With ~2 weeks left in the year and Chrismahanukwanzakah just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to revisit my favorite freeware of 2008. If you are planning to give and/or receive a new computer* this holiday season, save yourself (and/or your loved ones) some hard-earned dough by switching to these highly capable, (paid for-alternative) zero-cost apps:
The Interwebs
DVD Ripping and Burning
- Ripping: DVDFab HD 5
- Burning: DVD Shrink
- File conversion: Handbrake
Media Playback and Organization
- Playback: VLC media player
- DVD Organization: EMDB
- Media Center: XBMC
Communications
Security, Protection, and Disk Optimization
- Anti-virus: avast! Home Edition
- Anti-spyware: Spybot – Search & Destroy
- Defrag/hard drive optimization: Smart Defrag
General Utilities
- Zip/Unzip: 7-Zip
- Print to PDF: PDF reDirect v2
- File Synchronization: SyncToy 2.0
- Photo organization/editing: Picasa 3
*Disclaimer: (1) This “guide” is focused on WinXP (but most, if not all, of the programs are available on other platforms, i.e. Linux/OSX/Vista); (2) Although a 2008 guide, this doesn’t necessarily mean the software was actually released this year; (3) Freeware refers to software that is distributed without charge1, but that is clearly subject to change; and (4) Boilr does not encourage or condone any illegal usage of the featured apps/websites.
