Once upon a time, I don't use any of Windows default software, and not by principle: by actually testing out other things and seeing that they are BETTER!!!
Ok, so in this thread, I wanted to share how I found my way out of Windows Media Player and other such stuff, and into better software that makes my life easier and makes my Windows experience immensely better. I want to share my personal preferences, and get a place for other people to share theirs. So here is my list.
Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox
Download: www.getfirefox.com
Why: because Internet Explorer isn't as fast, isn't as safe, and doesn't have as many customization options. Customization is the one aspect of a browser that seriously improves your browsing experience: having a browser that does what I want, how you I it, and when you I it, that's the best thing for me. That and I'm a web developer and Firebug (one of the many extensions available for Firefox) is fantastic. And AdBlock Plus, Tab Mix Plus, NoScript, Secure Login, Stylish, Greasemonkey, et cetera et al.
Antivirus: avast!
Download: www.avast.com
Why: not Windows Defender because it's not as safe, and, in my case at least, has a much great impact on performance. I went for avast! after reading some comparisons between security and performance, and it seemed a solid solutions and it's free. I am not disappointed.
Firewall: avast!
Download: www.avast.com (paid)
Why: not Windows Firewall because it's not really good at anything. It doesn't block the stuff I want to block, and isn't nearly as consistent/safe. Besides, avast!, and other security suites, have added functions that are good for safety, and I'm more than happy with my choice.
Music player: Winamp
Download: winamp.en.softonic.com (official site is down)
Why: because Windows Media Player doesn't have as good a sound, isn't as pretty (in my opinion) or as good at managing my music library, and is way slower and heavier. I've grown up listening to music on Winamp, but I know there are better players out there, Foobar, for example, has better sound quality. AIMP is apparently better than Winamp at many things. But I stick with Winamp because that's what I know and it does everything I want it to do, and well. It has shoutcast as well, which is nice.
Video player: Media Player Classic - Home Cinema
Download: mpc-hc.org
Why: because it's fast, very powerful, and reads everything I throw at it. I tried other solutions because Media Player Classic is pretty hideous, but none were as powerful, as configurable, or as easy to use. It's a pretty fantastic piece of software. For VLC users: it's not stable, it's buggy and, if I remember correctly, it doesn't pause the video when I hit the spacebar and/or click the video itself... But I guess anything is better than Windows Media Player, anyway.
File Copier: Tera Copy
Download: codesector.com/teracopy
Why: because Windows' file copier is SLOW, it doesn't have a pause function (at least in Windows 7) and other very useful functions that Tera Copy has, and it's just all around crap. Everybody knows that, it's just that most people bear with it because they don't know there are alternatives. Well, there is, and it's called Tera Copy.
Task Manager: Process Explorer
Download: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
Why: because it works! Unlike Windows' task manager. It's Microsoft software too, which is... well, irrelevant, but just saying. It works perfectly, way WAY more powerful than even Windows 8's "upgraded" task manager (that's still pretty abysmal), and actually shuts down applications without asking them "please will you shut down, yes? Is that all right?"... Task Manager is a must have for me.
Autorun configurator: Autoruns
Download: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
Why: this one is opposed to Microsoft's msconfig.exe's function of managing the software that runs on Windows start up. And it's just so much more. It's great (though not infalible) at finding adware that starts with Windows, and it's just better, because it sees all, and not just some of the software that runs on startup.
Picture viewer: Picasa
Download: picasa.google.com
Why: because I haven't found anything as nice or better. It's miles ahead of windows' default software, with the big fault of not handling animated GIFs (which doesn't bother me too much). It's great as a picture gallery handler, and the image viewer AND image editor are both powerful, fast and easy to use. It's really a nice piece of software, although I suspect there are even better alternatives. I just haven't found them yet.
Notepad: Metapad
Download: liquidninja.com/metapad
Why: because notepad sucks. Metapad is miles ahead, even though I couldn't really understand how that was possible... well, that was before I tried it. It's a simple text editor, so there's no code highlighting or anything (I use Dreamweaver for that), but it's faster and more powerful (if uglier) than Notepad, and I love it. Of course if you don't open simple text files a lot, notepad will do just fine, but Metapad will still be better for you.
