OK… this is a list of Windows-based applications, as that is primarily the environment that I work in. I use Linux Mint when Windows doesn’t work. <grin>
Freeware/Donationware/Shareware
Text Editor: Notepad++. I’ve used this for years, and wouldn’t be without it.
Search: Agent Ransack. I love its power and flexibility, and that it links with NP++.
FTP: FileZilla. Simple, reliable, and darned near bulletproof.
Image work: FastStone Image Viewer. Quick, easy, good cropping and a decent set of callout tools.
File Security: TrueCrypt. Best way to protect a client’s files.
Notes: Evernote. Especially when I have multiple things going on.
Paid-for tools
Image editing: Adobe Photoshop. It’s overkill for most of what I do, but none of the other image-editing tools are as fast or easy to use.
Authoring: Adobe FrameMaker. An old warhorse, but still the King of Documentation. Yes, I am biased from having worked for Frame Technology, but not enough I wouldn’t have jumped ship if there was something less expensive or more up-to-date.
FrameMaker Add-ons: Mif2Go, FM-to-Acrobat. MIF2Go solves so many of the small but intensely irritating output aspect of FM for everything but Acrobat, and FrameMaker-to-Acrobat timesavers just kick that output to a whole new level. A big plus for me is that both companies are run by dedicated and really nice people.
PDF: Adobe Acrobat Pro. I’ve got a couple of other quickie tools (BioPDF) that I like, but keep coming back to the mothership.
So there is a start. Yes I do use MS Office a lot, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I use a number of other tools for specialized work, and will probably post about them in the future. You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t mentioned any Help tools, structured authoring apps, or automation apps. I use them, but I’ve a lot to say there, so will keep them for a future post.
Comments are open, so feel free to chime in with your own favorites or comment on the ones I’ve listed here.