This dossier aims to bring together all the essential software for Windows Vista. Free or paid, it is best to establish a grouping of most areas of computing will be discussed such as multimedia, office automation, system, etc..

Good download and feel free to submit your own list via the comments!

Office

# 1 - Microsoft Office

Until the 2003 version of Office, Microsoft was the match that continued free openOfficeorg 2. This is no longer the case now with the switch to Office 2007.

This is undoubtedly the best office suite I've been able to use. While it is well designed and maximum productivity! The proposed multiple modules (header, footer, tables of contents, styles, etc..) Provide an aspect can not be more professional ... we are far from fully fashioned themes from previous versions.

In addition, new features were introduced as export. Pdf or the possibility of blog articles and publish them directly via Word.

In short, you will understand Office 2007 suite is THE best. ... Small flat price (except for students )!

Office System 2007 (472 MiB, 98 hits)

Multimedia

# 2 - Nero

Adulated or hated, with all due respect to some but Nero is one of those software can easily happen. Indeed, despite its heavy and quite a few bugs (although many have been corrected with the latest updates), this true multimedia suite integrates all the tools needed for video editing, audio and photo that you immerse in the revolution Digital!

Remember, however, it is primarily a cross-burning software (CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) Called the Nero Burning ROM.

Among the most important features include:

• Burning Cross;
• Video encoding (see Encoding a DVD with Nero 8);
• Acquisition, creation and editing films;
• Management of multimedia content (sounds, images, videos);
• Many formats and codecs recognized (the DVR-MS);
• Opening on the Web (most recently);

Although Nero is using an impressive software suite, you can choose which ones you want to install. For example, it is quite conceivable to only Nero Burning ROM to achieve its prints while having some very advanced in this area.

Nero 8 (183 MiB, 109 hits)

# 3 - Windows Media Player

Fully integrated with Vista, now able to play DVD, for Windows Media Center, difficult, in fact, happen to him ... and it would be wrong to do it!

Of course, as usual with Microsoft programs, some functions are missing the call but later performance, we must acknowledge that the result is bluff. Even with thousands of tracks, it starts to almost instantly copy a fluidity which is far from the case for iTunes, for example, a direct opponent.

In addition, the interface adopts the style perfectly Vista and it is very ergonomic and does not suffer from various surcharges as one would blame Winamp. Of course, the flexibility offered Winamp is not to go but it was not designed for that. It is primarily to manage effectively and simply a multimedia library (music, pictures, videos, TV recordings, etc.). Without all the functions more or less useful.

EDIT: a small detail that I was pointed out via a comment on Reddit, the following link to download the application in question for Windows XP and Windows Vista, as it is already integrated into the system!

Windows Media Player 11 (23.5 MiB, 123 hits)

# 4 - iTunes

If you have the pleasure of owning an iPod or an iPhone then you can not switch from iTunes. Like Windows Media Player, it allows you to manage your library (music only) and synchronize the device with the latter.

Is there then what difference with Windows Media Player?

An iPod can not play. Wma. So, at least not have that file. Mp3, which is not top in terms of quality (as with the loss), users of iPod and / or Iphone prefer to convert their CD format . aac, for example, it is compatible with Apple devices but not readable with Windows Media Player.

This is a real war of formats forcing many users to use in parallel, both iTunes to manage your iPod / iPhone, and Windows Media Player, more flexible and above all much more efficient.

However, a solution exists for that use Windows Media Player: convert all its audio files in. Mp3 and download MGTEK Dopisp (trial) authorizing the timing of an iPod player with the Microsoft (and thus happen 'ITunes).

"Although complicated than this, you forget Winamp!"

Yes and it is voluntary because I do not use it for many reasons.

iTunes (58 MiB, 57 hits)

# 5 - Real Alternative / Quick Time Alternative

Quicktime formats and Real Video are widely available on the web but require the installation of readers owners, which is not necessarily an evil if the publishers of such software did not resort to practices somewhat questionable to impose. Real did everything to hide deep within its site a free version of their player. Apple does not sell anything, but a serious trend to offer the new version of Quicktime to "bundle" with iTunes, which you do not need.

The remedy? QuickTime Alternative and Real Alternative, two alternatives ready to use, the player using Media Player Classic.

Real Alternative (5.8 MiB, 68 hits)

Quick Time Alternative (12 MiB, 55 hits)

# 6 - Picasa

Promoted by Google, Picasa is software that can measure the real potential at first. With a seamless interface, a copy ergonomics and performance, Picasa is a free photo full of features very, very interesting:

• Import;
• Retouching;
• Chronological slide show or display;
• Gift CD;
• Open the Web via Web Albums, export html, posting to Blogger, etc.. ;

One wonders what may well offer more Adobe Photoshop Album ...

Picasa (4.8 MiB, 73 hits)

Internet

# 7 - Firefox

If there is a browser that is no longer, it is Firefox. Currently available in version 2 (stable) and version 3 (beta 5, also very stable ), It is not surprising that it soon steals the show at its competitor, Internet Explorer.

Remember, Firefox is safer, more reliable, more powerful and more customizable via its many extensions and other themes available for download that offers a huge active community.

Download: Firefox 2 (5.85 MB)

Firefox 3 beta 5 (7.32 MB)

Firefox 3 (6.9 MiB, 55 hits)

# 8 - Windows Live Messenger

I have long sought an alternative to Messenger for more flexibility and above all less than advertisements. Only here, there is no appeal: few alternatives are credible. Either it lacks a function that I use, the interface is really too skinned, there is always another problem

So I resigned myself to use WLM pending the release of a truly credible competitor.

Windows Live Messenger (16.3 MiB, 67 hits)

# 9 - FileZilla

Free, French, efficient, FileZilla is undoubtedly the best FTP client at the moment! Managing multiple accounts, reconnection, ergonomics, look no longer, you will not find better.

Note that there is also a server version of FileZilla.

FileZilla (2.9 MiB, 69 hits)

System

# 10 - TUGZip

TUGZip is a compression / decompression, free, multi-lingual and multi award-winning that has nothing to envy WinZip, far from it:

• Supports ZIP, 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, BH, bz2, CAB, CPIO, DEB, GCA, GZ, IMP, JAR, LHA (LZH), LIB, RAR, RPM, SQX, TAR, TGZ , TBZ, TAZ, YZ1, ZOO;
• Supports BIN, C2D, IMG, ISO and NRG as disk images;
• Repair files. Corrupt and zip archives SQX;
• Crypt archives using 6 different algorithms: Blowfish (128-bit), DES (56-bit), Triple DES (168-bit) and Rijndael (128-bit, 192-bit and 256-bit);
• Updated automatically;

And more!

TUGZip (3.7 MiB, 109 hits)

# 11 - O & O Defrag Professional

Windows has the unfortunate tendency to fragment at the speed of light (that is an image, though). To remedy without further delay to this problem, we must move to the defragmentation (see Defragment Windows) with an excellent soft that O & O Defrag that can recognize its Office 2007 interface and its famous ribbon.

O & O Defrag Professional (11.7 MiB, 124 hits)

# 12 - CCleaner

Relatively recent CCleaner is undoubtedly the best PC cleaning utility that the computer world has ever known. Very powerful, reliable and never encountered any problems, I can only recommend.

It deals not only the system, but also a large number of applications (recognition automated) and Registry (search for invalid entries). In addition, two additional modules can uninstall programs installed even those hidden in Add / Remove programs and remove programs running on startup.

CCleaner (2.5 MiB, 190 hits)

Although this list is dedicated to Windows, you notice that a lot of software is multi or from Linux.