MS Paint: Paint.net
Download: www.getpaint.net
Why: there are times when Photoshop is not the best software for the image editing. For example, when you just need a fast quick dirty job and don't want to open a huge image editor. MS Paint is usually there for you. Thing it is: it's terrible at everything it does. Its editing functions are terrible, its saving functions are terrible, and its file compatibility is terrible (no transparencies, for one). Paint.net is only a bit heavier than MS Paint, and it's just as easy to use (well, easier, actually, if you count Windows 7/8's MS paint and its crappy ribbon interface). It has all the functions you need and more, including image layers, tabbed interface and loads of other stuff, and for quick and dirty, it's miles ahead.
Cleaning utility/software uninstaller: CCleaner
Download: www.piriform.com/ccleaner
Why: because Windows' Disk Cleanup isn't nearly as powerful or easy to use, and Windows' uninstall panel is terrible, if only because it doesn't let you uninstall more than one program at once, even though you usually can. I don't use Revo Uninstaller for that because it's overkill for me. But I suggest it for people why install and uninstall a lot of programs.
Widgets: Rainmeter
Download: rainmeter.net
Why: I used to hate widgets and the Windows' sidebar when they were first introduced in Windows Vista. And then I found Rainmeter. And now I don't hate them anymore, because Rainmeter handles the widgets in my desktop: they are VERY customizable, they are awesome looking, powerful, light and customizable. And did I mention that they are totally customizable? Yeah, they are...
Sound recorder: Audacity
Download: audacity.sourceforge.net
Why: well, because Windows sound recorder is pathetic. It's not even good for a quick job... Audacity is a lossless recorder, very light, and exports stuff into whatever format I want (even if it may need a downloadable library for that). It's not good for audio production, but it will do that in a tight fit. But since Windows doesn't include an application for that, that's not the issue here.
Well, and that's it for me. I'm currently looking for a tabbed windows explorer alternative, but I haven't found something I like yet, but even that I will change...
How about you?
Ok, so in this thread, I wanted to share how I found my way out of Windows Media Player and other such stuff, and into better software that makes my life easier and makes my Windows experience immensely better. I want to share my personal preferences, and get a place for other people to share theirs. So here is my list.
Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox
Download: www.getfirefox.com
Why: because Internet Explorer isn't as fast, isn't as safe, and doesn't have as many customization options. Customization is the one aspect of a browser that seriously improves your browsing experience: having a browser that does what I want, how you I it, and when you I it, that's the best thing for me. That and I'm a web developer and Firebug (one of the many extensions available for Firefox) is fantastic. And AdBlock Plus, Tab Mix Plus, NoScript, Secure Login, Stylish, Greasemonkey, et cetera et al.
Antivirus: avast!
Download: www.avast.com
Why: not Windows Defender because it's not as safe, and, in my case at least, has a much great impact on performance. I went for avast! after reading some comparisons between security and performance, and it seemed a solid solutions and it's free. I am not disappointed.
Firewall: avast!
Download: www.avast.com (paid)
Why: not Windows Firewall because it's not really good at anything. It doesn't block the stuff I want to block, and isn't nearly as consistent/safe. Besides, avast!, and other security suites, have added functions that are good for safety, and I'm more than happy with my choice.
Music player: Winamp
Download: winamp.en.softonic.com (official site is down)
Why: because Windows Media Player doesn't have as good a sound, isn't as pretty (in my opinion) or as good at managing my music library, and is way slower and heavier. I've grown up listening to music on Winamp, but I know there are better players out there, Foobar, for example, has better sound quality. AIMP is apparently better than Winamp at many things. But I stick with Winamp because that's what I know and it does everything I want it to do, and well. It has shoutcast as well, which is nice.
