Basic types of programs every computer should have

You’ve bought yourself a PC. What do you need to install in the beginning for it to properly work? The requirements are different for each and every one of them, but I’ll try to make a list of the most important software, that anybody who wants to use its PC in optimal conditions, needs. Obviously, the first software you need to install it’s an operating system, and here I’ve decided to speak only for those who install Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.

1. Antivirus

Under no circumstances, should you start internet browsing without an antivirus. Personally, I use Avast, which has never let me down for the last two years. This one is free. If you’re ready to pay a few dollars extra in order to get better protection, you should BitDefender or Kaspersky, because they’re first place on all tops.

2. Packer/Unpacker

It is extremely useful because some kits are packed and you won’t be able to use it without one. The most famous and efficient (from my point of view) is WinRar. You can download it from the WinRar website.

3. Browser

If you want a lot of aggravations and crashes from 5 to 5 minutes don’t bother you, you can stick to Internet Explorer, which is pre-installed on Windows installation.

For at least a few weeks, it will properly behave, but that’s not an excuse for you not to switch to something better. And that means Firefox or Opera.

4. Virtual Drive

Have you received some image installation kits on an USB stick? You can see its content and install it with WinRar (because an image is actually an archive), but in the future, a better way to use it, would be by installing a software that creates a virtual optical drive. The most popular and efficient of all times, is Daemon Tools.

5. Burning CD/DVD/Blu-ray soft

Personally, I think that the time for CDs and DVDs has passed, meaning that I don’t really know people who back-up their data on CDs or DVDs anymore. Most of the users transfers their data on memory sticks, that got to impressive storage capacity, or portable hard-disks. However, it’s pretty complicated to make a bootable USB stick (to install an operating system) so, the CDs and DVDs still remains the easier way. How to burn a CD? Well, the most popular software for this, is Nero. The downloadable version costs 60 Euros.

6. Multimedia

You’ll definitely want to listen to music or watch a movie on your computer. At least at home, the PC represents an entertainment device. For music, everyone who has interacted with a computer until now, knows about Winamp. It’s indeed the most popular, but there are other options, some of them being actually somehow better.

Personally, I’ve started using AIMP.  AIMP can be downloaded from here. Don’t get scared when you see that the website is written is Russian. You can choose your language from the upper right corner and you can select English (EN).

For movies, I’ve been using BSPlayer for years, and this subject has been also debated here. Although the interface it’s not for the XXIst century, this software is really easy to use, and the part with the diacritical marks is also piece-of-a-cake.

These are pretty much my suggestions to a computer beginner. Of course, you might also need a text editor and for that there is Microsoft Office Pack, or Open Office; maybe you’ll want to process some images, and you’ll need a free image processing software, an online version, or a paid one etc. There are lots of software you can gradually install, but those presented above are essentially in the beginning, right after operating system installation.

Tags: software, windows