Top 10 (FREE!) Programs I Couldn't Live Without

In no particular order...

1. Mozilla Firefox web browser http://www.mozilla.com

This is an excellent browser that's real easy to navigate and not super cluttered with a lot of junk. The coolest thing is that you can add more features of your choosing by adding widgets. This browser is way better than Explorer (what isn't though?) and of course Netscape. (Does Netscape even exist anymore?) Although I'm sure that it's just my dumb luck it seems to be safer than Explorer when it comes to malware and similar infections. I browse a lot of sites that I probably shouldn't be and I have yet to have a significant problem with this browser...now with Explorer it seems like my browser was getting hijacked on a consistent basis.

2. Trillian IM client http://www.ceruleanstudios.com

This little program is great. It puts all of your instant messaging services all in one tidy place as if they were all actually the same, one, service. It handles most of the major IM services including AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, and ICQ...I'm not sure what others, if any, it handles but who needs anything more than AIM, MSN and Yahoo! anyway?

3. ePrompter email notification & retrieval program http://www.eprompter.com

This is awesome. It is like Trillian but for email and not as fancy looking. It allows you to have multiple email accounts in one, easy to use, program. I don't know if it does pop3 accounts as I don't use pop3 but I have a couple Hotmail and Yahoo! accounts that I use with this program.

4. Skype VoIP service http://www.skype.com

Now what can I say? If this was an ordered list this would definitely be #1! This is internet phone software that allows you to have free voice conversations with anybody in any country who also has this program. If they don't have the program you can still call their mobile or land-line for hella cheap (just a few cents domestic and only 2 or 3 dimes a min. internationally).

5. Joost internet TV http://www.joost.com

Joost turns your computer into a digital television service with a booty-load of content. Simply awesome, especially if you do not own an actual TV like myself.

6. Maddie keyboard pounder http://www.download.com

Now this program was designed for the curious little ones who always seem to want to randomly pound away at your keyboard. What it does is open a screen that shows the letters as they pound to their heart's content without messing anything up on your computer....however it is also great for cleaning your keyboard.

7. Google Earth global satellite map http://earth.google.com

A lot like Google Maps but way cooler. You can even explore the galaxy with it. You can literally waste hours flying around the World and exploring different places.

8. Ad-Aware SE http://www.lavasoftusa.com

This is a great free program for detecting and removing spyware, malware and adware from your computer. Not much more to say about it, it does what it's supposed to do.

9. Qlock World clock http://www.qlock.com

A simple little desktop widget that allows you to simultaneously view times from any city around the World. I mainly use it in conjunction with my Skype so I know when is a good time to call my friends and family around the World.

10. Lime Wire file sharing service http://www.limewire.com

I don't use this program nearly as much as I used to but it still comes in handy on occasion when I need to find a particular file. You can download music like crazy but don't get too carried away or you might attract the attention of record label attorneys looking to sue you for "stealing".