Your top software and apps

I would guess it varies widely depending on the industry.

For me, being a software developer and graphic designer, my most used work applications are Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and several other accessory products.

I also need to use accounting/invoicing/payroll software from time to time (for which I've built my own systems)

For most people (including myself), I'm sure the generic required list would actually be quite short:

  • A web browser (I use Google Chrome)
  • An email client (I use my Mac's and iPhone's built in Mail app)
  • Calendar/task software (I use my Mac's and iPhone's built in calendar and reminders app)
  • Office suite (I use a mixture of Microsoft Office and Apple iWork)
And of course, if you use music to get you through the day, music software (iTunes, for me) is a must.
 
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Photoshop, 3DS Max, Flash, Premier/After Effects

Used to use 3ds Max a lot. Miss it!

Web browser.

I was going to mention - the large majority of people could pretty much get away with just a web browser, using online apps. Hence Google's Chrome OS (which I've never actually seen in use)
 
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VladimirYakimenko

Free Member
Sep 19, 2009
83
10
London
Mostly web based software/services. In that respect "a web browser" is a good answer.
But there are a few inexpensive windows apps I am addicted to:

roboform - for keeping passwords and syncing them online
snagit - for screen captures (well, a bit more than that)
truecript - for encrypting my drives

so they are mostly utility software, everything else can be done online see this list for example http://web.appstorm.net/roundups/50-great-web-alternatives-to-desktop-software/
 
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Dropbox

You can place important files (also music and video) in a Dropbox folder and access them via your smartphone or another PC. Business associates or friends can access any files you want by designating them a folder (they will need Dropbox also).

2Gb of storage free: Get Dropbox for Free Herehttp://db.tt/AwL9Z5XZ
 
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Weapons of choice for me are currently

Chrome
Gmail
Google docs - for making notes and storing drafts
Pages - For making documents look professional
Excel 2007 - For managing my data
Skype - for messaging and video calls
Tweet deck chrome app - for managing my social media marketing
Google forms - currently getting a lot of use as I'm doing a lot of surveys/market research
Soluto - slashes the boot time of my work pc
CCleaner - makes the work PC much quicker

Edit* and >Insert Shameless plug here< for my invoicing ;)
 
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Paul Murray

Free Member
Nov 24, 2011
656
189
Manchester
I try and keep costs to a minimum as I'm self employed and still a student. Plus the Adobe packages made quite a dent in my bank account.

  • 22" iMac
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Pen & Paper (design starts on paper)
  • Komodo Edit for editing web files
  • Thunderbird email client
  • Google Chrome
  • Paypal
  • Canon 1000D DSLR

That's kind of everything I use. Occasionally I'll find a use for a different app but generally this is the bulk of my toolkit (I have mentioned things like Pantone books that I also need).
 
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