“What should I load on my new Windows computer?” asked a friend, knowing I would have an opinion. I started to make a list, then realized, I could do one better. In this blog entry, find my list of preferred Windows tools.
A Bit of Nostalgia
When I look at this list, I’m taken back in time to my Apple //e days, when I had a few 5 and a quarter floppy disks loaded with some of my favorite tools. I took to calling those miscellaneous utilities “MISCUT” for short. The name stuck, and I grew up with 3.5 inch disks, and USB drives named MISCUT. I even had different numbers assigned to MISCUT media, denoting their function.
At 13 years of age, I had come up with a simple way to organize the world around me. Funny that at 55+ years of age, I’m still relying on that system.
List of MISCUT for Windows in Alpha Order
Not all the tools that appear below are 100% free, but they are close to it or worth the investment.
Here is the updated table with the additional tools:
| Tool | Description | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Zip | File archiver with high compression ratio | 7-Zip |
| Audacity | Free, open-source audio editor and recorder | Audacity |
| Canva App | Graphic design and visual content creation platform | Canva App |
| Free Commander | Free version of a professional file manager | Free Commander |
| HandBrake | Free, open-source video converter | HandBrake |
| Hemingway App | Writing analyzer app for improving writing clarity | Hemingway App |
| IrfanView | Fast and compact image viewer and editor | IrfanView |
| Lightshot | Image and screenshot capture and annotation tool | Lightshot |
| MP4 Splitter | Simple tool for splitting videos quickly and easily | MP4 Splitter |
| Mullvad VPN | VPN service for secure browsing on multiple platforms | Mullvad VPN |
| OBS Studio | Free, open-source screencasting and streaming software | OBS Studio |
| OnlyOffice | Free, open-source office suite for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations | OnlyOffice |
| OpenShot Video Editor | Free, open-source video editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux | OpenShot Video Editor |
| ParanoiaWorks Secure Space Encryptor | File and text encryption tool with steganography feature | ParanoiaWorks Secure Space Encryptor |
| PDF Reader by Xodo | Free PDF editor, organizer, and annotator | PDF Reader by Xodo |
| PDFSam Visual | Powerful tool for editing and modifying PDF files | PDFSam Visual |
| Signal | Private messaging app with end-to-end encryption | Signal |
| Sumatra PDF | Free, open-source PDF viewer | Sumatra PDF |
| Thorium | Open-source, customizable web browser | Thorium |
What would you add to this list?