Kitz Forum
Computer Software => General software => Topic started by: Floydoid on September 25, 2020, 09:45:41 AM
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There are plenty of sites for downloading good free software, but not all of them are reputable.
My first port of call is usually Gizmo's site, aka Tech Support Alert, where free applications for most purposes you can think of are reviewed, compared, contrasted, and discussed.
https://www.techsupportalert.com/windows
Other sites that I know and trust, include File Hippo, Softpedia, and Major Geeks.
https://filehippo.com/
https://www.softpedia.com/
https://www.majorgeeks.com/
There is an interesting article about reputable download sites HERE (https://www.techsupportalert.com/content/what-else-have-you-just-downloaded.htm).
Maybe you know of some more?
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As I'm mostly a Linux guy these days the software I download tends to be Windows ports, so often I will find it straight off Github or at least linked from there. Softpedia and Majorgeeks does ring a bell though.
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There is a Linux section at Gizmo's site.
https://www.techsupportalert.com/linux
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There is a Linux section at Gizmo's site.
https://www.techsupportalert.com/linux
Actually ON Linux you rarely need to, as most software is bundled in one of the main repositories.
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I tried dipping my toe into the Linux world many years ago, as a result of Roseway's excellent tutorials in the Linux section of this forum, but just didn't get on with it.
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I tried dipping my toe into the Linux world many years ago, as a result of Roseway's excellent tutorials in the Linux section of this forum, but just didn't get on with it.
Coming from Windows its easy to come into it thinking "I want to run X software on it", when you really need to come over with an open mind to trying different software.
One good thing about this however is that you can slowly try migrating the software you use on Windows over to what is available on Linux.
The bigging drawback for me initially was giving up Paintshop Pro. I mean technically I didn't have to, it runs fine under WINE, but I wanted to get used to GIMP.
Of course I can completely understand how that can be a real barrier, as when you've spent decades using particular software, learning something new doesn't always come easy. Its why I haven't felt inclined to push my mum to Linux as she struggles with Windows 10 changing things as it is.
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Gimp is horrendous to get your head round. For years I've been running PSP 7 which is almost 20 years old! I think it was the last free fully working version they gave away before Corel bought it up - they used to release their new version then giveaway the previous version as I recall.
It still works on Windows 10!
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Yup, my mum still uses PSP7 on Win10 but GIMP does all I need it to do. Browsing thumbnails is easier done by the OS these days.
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I use FastStone as my generic image viewer and organiser - it's far superior to the Windows viewer. What I do like is that it includes a file browser with a superb batch renaming facility.
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I recently started using XnView as I despise Windows explorer and specifically the Photos app, its totally unreliable. On Linux I use the Dolphin file browser but may switch to XnView there too just for consistency, haven't really decided.
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Yes XnView is good too.
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I have been using Linux for years now and although I do have one Windows PC only because it runs my weather s/w and forecasting s/w and it's the latter which I have been unable to find an equivalent for. This PC still runs W7 and will NOT change. A few years ago I swapped my wife's laptop to Linux using the KDE desktop and she did not notice the difference ;D as she only used it for browsing (same browser) and email (same client). The differences in the KDE desktop and windows are minimal, at leats when coming from W7.
Yes I agree it can be a bit of a learning curve with some new s/w. Have you tried Digikam as a photo management and manipulation program as there is a Windows version? I do have a windows 7 system I can bring up under Virtualbox which I used for a while for handling a photo printer which was problematic under Linux mainly because Canon refuse to support Linux, a very short sighted view especiallyas the do support the Mac which runs the Linux kernel!
Apart from my weather forecasting stuff I do not need to run Windows for anything these days, plus the Linux security protocols are way better and updates are easier even though I run a leading edge distro which is a rolling release.
Stuart
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I come from the opposite direction having used Unix/Linux for some time before MS Windows was created. On my personal computer I use Arch Linux + LXQt and am happy with the software I get from the main repos and AUR. Of course that is not for everyone but there are plenty of distros that work along the lines of Windows or macOS in bundling many apps, providing an official store, and access to thirdparty applications.
Back to the original question these are good reputable sites I have used for Windows utilities over the years.
NirSoft
https://www.nirsoft.net/
Small and useful freeware utilities.
Sysinternals
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/
Windows utilities bought out by Microsoft in 2006.
As for Windows freeware in general I occasionally look around the sites mentioned to compare solutions I am looking for but tend to download from the origins.
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I took a look at the Gizmo’s website for linux software. It’s very impressive but I hit a stumbling block. I have no GUI, I’m not running X, just a command line via SSH. So I would need something that indicates programs that can run from the command line.
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Gimp is horrendous to get your head round. For years I've been running PSP 7 which is almost 20 years old! I think it was the last free fully working version they gave away before Corel bought it up - they used to release their new version then giveaway the previous version as I recall.
It still works on Windows 10!
Likewise, I just don't "get" Gimp at all.
Bought PSP 7 10th Anniversary Edition in early 2001 and have loved it ever since - so intuitive to use. As you say, still works on Win 10. :)
Irfanview is a useful supplementary for batch re-numbering, re-sizing etc.
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Likewise, I just don't "get" Gimp at all.
Bought PSP 7 10th Anniversary Edition in early 2001 and have loved it ever since - so intuitive to use. As you say, still works on Win 10. :)
Irfanview is a useful supplementary for batch re-numbering, re-sizing etc.
GIMP got easier to use when they added single-window mode. It was the many panels that would get hidden underneath each other that drove me insane.
The Windows version does seem rather heavy though, takes unreasonably long to load compared to instant on Linux, presumably as its loading a ton libraries that are already resident in memory on Linux.
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PSP 7 does everything I need to do, so I'm happy to stick with it.
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PSP 7 does everything I need to do, so I'm happy to stick with it.
That's a fair point, and as I said it DOES work on Linux using WINE too (I haven't checked in a while but as WINE supports older software better I have no reason to believe its not fully functional).
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I must be insane, but as well as GIMP I have also used ImageMagick - I like the fact that it works with arguments from the command line, so you can script complex operations and multiple repeated batch operations with it.
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To be fair, I believe PSP7 had batch processing too, but I do find things like ImageMagick extremely useful as you can add right click triggers for batch files that do custom operations.
The biggest problem I find with GIMP is its filters seem to be all over the place. Just finding sharpen/soften options is confusing, I'm not sure I ever found them. :blush: Whereas in PSP7 its very straightforward.
I think part of the difference is in Linux you kinda get used to some element of having to use the right tool for the right job, rather than everything being in one neat package. That's naturally frustrating if you're used to everything is one place and just working, doubly-so if you're doing time sensitive work so just don't want the hassle of learning what the best tool for the job actually is.