March 20th, 2008
Your turn: Readers choose their 10 favorite Windows programs
WinRAR
Info / Download
Price: $29
System requirements: Windows 95 or later
WinRAR screen shot
I gave up on WinZip a couple years ago, when the product was absorbed into Corel. It was about that time that I discovered WinRAR. I only need it about four times a year, but it sure comes in handy on those occasions. (If I didn’t already own a license for WinRAR, I would seriously consider 7–zip, which has the advantage of being free, even if its interface is a little unpolished and wonky. Or the more obscure IZArc, which gets mad props from people I respect.)
Anyway, several e-mailers made a point to ask why I didn’t include this one. It’s a good addition to this list.
ActiveWords
Info / Download
Price: $50 (personal license for use on any number of computers)
System requirements: Windows 95 or later
ActiveWords screen shot
My buddy Buzz Bruggeman has evangelized this program to me for a couple years now. I’ve tried it several times and got some good benefit out of it, but never turned into a devotee. Guess I’m about due to try it again, after reading this recommendation from prdtwin, who calls it “the number 1 most valuable application” on his (or her) PC:
I consider [ActiveWords] the brain and control center of every PC I own. I use it to navigate my PC more efficiently and consider it my secret weapon at work because it allows me to create an interactive/automated knowledge base of re-usable content. … [I]f a customer emails me asking a specific question about the warranty of a product, all I have to do is type the word “Warranty” followed by 2 key strokes, and Active Words automatically pastes in the detailed warranty information into my email message. I literally have hundreds of words I’ve assigned to various categories that help me quickly and efficiently answer customers, partners & co-workers on anything from product specs, support questions, pricing, you name it. It saves a ton of time and guarantees the accuracy of my email responses on very important business issues.
I guess I also have a soft spot in my heart for this program because it was a favorite of my late and deeply missed friend Marc Orchant, who called it “magic.”
Xplorer2
Info / Download
Price: Lite version free for home/academic use; Pro version $30
System requirements: Windows 95 or later
Xplorer2 screen shot
Years ago – oh, hell, eons ago, I was a diehard Norton Commander fan, and later I used a variety of two-pane file management shells. I gave up on those back before the turn of the century. But other people sure do love the idea. So Cal Guy says it’s “great,” pjustice57 uses it every day and says it “should be #1 on the list,” and deve calls it “totally amazing” and says the free version is “plenty powerful.”
I installed it here and was favorably impressed at first glance. Just flipping through the menus turned up useful commands that sync directories, shred files for extra security, and create folder groups that can be reused. It does multiple tabs in each of ts two panes, and I appreciate the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Q) that toggles the preview pane. I wish the new Windows Explorer in Windows Vista had a shortcut like that.
Quick Macros
Info / Download
Price: $40
System requirements: Windows 98 or later
Quick Macros screen shot
Man, I can think of a million ways I might use this tool. Of course, I remember having that reaction when I first heard about this product many years ago. After looking it over, I think most people will have one of two reactions: “Wow, that’s powerful!” Or “Wow, that’s complicated!”
Commenter bobsterz69 offers this effusive review:
I’ve been using this for years. It keeps getting better. All the other macro programs I tried seemed to have fatal limitations (though I admit that was about five years ago). Quick Macros seems limitless, and the author and users respond with code you can use to create complex macros when you have a question. I am not a techie, so I’ve barely tapped into what it can do, but it saves me a lot of time.
I’m definitely going to keep this installed and see if I can find some uses for it.
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Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 03/21/08
