My absolute favorite programs

[CycleRob]

Computer programs that is. I highly recommend and regularily use these freeware programs. They're all small or single file, fast, efficient, configurable programs that really earn their drivespace by being so useful and at NO COST to you. Most are actually better than programs you pay for. These programs all appear to have been written by people so proud of their achievements that they offered it as freeware, hopeful of donations from the world of satisfied users.

A new website http://www.gigasize.com is offering free file storage as an advertisement method to acquire new paying members. It allows me -and you- to here and now share program files for free. Gigasize didn't ask for too much personal info from me to join either. All you have to do to DownLod these programs is click on the green D/L rectangle, after my URL's below take you there, and the program is YOURS. That's all. No hassles. Here's my favorites that you should D/L and not only try . . . . but keep:


Airxonix is totally entertaining flying overhead board game and it gets harder as you play. The stunning, smooth textured, 3D action graphics and clear sound are absolutely amazing for a program so small - - about 1.8 MB download after installation expands to 8.4 MB. If you have very few games on your computer, this should be one of those few. Requires a 3D graphics card and DirectX 7 or higher. Try this one first and you'll get a hint of the quality of the remaining files here.
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/58692/AIRXONIX.EXE

SlowView is an efficient pic viewer that was intentionally sarcastically named. It's thumbnail display speed is actually really fast, even for large albums. Good help system. Call it ACDSee light, without the huge files and it's freeware, just like all the others here. Graduate from Microsoft's limited performance, slow moving bloatware and replace it with this one.
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/58680/SlowView.exe

Convert is used anytime I have to convert Miles to Km -or- DegF to DegC but it does LOTS more. There are 22 tabs total in a trim Pop-Up that calculate conversions like torque units on-the-fly as you type. You can even add many of your own custom conversion constants like the MPG-to-Km/Liter -or- bricks per measured inch.
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/58661/Convert.exe

I use TurboNavigator (Ver 1.46) many times during every computer session to copy/move/edit/modify/delete/compare files and to have complete mastery over all the computer's drives, be it flash, CD or hard. The piechart DriveSpace feature alone is worth it. Configuring the very useful file filters takes some careful sequential steps but the Help section is good. It's built-in Media Player handles audio & video files quickly with Enter on file to run and Escape to exit, without MS's forcefed annoying(!!) bells and whistles, as you cruise files in your folders. I carry TurboNav on a floppy or flashdrive when I have to use somebody else's computer away from home. This program blows away anything from anybody else especially Microsoft. I've tried all the file managers and this one's the must-have best. Think of it as the ancient Norton Commander 3.0 (Symantec) on steroids, PowerBars and GatorAid.
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/58735/TuNav146.exe

UnStress is just that. You choose 1 of 9 tools/weapons to visually destroy whatever's on your screen. I go wild with the chainsaw, the hammer or the machine gun. The chainsaw revs up and tilts downward when you press the left mouse button and chips fly when you move the mouse, visually cutting the screen up. The Hammer swings with a left mouse click and smashes the screen while sounding as if it were glass breaking. You hear/see cracks and screen pieces flying as the sound mimicks what's happening. Hit the same spot many times and you'll see what I mean. Pressing the ESC key or using the water cannon gets it all back to normal, no damage or changes to what was displayed. Turn up your sound volume and have fun. You'll feel better. I guarrantee it.
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/58670/UNSTRESS.EXE

I would have included the more powerful IrfanView too, but it is difficult to get it set up and usefully configured like SlowView does right away. I use IrfanView all the time to put text in pics and resize them and gave it file associations of all picture files. It took me a while to realize that IrfanView's goto folder command line loading switches will not work (even when the URL is in quotes) if there is a space in the folder name, like "Program Files". The fix was re-installing IrfanView's folder in my drive C's "Utility" folder. Thank you Bill Gates (!NOT!).
Both IrfanView and SlowView fit on a floppy if you need to transport them to Mom's computer to show her all the pics E-Mailed from you that she's saved, but doesn't know where. BTDT. They'll both do it in a fast, display-it-as-you-choose screen from a totally configurable thumbnailed menu.

Enjoy . . . and gimme some of your favorites. You can even use GigaSize to put them out there.

EDIT to add more details.

[rdsmith3]

Cyclerob

Thanks. I will have to try some of these.

I was experimenting with a program called Browster
http://www.browster.com/
It lets you preview the results of any web page. Very useful when doing a Google search, for example.

However, now that I am trying IE Explorer 7, which has tabbed browsing, this program is not as necessary.

Speaking of Google, it can do conversions, also.

I also like IrfanView.

[R4R&R]

However, now that I am trying IE Explorer 7, which has tabbed browsing, this program is not as necessary.

I also like IrfanView.

I've been using IE7 fro about six months now. I'm used to it and mostly like it.

I used to use Irfan view but use the built in Windows Preview for looking at pictrures and Macromedia Fireworks for editing. Yep, Fireworks is a serious editing program and I'm not a serious user so it's a little overkill for me, but it came with Dreamweaver, which is what I use for updaing websites.

[CycleRob]

In 3 days the 90 day free storage on GigaSize for Convert runs out.

If you haven't seen this post before, there are some great programs I regularly use that are free to all. They're all Freeware programs that are small sized, fast loading, very useful & don't muck up your system folders. Go to my opening post above and read all. I stand behind the quality of them all because they have endured the test of time and reliable service.

You're welcome.

[jb44]

Rob,

I was wondering if you have had time to install and play with the Linux version you purchased. If you are so incliined, a summary of your experience would be appreciated.

jb