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22 Free Apps for New Windows Users

22 Free Apps for New Windows Users
By
Turning Your Home PC into Home Base

While smartphones and tablets may have the edge on portability, there's still nothing (yet) that beats the raw power, configurability, and wealth of options available to a desktop user. Still, taking advantage of all the power that a desktop can bring takes some learning, a little patience, and a good helping of the right apps to make the most out of your desktop machine. You supply the patience, and we'll help out with a list of apps for new users.

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There are 13 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 10
    wildkitten , December 26, 2012 11:06 PM
    When did programs on the PC start being called apps? I know we have always called programs applications as well, but app name for programs on phones and tablets came about because they were small, lightweight versions of programs.
Other Comments
  • 10
    wildkitten , December 26, 2012 11:06 PM
    When did programs on the PC start being called apps? I know we have always called programs applications as well, but app name for programs on phones and tablets came about because they were small, lightweight versions of programs.
  • 4
    netyam , December 27, 2012 6:10 AM
    LibreOffice screenshot is running ubuntu :D 
  • 1
    sykozis , February 3, 2013 8:34 PM
    Am I the only one that find most of those "apps" to use useless to the majority of users?
  • 3
    anonymous@guest , February 3, 2013 10:03 PM
    Actually sykozis, I already have at least half of them on my system. Some I have been using for years.
    The "majority" of PC users, as you say, won't be in Tom's Guide or any other tech blog to begin with. But, the "majority" of Tom's Guide readers would probably be interested in some, especially new readers looking for free PC programs.
    It's not like Tom suggested you had to take 'em all!
  • 4
    krowbar , February 3, 2013 10:47 PM
    lol chrome? And the only mention of FireFox was a move from it? I thought by now everyone would have learned and moved away from google's ecosystem.
  • 5
    anonymous@guest , February 3, 2013 11:15 PM
    These aren't apps! Skype has an app for windows 8. None of the others do. these are applications.
  • 0
    Onus , February 4, 2013 12:50 AM
    7Zip download link is broken.
  • 1
    nukemaster , February 4, 2013 1:58 AM
    WINAMP!!!!!!
    Been using it for YEARS.

    VLC is also very good.

    Chrome vs Firefox is up to user opinion more then anything.

    Avast is also good.

    I have used EaseUS todo backup and it worked out well.

    Defraggler is another on I have been using for my HDDs

    All in all, I have used most(bust still not all) of the programs listed here. :) 
  • 2
    alextheblue , February 4, 2013 2:06 AM
    I question AV-Test's scoring system. Basically it looks like they arbitrarily hand out scores based on how much money you give them (or fail to give them). Avast! is pretty decent though, for the most part. I just mean to say that MSE has been slammed by AV-Test and unfairly so.
  • 1
    anonymous@guest , February 4, 2013 5:55 AM
    Paint.Net
  • 1
    killerclick , February 4, 2013 6:53 AM
    I like how there are no Metro apps in this list.
  • 0
    krowbar , February 5, 2013 12:23 AM
    Might be a lil late to post this now, but there is a website that reviews all programs (applications) that are free. Check out
    http://www.techsupportalert.com/
  • 1
    Murissokah , February 5, 2013 1:04 AM
    wildkittenWhen did programs on the PC start being called apps? I know we have always called programs applications as well, but app name for programs on phones and tablets came about because they were small, lightweight versions of programs.


    I agree with you, it's sounds unprofessional to call pograms "apps". But I guess since the OS developer thinks your PC should be a big phone it only makes sense.
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