadiant - No description needed
JED - Lest we forget
Graphics/Animation
Adobe Photoshop - Best non-free imaging program ever. Period.
GIMP - Best free imaging program ever. Period.
Flash - Where else would you get my awesome WHR project? Not to mention, the momma of all those great stick figure animations!
EasyToon - A rarity, great program to make small gif animations in. Simple in use, but the end result is awesome.
OS
Win2k - Best gaming platform available. Most compatible, stable, and fastest out of all operating systems available right now.
Linux - Best small-scale server/office desktop. Great for serving up anything from games to websites. Also good for office jobs, such as spreadsheets and documents.
Knoppix - Although Linux, deserves its own mention. Best tool for resurrecting a dead system, including memory testing software, partitioning software, ability to access and backup files on windows and linux partitions, and best of all, runs straight off a CD.
Oh, and I have to disagree with one thing on Yecti's list:
DIVX - Yeah, Divx.com can go bury itself for its spyware. Sure it tells you about it, but I'll be damned if I am going to install some spyware when I can get a better compression/decompression codec for free and no spyware involved.
www.xvid.org
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[This message has been edited by Cool Matty (edited July 20, 2004).]