2011 Top Free Software for Windows 7 / Vista / XP (New or formatted PC / laptop / netbook)

So, you have just got yourself a new PC / Laptop / Netbook.

You are excited to load all the software you can find on the Internet into your machine!

So what software should you install first?

1000techs.blogspot.com recommends the following Top Free Software for Windows 7 / Vista / XP:

1. Security: Microsoft Security Essential
   First and foremost, secure your computer from malware (virus, trojans, worms, spyware, adware, dialers, keyloggers and rootkit)! Microsoft Security Essential is a free software from Microsoft. Make sure your installed Windows is genuine (not pirated copy) before you download and install it!
   [ Read our review of Microsoft Security Essential ]
    
2. Productivity Suite: OpenOffice.org, Adobe Reader
   The equivalent of Microsoft Office suites, OpenOffice.org provides powerful business application to let you start. The applications included in the suites are Writer, Calc, Impress, Base, Draw and Math.
   Adobe Reader is another software you must get for your new PC. Most of the documents are in PDF format.
   [ Read our review of OpenOffice.org ]
    
3. Media Player: VLC Media Player, Quick Time, RealPlayer
   Get the FREE multimedia player - VLC Media Player. Say bye bye to codecs error!
   Apart from VLC Media Player, download Apple's Quick Time (to play .mov files) and Realplayer (to play .rmvb files), which both are proprietary formats not available for VLC Media Player.
   [ Read our review of VLC Media Player ]
     
4. Tools & Utilities: 7-zip
   FREE file archiver/zip with high compression ratio.
   [ Read our review of 7-zip ]
     
5. VoIP / Chatting: Skype
    Doing things together, whenever you’re apart. Free Calls to PC. Low IDD calls to normal phone.
   [ Read our review of Skype ]
    
6. Photo-editing: Picasa
     A FREE photo editing software from Google that makes your pictures look great.
   [ Read our review of Picasa ]
    
7. Internet Tools: Google Chrome
   A browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.
   [ Read our review of Google Chrome ]

"1000techs.blogspot.com have been using the above software all these while. Running them on a netbook are a breeze (2GB RAM, of course)."

~ 1000techs.blogspot.com