Computing

I use GNU/Linux
I recommend you do the same. In fact I recommend people not to buy a computer with MS Windows on unless they are going to replace it with GNU/Linux.

Though many of the applications that run under GNU/Linux also have version that runs on MS Windows and although many run better as native GNU/Linux applications they are worth using under Windows if you are sticking to using MS Windows as Operating System.

New PCs with GNU/Linux pre-installed can be bought from EfficientPC as I did in 2008 or from DNUK

For a web browser and email for long time I used Mozilla

Although now use KDE applications, such as Kmail, Konqueror and Kword, with GNU/Linux.

For making a local copy of a website I use WinHTTrack

Putty (SSH/telnet) if you find your self needing to login from an MS Windows box into a server to get command prompt

With first pc of my own I started with using Lotus Word Pro but have since used Open Office and Abiword which seems quite adaquate for now it only does not do tables. And before sending me a document in MS Word Format read this.

If you wish to create PDF files from any windows application that prints the use PDF Creator

Also their are free software alternatives for reading PDFs:

If you are fed up typing try Dasher

For a text editor try: Notepad2

I used CDex CD ripper but it no longer seems under development.

I tend to have my music collection ripped into Ogg Vorbis format

Under MS windows use VLC player

I have used the top Audacity audio recorder and editor.

For tagging audio files check out Music Brainz and try MP3-Tag.

I sometimes use Media sharing software (P2P). I used to use Grokster but advise against it, as it contains spyware trogen, crap adverts, extra installs not needed etc. I have tried Gnucleus which was better, but also check out Shareaza

If kids use the computer I recommend installing TuxPaint

Often programs come as compressed zip archives these can be opened with the free 7zip.

I used to put this software and much more on cdroms for friends which uses as a base TheOpenCD.
but check out the:Windows Toolbox

If you need to reset password for MS windows system (NT based eg XP) then check out boot disk to do this.

For Screensavers try:

http://interface.t0.or.at/virtual/vp06.html

To let you computer do some work while you are not and maybe want you computer to simulate folding proteins in it's spare time and help advance human knowledge:

http://folding.stanford.edu

or look for signs of life from space:

http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/download.html

Networking

I have a NetVin 10/100 Mbps Ethernet cards and 10 Mbps Ethernet PCI combo Adapter on my computer that come together in network.

Get a 'cross over' wire when linking/networking 2 computers. I got sold a normal lead by mistake with my 2 NIC cards. And I only found out about cross over later after many hours of futile settings changes. (Cat5 cable - RJ45 connectors)

I got cross over cable and got both PCs to talk to each other.
I now have a hub from dabs.com but would now recommend for switches, routers and modems UKFSNs mailorder

I got a router to help connect PCs to my cable modem after being fed up with connection sharing via one of puters.

http://www.cable-modems.org/articles/linksys_review/

I just bought a modem/router, on behalf of a community centre, from LinuxADSL it arrive promptly as expected.

I have a card in an old performa mac with networks too but is rarely turned on.

Using GNU/Linux is the way to go.