10 useful freeware applications for Windows Vista

Two more essentials

9. ImgBurn

There comes a time in a Windows user's life where you find the need to burn a CD, create an image, or verify a disc. Windows Vista can burn data via its built-in tools, and audio CDs via Windows Media Player, but try to burn images in popular formats such as .BIN and .ISO, and you'll run into trouble.

You'll ultimately find that Windows Vista can't meet all your burning requirements, and you'll again be on the hunt of an alternative software solution. From the early days of burning, names such as Nero and Roxio have stood out from the crowd. However, the burning process is no longer a technological feat, and paying for programs to complete such a simple task is a thing of the past.

If you're looking for a freeware application to deal with your image-burning, you may need to look no further than ImgBurn - a freeware application that literally does what it says on the tin. As with most good freeware applications, ImgBurn is a lightweight download (under 2MB) and supports a wide range of image file formats. Combine ImgBurn with Vista's built-in burning functionality, and you'll be able to burn just about anything.

Official ImgBurn website: www.imgburn.com

Noteworthy alternative: CD Burner XP (contrary to its name, it does work with Vista)

10. AutoHotkey

I'm at the end of the ten free applications that'll help you get a whole lot more from your Vista experience, but there's one more to offer; AutoHotkey. This free, open-source utility for Windows is arguably the most complicated application suggested. However, once you've mastered it, it can become one of the most rewarding.

This tiny little application is aimed at allowing users to create keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys to automate simple and repetitive tasks. As a very simple example, a user could map certain keys to open their web browser. Delve a little deeper and it can do a whole lot more, including expanding abbreviations and remapping keys from your keyboard, mouse or joystick.

It all sounds a little complicated, but take a look at AutoHotkey's quick-start tutorial for a little pointer.

Official website: www.autohotkey.com

Noteworthy alternative: AutoIt

There you have it, ten freeware applications that will help make life with Windows Vista that little bit better. Of course, this list is merely my opinion, and though these applications serve many of my needs, other users will no doubt have plenty of suggestions and alternatives of their own.

With that in mind, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the applications listed and any recommandations of your own. Head on over to the HEXUS.community forums to share your thoughts, and tell me, which freeware applications should we take a closer look at?

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I find it suprising that there was no meantion of a text editor. Notepad is about as basic (and functionally useless) as text editors get. Any power-user worth his/her salt will always need a notepad replacement. Two of my favourites for windows are gvim and notepad++ (or context), with gvim being the more powerful of the two but with a high learning curve to use it proficantly.

VLC whilst quite a capable product, has never seemed user friendly to me, by default not always properly correcting image quality or dealing with interlacing. Because no layman's guide to getting it working nicely seemed to exist (only a barrage of technical options), I found I quickly stopped trying to use it.

Similarly, I hope no-one is fooling themselves over open office. Whilst I totally admire the hard work, it is in no way a true competitor yet to MS Office. Writer (the word replacement) is adequate (although lacking grammar checking), Impress (the powerpoint clone) does all that you need it to, and there is no direct comparison for the Draw program (short of Visio, which is in a whole other league). Draw alone made the installation (and its continued presence after getting Office 2007) worthwhile, it is a wonderful application. However it has one major failing that says a lot about the majority of the development team. Calc (Excel replacement) is quite frankly only fit for simple spreadsheets, not for producing business-quality charts or more complex scenarios. They completely failed to understand the needs of the professional users of such software, in my opinion.

On a more positive note, since you were not adverse to suggesting online applications, then Meebo is really an absolute must. Even if you generally prefer to use proper IM clients, it is invaluable when travelling, or when you have guests over who want to chat online.

Just a quick point….

Mesh is still in the Beta testing stage, might be best to mention that (I haven't got an advance release or anything at work yet either)

aidanjit, notepad++ is very useful - thanks for the suggestion :)

Rosaline, I'd agree that OpenOffice isn't a competitor to Microsoft Office. I can't go without Outlook so I use Office 2007, and I'm even quite fond of the “ribbon” interface. That said, I think OpenOffice does have its uses. If a user doesn't use many office features, and his/her tasks generally involve banging together a few quick documents, I'd usually suggest OpenOffice as a first point of call.

Meebo is a good one! For an alternative desktop IM client, I've found Pidgin to be handy.

Finlay, the Live Mesh tech preview is now open to all in the US. Later today, it'll be open to all in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, too. So there will be no need to sign up to any waiting lists - you'll be able to sign up directly at Mesh.com.

Looking forward to hearing some more suggestions, always fun to hear what other people are using. :)

Ohh sweet @ mesh. i got an invite of a gent on here, but it wouldn't work for some reason, and asked me to get on a waiting list.

10 useful freeware applications for Windows Vista

Two more essentials

9. ImgBurn

10. AutoHotkey

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