The Tech Links are beginning to get quite big and mixed across platforms, so I am trying to sort them a bit here and add some blurb. Being a 'software junkie', I have played with a lot of software, so most of these I either have used or do use and some are recommendations from a 'fellow geek' .. All are freeware/opensource, so it won't cost you anything to give them a go.
You could list opensource stuff here forever, and you can just about bet that anything you want to do from a simple utility to full blown apps are already out there, when I'm looking for something my first port of call is always
Sourceforge
The Essentials
Firefox
A fantastic, secure, light, skinable, tabbed browser. Unfortunately you still have to keep IE installed as some sites (eg. Windows Update, etc ) have locked their coding into IE. (I'm trying to keep this simple for all the techo's out there who don't like my explanation :P)
Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOSX and quite a few other ports and languages
Camino
Very similar to Firefox, but for MacOSX only. This is what I use now and love it.
Platforms: MacOSX
Thunderbird
A very good email client. I have tried out a heap of mail clients and keep coming back to Thunderbird. I will hang my head in shame here and admit that I actually really do like Outlook 2003, but it wont run on the mac and for home I'm just not paying that sort of money. Protocol wise, I use IMAP which means all my mail stays on the mail server, but I can d/l for local use. This way it doesn't matter if I'm using my mail client, web mail or my phone, I don't have to worry about synchronising etc and I can send mail from anywhere.. I can run Thunderbird on any windows box, my mac, whatever. It also handles POP for those that like to d/l their mail and has excellent built in spam and junk mail filters. There are lots of extensions to do all sorts of wierd and wonderful things and a huge community that keeps developing more and more for it.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OSX and quite a few other ports and languages
AVG Anti-Virus
OK, theres no excuse for not having AV on your machine. This is free and very good. I used it for quite a few years on my windows boxes at home and not one infection. Its basic but does the job more than adequately.
Platforms: Windows
Smoothwall
If you are on broadband you really need to be running a firewall (it really doesn't hurt for dialup either). There are quite a few windows personal firewalls out there with
Zone Alarm and
Kerio probably being the most popular free ones. These work well, but are tied to ports and applications and the biggest problem is as they are 'learning' what should be allowed through to the net, most people have no idea why it is asking and just say 'yes' anyway. This tends to defeat the purpose of having the firewall in the first place. So in the end you have this firewall running, chewing up resources and in reality does nothing at all.
Smoothwall is an excellent firewall that runs on a seperate box (any old box will do, I had it running on a DEC 486 for years and it now doing service at a friends house), it just sits in the corner, does a great job at being a firewall and also acts as a gateway (ie It is the computer connected to the net, so you can shut down any of the other PC's in the network without losing your connection ). If you want to get super technical you can also easily set up a DMZ. It takes about 20 mintues to setup and go and from then on you rarely have to touch it. It is a very cut down linux distro, designed to be only a firewall with a few basic networking features if you want to use them, like dhcp and vpn. Optionally you can also enable IDS (Intrusion Detection) and SQUID web proxy.
Platforms: Any old PC sitting around doing nothing
Applications
OpenOffice
Does everything office does (word, powerpoint, spreadsheet, etc) , is fully compatible with office documents and has a price tag of $0.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac and quite a few other ports and languages
Sidenote: The full Mac OSX (Aqua) port is not available yet and Oo needs to run on Darwin, but I have no problems with it
NVU
HTML Editor and site manager, not quite Front Page, but not a couple of hundred bucks either.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOSX
The GIMP
Image Editor, very powerful, very free. If you are a masochist (I'm just jealous!!) and can utilise something with the power of photoshop, this is the one for you.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOSX
GanttProject
Good, small, Project Manager for doing the basics. When the vagaries of MS Project are just too much and you really don't want to use Excel.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOSX and any OS that runs Java
DIA
Good Technical Drawing Package, like Visio. It can handle ER, UML diagrams, flowcharts, network diagrams, etc .. and if you are into XML you can add more.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOSX (on Darwin)
Freemind
A good mind mapping tool. If you actually manage to map your mind, I know someone that would like to see it !!! but seriously, if you need something to organise thoughts, bits & pieces, this could be it.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOSX and any OS that runs Java
VLC Media Player
A Media player that seems to handle anything you can throw at it. It also has streaming server capabilities and no %$4^^&* DRM.
Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOSX and few others
Well thats a start, if you have any other favourites you would like to add, drop me a line ....