# "Must have" programs for new computers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704 "2003-03-12T01:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/1 "2003-03-12T01:12:33Z")
I recently added a computer to the Boscibo family, and in the process of dowloading Irfanview and Pop-Up Stopper I started wondering what programs or utilities you like to put on a new computer or fresh install. Spyware blockers? Games? Graphics programs? Freeware/shareware programs are a plus. ---
**Author:** ![mudcrutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@mudcrutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudcrutch)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/2 "2003-03-12T01:37:16Z")
There are a few suggestions in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=166622). ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/3 "2003-03-12T03:46:44Z")
ZoneAlarm and AdAware are 2 that I would suggest. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/4 "2003-03-12T04:15:44Z")
The cheapies I don’t leave home without: BBEdit Lite Stuffit Expander and DropStuff FileCM Open-With FinderPop and Popup Navigator Default Folder Escapade Kaleidoscope Flash-It Snitch Remember iCab Eudora NetFinder ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/5 "2003-03-12T04:31:41Z")
I recommend: Zone Alarm (the freebie is pretty good) Ad-Aware Spy Bot Search and Destroy Norton Anti-Virus Google (not software but an add on to your browser) Those are the most important in my view. I have used McAfee’s anti virus to only have a lot of problems on a network I administered. Various machines would lock up for no reason including this machine so I am partial to Norton. To each their own. Oh if you want a decent and not expensive graphics programs, go to [www.jasc.com](http://www.jasc.com) and download the trialware of PaintShop Pro. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/6 "2003-03-12T05:05:47Z")
I reccomend Free Surfer mkII for a pop-up blocker, it has worked very well for me. Also, for your instant messaging needs I reccomend Trillian, as it works with all the major messaging services(MSN, AIM, Yahoo, ICQ) and is much less annoying than those programs. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/7 "2003-03-12T06:01:43Z")
Adobe Acrobat Reader. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/8 "2003-03-12T06:02:45Z")
Also, [Textpad](http://www.textpad.com) text editor. ---
**Author:** ![rayray5884](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@rayray5884](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayray5884)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/9 "2003-03-12T08:13:25Z")
Definetely Ad-Aware. For the added $15 its worth registering also, as you get the latest software upgrades as well as automatic spy-ware list updates. ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/10 "2003-03-12T08:48:33Z")
Linux ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/11 "2003-03-12T08:50:58Z")
BBEdit Lite Stuffit Expander and DropStuff Flash-It NetFinder Opera AIM The Tilery JPEGView Quicktime Player Mozilla (mainly for the IRC client) And don’t forget the drivers! ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/12 "2003-03-12T08:52:19Z")
Snood. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/13 "2003-03-12T09:22:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*Snood. \*\* Dear lord. IF you’re addicted to SDMB _and_ Snood, when do you do anything else? Either one alone is able to take over one’s like with ease. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/14 "2003-03-12T11:44:10Z")
[SpamPal](http://www.spampal.org.uk/) ---
**Author:** ![rayray5884](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@rayray5884](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayray5884)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/15 "2003-03-12T17:07:23Z")
How could I forget snood! If you want to stick with AIM instead of getting trillian DeadAIM is a great program that modifies your AIM and allows you to tab IM’s, log all conversations, get rid of all AOL’s annoying ads and even create transparent IM boxes. [DeadAIM](http://www.jdennis.net) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/16 "2003-03-12T17:43:43Z")
I second Linux. No PC is complete without a _functional_ OS. And with Linux, I’d reccomend a Ruby interpreter. I think a Perl interpreter is standard with most non-micro distros, but Ruby is a good language for problems that are best solved in an OO way. A Common Lisp interpreter is indicated if you’re interested in programming as a state of mind, not just as a means to an end. Studying Lisp is worth it for the rush of comprehension and sense of beauty you get when you finally comprehend it. (This is kind of difficult because there are so many good programs that come with a standard distro. I’m having to think back to which programs I use that I actually needed to download.) nasm is a better assembler than the GNU assembler that gcc uses as a backend. It uses Intel syntax, for one thing, and it’s generally more conducive to writing really clean, red-tape-free code. If you’re interested in going the level below C, get it. (And I realize, once again, what a complete and total geek I am. :)) ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/17 "2003-03-12T18:59:55Z")
[http://www.thewonderfulicon.com/](http://www.thewonderfulicon.com/) ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/18 "2003-03-12T20:21:25Z")
Acdsee classic (lite?) is my favorite image viewer. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-have-programs-for-new-computers/160704/19 "2003-03-13T07:22:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Troy McClure SF \* > \*\*Dear lord. > > IF you’re addicted to SDMB _and_ Snood, when do you do anything else? \*\* What else is there?