SOFTWARE
Listed
below are some of the best software around (usually shareware, so
even cheapos can get it) that I think everyone should have. If
you don't then either follow the link or buy the damn thing.
Note: I take no responsibility if your computer hacks up, blows
up, your house catches on fire, you dog dies, your car is stolen,
or if you get cancer, after installing one of these, sue
Microsoft (or whatever) not me.
Skip
directly to these sections :
Benchmarkers
Internet Utilities
Multimedia Programs
Programs that everyone
should(already)have
Games
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Benchmarkers:
| LINKS:
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Wintune
97 : Great
benchmarker/diagnostic/system tuner. Especially usefull after
tweaking your system to get that extra one drop of performance. | Go
here.
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Internet
Utilities:
| LINKS:
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Netscape
Communicator 4.x :A little buggy at first but version 4.04+ should
fix most of the problems.
| Get it here.
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Internet
Explorer 4 : Very buggy on some older (messier) systems.
Try not to install too much stuff before and after installing IE
4. The active desktop thingy is too slow, but the desktop
enhancements are well worth it. | 
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Real Audio 5.0 : If you've got a 56K
modem (or even lesser) than this is a must. Online streaming
video and audio, at full screen, up to CD quality sound is well
worth it. | Get it here
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Macromedia
Shockwave plugin : Some multimedia sites have great stuff, but
you'll need this little piece of software. Well worth it, but a
little slow sometimes. I think it came with the full installation
of IE 4.0, so check it out. | Get it here.
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Quick Time 95 : Don't you just
love those navigatable movies, where you can view a 360 degrees
scene and zoom into everything. Its like a cross between a photo
and a movie.
| Go get it here
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WS(Win Socket) FTP
PRO : There
are two evaluation versions of WS FTP. Don't you hate it when you
are downloading a 14 MB files and at 98% complete, the connection
is lost? The PRO one supports resumed download which means that
if you are disconnected from downloading a file from a FTP site,
this programs resumes the download from where you left off.
| Get it
here.
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Multimedia Programs :
| LINKS:
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Winamp : Plays MP3 Files.
They are compressed CD quality music files, usually around 1 MB
for 1 minute. So a song will usually be around 3 MBs. Note: Some
site offer illegal MP3 files and should be avoided. Downloading
commercial MP3 without paying for it is piracy. Look out for
streaming MP3s, get a ISDN connection and stream CD quality MP3s,
and I am not exagerating at all. Even at 56 K, you can stream VCR
quality music, better quality than listening to a radio station.
| Get it here.
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XING MPEG
Player : Wow, a proper software Video CD player for
WIN95 at last. On my 166MMX I can play Video CDs at their full
frame, full screen, CD quality (44 KHZ) sound. Version 3.30 now
supports MP3s. A must for anyone with a CD-ROM, good computer and
a brain.
| Get the evaluation version
here. |
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Yamaha
Soft Synth : Do you have a soundcard without wavetable
support? Well now you don't need it, at least in Windows 95.
Yamaha have made a piece of software that can play midi files
(remember those?) at wavetable (or better) quality. All you need
is at least a P166 and you are away. It plays better than my SB
AWE 32, so what are you waiting for? Unfortunately, only an
evaluation version is available, does any one know of a
commercial version?
| For now, get it here. or try here. The trial version
expires in 3 month, so check whether file at these sites are new.
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Essential Programs :
| LINKS:
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MS Plus : Cosmetic
differences are still very important. Would you rather look at an
ugly super model? Buy it now.
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Paint Shop
Pro :
Great program for fixing up those JPEGS and BMPS.
| Get it here.
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Winzip 95: I think most people
have this already. Well if you don't, then you're an idiot.
| Get it
here now idiot.
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QEMM 97 : You can have 1 GB
of SD RAM and still won't be able to run Wing Commander 1 (you
know, the EGA version) without conventional memory. Yes, there is
such thing as different kinds of memory, WIN95 generation users,
and WIN95 needs it as well. If you can't be bothered to run
MEMMAKER.exe or to spend hours tweaking that config.sys and
autoexec.bat (like in the old days...) then get QEMM. Lets just
say your average 560K of conventional memory will magically turn
into 630K or even more and you can finally run Wing Commander 1.
Buy it at all good computer stores(I sound like a commercial
don't I?). Check out their web site too at
| www.qdeck.com (or something like
that).
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Directx 5.0 :
If you
haven't bought any new games in the last 3 years, chances are you
probably don't have this. Even if you think you do, check whether
it is version 5.0 and not 3.0. MMX owners should at least have
3.0a as 3.0 is buggy. Find it on the microsoft web site.
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Must
Have Games:
Command and Conquer
: The
first proper real time strategy/action game. Lets run over those
rocket infantry with my brand new M1 tank. Get the WIN95 version
now, do it soldier. Check it out and download a demo at www.westwood.com
Red Alert : Sequel (or prequel
if you must) to the superb C&C(see above, blindy). Much more
stuff, much more action, much more gore and much more system
requirements. Get it now soldier and thats an order. Check it out
at www.westwood.com
All starwars games
: Check
out my games page now.
Duke 3D : Get the full game
and all the add ons. The third best 3D game. "Hail to the
King, baby".
Quake : Get the full game
and all the total conversion packs. The second best 3D game.
Check it out at www.idsoftware.com
Quake 2 : Get the full game
and all the total conversion packs. The best 3D game. Check it
out at www.idsoftware.com
