Very Helpful Software

[Deathdiesel]

Im not sure if theres been a thread like this, or whatever but, id like to find out what software you guys think is practically mandatory to effectively run a computer. Im just wondering for GEP and maybe to look into some of the software. Looking for really just anything you think is a very handy/helpful piece and makes life overall easier. Whether its for Photo Editing or building 3d images. Any suggestions?

My current list id imagine would be:
Microsoft Office(Word, Powerpoint, etc.)
Google Chrome
??

[Nuclear Krusader]

Have you looked at the stickies on this very forum?

Chrome: it is mandatory to uninstall it.

[glc]

Free Software list

[Deathdiesel]

I saw the free software list, but am more along the lines of looking for stuff thats helpfull. And whats wrong with chrome? Its been great for me.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Google's icon in which the O's resemble watching eyes is very appropriate. And that's all I'm gonna say.

As for helpful, each person defines helpful differently. What to me is a must-have (say, Outlook, Lightroom, etc.) for somebody else is useless. A man's junk is another man's treasure... and viceversa.

Verily, the only "essential" software besides the OS is an antivirus program. And I put it inside quotation marks, because those of us who run Mac OS don't need an antivirus.

[Deathdiesel]

Ok heres a question, why are Macs so much more expensive then a pc with the same specs? Is it because of the OS? Whats the Mac OS like anyways?

[Nuclear Krusader]

It's a beauty.

Macs are more expensive, in the case of laptops, because PC manufacturers, in order to keep their prices low, go into deals with 3rd parties and load their machines with tons of crap such as software trials and stuff. Hence the need to decrappify the laptop as soon as you get it; they also no longer provide you with recovery media. Macs come with no bloatware at all, and with the recovery media.

[Deathdiesel]

Ah, so if one were to buy Mac OS X or whatever it was in comparison to Win 7 64b would mac be better?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Yes!

It was Windows 7 what made me switch.

Now, you have to take into consideration what you're using the machine for. Gaming rig? Stay with Windows.

Oh, and also note that you can't buy Mac OS and install it on a custom built, you have to purchase the machine from Apple.

[Deathdiesel]

Yea, and i also just looked and Mac OS X is 500$..Kidding right?

[Nuclear Krusader]

You can't buy it separately. The only thing you can buy is the upgrade to Snow Leopard, which is 29 dollars, but you have to already have a Mac running a previous version of OS X.

The cheapest Mac is the Mac Mini, 700 dollars, and it already comes with the OS of course.

Mac OS Server is the one that's 500 dollars, but that one is being phased out anyway.

[remote_smart]

There is no free PDF editor included.

[Deathdiesel]

Thats surprising that the dont allow people to buy the Mac OS, i bet mac lovers would probably buy it if they didnt wanna spend a ton on an actual mac computer.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Apple has always been about closed-architecture, and has always gotten a lot of flak for that. Mostly because that means you have to buy from them only, and I do acknowledge they do it as a means of securing their market presence and remaining indispensable. What most people seem to ignore though, it's that it's such closed architecture and the need for the Great Apple to OK everything that is developed for Mac before it actually touches a Mac, that protects Mac OS from the myriad problems that plague Windows (conflicting drivers, sloppily written apps, viruses, etc.).

Microsoft has tried to do the same with their MS Hardware Labs, but for Windows developers it's not mandatory to get the blessing from MS in order to write apps for Windows. Just look at Vista: many of the problems that plagued the initial stages of that OS were because of developers that decided to ignore M$'s guidelines and did things their own way (sound drivers and DirectX 10 anyone?). This doesn't happen in the Mac world.

[quartet-man]

At one time Apple allowed clones, but then stopped. It might have been a quality thing, but I think it was that they probably lost a lot of sales on their computers and wanted the sales back.

[Deathdiesel]

Originally Posted by quartet-man At one time Apple allowed clones, but then stopped. It might have been a quality thing, but I think it was that they probably lost a lot of sales on their computers and wanted the sales back.

Never thought about that, most likely cause imo.

[Deathdiesel]

Okay so question on this topic moderatly. My gfs home computer has a virus, bieng the awesome pc mechanic that i am not, i had no idea what to reccomend. I havent seen what its mostly doing but she believes it has some sort of virus. Anyways, what is a good free program to use to either figure out whats going on or to remove the virus(es)

[David M]

Going back to your original post of what software is mandatory and your last post of what is good free anti-malware software. The first answer is anti-malware software and the second answer is Microsoft Security Essentials.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Other than having a browser if you want to access the internet, I can't think of any other software I would call "mandatory". It's important to consider though that a computers only job is to run software and to store information. So whatever software you need is pretty much mandatory.