Video player: Media Player Classic - Home Cinema
Download: mpc-hc.org
Why: because it's fast, very powerful, and reads everything I throw at it. I tried other solutions because Media Player Classic is pretty hideous, but none were as powerful, as configurable, or as easy to use. It's a pretty fantastic piece of software. For VLC users: it's not stable, it's buggy and, if I remember correctly, it doesn't pause the video when I hit the spacebar and/or click the video itself... But I guess anything is better than Windows Media Player, anyway.
File Copier: Tera Copy
Download: codesector.com/teracopy
Why: because Windows' file copier is SLOW, it doesn't have a pause function (at least in Windows 7) and other very useful functions that Tera Copy has, and it's just all around crap. Everybody knows that, it's just that most people bear with it because they don't know there are alternatives. Well, there is, and it's called Tera Copy.
Task Manager: Process Explorer
Download: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
Why: because it works! Unlike Windows' task manager. It's Microsoft software too, which is... well, irrelevant, but just saying. It works perfectly, way WAY more powerful than even Windows 8's "upgraded" task manager (that's still pretty abysmal), and actually shuts down applications without asking them "please will you shut down, yes? Is that all right?"... Task Manager is a must have for me.
Autorun configurator: Autoruns
Download: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
Why: this one is opposed to Microsoft's msconfig.exe's function of managing the software that runs on Windows start up. And it's just so much more. It's great (though not infalible) at finding adware that starts with Windows, and it's just better, because it sees all, and not just some of the software that runs on startup.
Picture viewer: Picasa
Download: picasa.google.com
Why: because I haven't found anything as nice or better. It's miles ahead of windows' default software, with the big fault of not handling animated GIFs (which doesn't bother me too much). It's great as a picture gallery handler, and the image viewer AND image editor are both powerful, fast and easy to use. It's really a nice piece of software, although I suspect there are even better alternatives. I just haven't found them yet.
Notepad: Metapad
Download: liquidninja.com/metapad
Why: because notepad sucks. Metapad is miles ahead, even though I couldn't really understand how that was possible... well, that was before I tried it. It's a simple text editor, so there's no code highlighting or anything (I use Dreamweaver for that), but it's faster and more powerful (if uglier) than Notepad, and I love it. Of course if you don't open simple text files a lot, notepad will do just fine, but Metapad will still be better for you.
MS Paint: Paint.net
Download: www.getpaint.net
Why: there are times when Photoshop is not the best software for the image editing. For example, when you just need a fast quick dirty job and don't want to open a huge image editor. MS Paint is usually there for you. Thing it is: it's terrible at everything it does. Its editing functions are terrible, its saving functions are terrible, and its file compatibility is terrible (no transparencies, for one). Paint.net is only a bit heavier than MS Paint, and it's just as easy to use (well, easier, actually, if you count Windows 7/8's MS paint and its crappy ribbon interface). It has all the functions you need and more, including image layers, tabbed interface and loads of other stuff, and for quick and dirty, it's miles ahead.
Cleaning utility/software uninstaller: CCleaner
Download: www.piriform.com/ccleaner
Why: because Windows' Disk Cleanup isn't nearly as powerful or easy to use, and Windows' uninstall panel is terrible, if only because it doesn't let you uninstall more than one program at once, even though you usually can. I don't use Revo Uninstaller for that because it's overkill for me. But I suggest it for people why install and uninstall a lot of programs.
Widgets: Rainmeter
Download: rainmeter.net
Why: I used to hate widgets and the Windows' sidebar when they were first introduced in Windows Vista. And then I found Rainmeter. And now I don't hate them anymore, because Rainmeter handles the widgets in my desktop: they are VERY customizable, they are awesome looking, powerful, light and customizable. And did I mention that they are totally customizable? Yeah, they are...
Sound recorder: Audacity
Download: audacity.sourceforge.net
Why: well, because Windows sound recorder is pathetic. It's not even good for a quick job... Audacity is a lossless recorder, very light, and exports stuff into whatever format I want (even if it may need a downloadable library for that). It's not good for audio production, but it will do that in a tight fit. But since Windows doesn't include an application for that, that's not the issue here.
Well, and that's it for me. I'm currently looking for a tabbed windows explorer alternative, but I haven't found something I like yet, but even that I will change...
How about you?