Google Logo

- How can anyone not be impacted by one of the most powerful brands on the planet?  They revolutionized email with their Gmail, they had a slam dunk when they purchsed Writely to incorporated it into GoogleDocs and now the Chrome OS is on teh horizon.  Microsoft spearheaded the initiative to get the Internet into just about everyone but Google says “Thanks, we’ll take it from here.”

Ubuntu Logo

Ubuntu is the next fiesty little OS that makes my life easier.  I had enough of Windows and installed Ubuntu and will not look back.  You do need at least a geeky friend if you aren’t technical, otherwise buy a Netbook with some sort of Linux installed on it and you’ll forever put away your anti-virus software :)

Gimp Logo

The Gimp is an awesome image editor program.  Free and has done everything I have ever asked of it.  It rivals the likes of Photoshop and typically the people who slam it complain because they are used to doing things a certain way but won’t open their mind to such a great tool.  Enjoy it!  Did I mention it was free?

http://trackyourgasmileage.com

Being a bit of a car buff, this free site is awesome for monitors your car’s health, track expenses and gas price trends.  A Great Guy runs the site too!

Wordpress Logo

Can’t possibly make this list (literally and figuratively!) without mentioned WordPress.  They make the software that makes this site possible!  The themes and extensions available are astounding.  This too is free!  You can either use their own site (wordpress.com) to create a blog hosted by them or download and install the software on your own web hoster (wordpress.org).  I rpefer the latter as the former limits what you can do to enhance the site.

Joomla Logo

This wonderful piece of software makes excellent websites!  So much functionality without doing 1/10th the work!  You will  need to have some basic HTML understanding and delve into the deep dark waters of php every now and then, but otherwise it is an excellent way to built a community or informational website.  There is a paradigm shift in order to use this site as I’ve seen many traditional website builders get lost because they can’t open their minds to new ways og doing things, let alone letter go of control.  Trust in Joomla!

AVG Logo

For those still stuck in the Windows world, AVG is simply a must for your protection.  It is the best free (http://free.avg.com) anti-virus software that I have ever ran across.  Get it, use it, stop spreading those damned viruses to other windows machines.  I don’t worry, see my Ubuntu entry above :)

Foxit Reader

The best FREE PDF  reader for windows.  Smaller, quicker, faster than Adobe will ever be.  Compare a typicall 1MB install to Adobe’s 20MB install!!  This is just a damn good program that works like it should without the fuss.

VLC Logo

What media program could possible be better than VLC?  It’s simple, fast and doesn’t need to worry about special codex software or drivers to display many oddball formats.  Sure you could get something prettier with all kinds of bells and whistle but keep in mind that is all you are getting…..bells and whistles.  Another free program.

VLC Logo

If you want a simple program to remotely access your machine, VNC is the place to start.  With the TightVNC and UltraVNC variants, you have more than enough options to make it work for your environment.  Free as well :)

Evernote Logo

Where would the tech world be without Evernote.  I keep waiting to hear Google snap up this awesome little company and this product.  It’s like having notepad online but with cut&paste websites to look directly like them.  Another free peoduct!  Maybe not as popular as say…of the H1N1 flu converstation but after you use it, it will be.

And saving the best for last:

The Pirate Bay Logo

The Pirate bay.  If you have never heard of them, what cavern in the center of the earth have you been living in?  I ain’t even going to bother explaining.  Just click on the logo and start your learning now!