Bloatfree alternatives to bloated programs | Free yourself from bloat!

[Glorfindael]

great post, I just installed vista x64 with a max 2 gb ram on my mobo so i'm veeeerry happy we have this thread

 

[stash]

Here's a program I've mentioned several times around here for syncing iPods with WMP: http://www.mgtek.com/dopisp/

 

[mc866]

For ipod management:

I'd like to add Anapod explorer from Red Chair software, not free but very light weight and has a great windows file interface for managing your ipod.

http://www.redchairsoftware.com/

For basic and batch digital image manipulation:

I also use FastStone image viewer for very basic digital image manipulation, free and no bloat. That and I the Photo resizer for batch changes.

http://www.faststone.org/

 

[greyeyezz]

NOD 32 is one of the lightest and best AV's out there.

http://www.eset.com/

 

[Schadenfroh]

Was not expecting this thread to get bumped, I will have to review some of the fresh replies.

cheers:beer:

Update: This week is hectic, I will probably not be able to update it with your new input for another two weeks.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Thetech
I Senator Noob, vote yea on proposition 1726-Making this thread a sticky.

:thumbsup:

 

[nordloewelabs]

Paint.NET (Photoshop)
http://www.getpaint.net/
small download if you already got the .NET Framework installed.
version 2.72 was the last one to support Win2K.
http://filehippo.com/download_paint.net

Camstudio (Camtasia Studio)
http://camstudio.org/

XnView (ACDSee)
http://www.xnview.com/

 

[Brazen]

ImgBurn is a nice slick CD/DVD burner. It will create ISOs and burn ISOs. More minimalist than CDBurnerXP from my experience (which has been quite some time ago with CDBurnerXP, because I love ImgBurn so much). http://www.imgburn.com/

To go truly minimalist with ISO burning though, there is nothing more minimal than ISORecorder. It basically has no options, you right click an ISO to burn it and then watch the progress. It too can create ISOs. It's downfall though, is it does not support DVDs under XP (it does under Vista). http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm You won't find any screenshots of it, because there really is nothing more than a progress bar IIRC.

 

[Brazen]

Also, GAIM has been replaced by Pidgin. I don't know if it has been "slimmed" down and features split off into add-ons or anything like that though. I am pretty sick of all the bloat MSN Messenger has gathered up though.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: Brazen
ImgBurn is a nice slick CD/DVD burner. It will create ISOs and burn ISOs. More minimalist than CDBurnerXP from my experience (which has been quite some time ago with CDBurnerXP, because I love ImgBurn so much). http://www.imgburn.com/

To go truly minimalist with ISO burning though, there is nothing more minimal than ISORecorder. It basically has no options, you right click an ISO to burn it and then watch the progress. It too can create ISOs. It's downfall though, is it does not support DVDs under XP (it does under Vista). http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm You won't find any screenshots of it, because there really is nothing more than a progress bar IIRC.

:thumbsup: for imgburn

 

[The Boston Dangler]

my recommendations (all work as advertised, no bloat, no spyware, free for at least basic versions):

browser - opera
http://www.opera.com/

music ripping & converting - dBPowerAmp
very effective, does all the heavy lifting for you, nice gui
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

audio/video playback - zoom player
excellent player. setup is very powerful yet easy, minimal DIY, et cetera. i used foobar and mpc for years, zoom player is just as good (sometimes better) at playback, without tons of DIY, much more polish to the software, and still no bloat. i also use QTAlt and RealAlt for codecs.
http://www.inmatrix.com/

bittorrent - utorrent
use only v1.6.1, as of v1.7 the software was made the official BT client, so it gained some weight, and i don't trust it anymore

pictures - irfanview all the way

 

[konakona]

I am a recent convert from GOM to KMP, highly recommend it over VLC.
comes with all the codecs you need, VERY SWEET interface and TONS of options, could use winamp plugins and much more!

 

[papaschtroumpf]

infrarecorder is a good replacement for Nero if you don't do any fancy authoring. like it better than imgburn as it has a few more features.

I already use a number of programs on this list, it's a good list.

 

[SunSamurai]

CCC is the best media package out there.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: Glorfindael
great post, I just installed vista x64 with a max 2 gb ram on my mobo so i'm veeeerry happy we have this thread

I find it ironic in a most useless manner to be using the most bloated OS in history to run your slim programs.

 

[JDub02]

vPod doesn't work with my iPods. I'm going to cry now. I hate iTunes and it's the only way to update my shuffle at the moment.

 

[Arkaign]

CCCP! Basically a very compact single install that will let you play virtually *any* video file out there. Comes packed with two excellent media players (Zoomplayer and MPC), and is guaranteed adware/spyware/bloatware free!

http://www.cccp-project.net/

 

[Pandamonium]

FFDShow is pretty much the only codec I've installed. It allows windows media player to play damn near anything I throw at it.

As for AIM, I download from Oldversion.com. AIM 5.2.3292 and Deadaim 3.2.8 work together wonderfully.

DeadAIM 3.2.8 was the last free version released, and AIM 5.2.3292 is the latest version of AIM that is compatible with DeadAIM 3.2.8. Most (all but 2) of my friends use AIM, so it's all I really need for instant messenging.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i like pidgin (formerly GAIM) for IM. it handles multiple clients as well - AIM, ICQ, MSN, and yahoo i think.

http://pidgin.im/

 

[iskim86]

I would like to add this link to the thread...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computing_minimalism

has several minimalist software suggestions

 

[TBSN]

Hmmm, do you think anyone could recommend a good compressing/decompressing software for the OP besides WinZip. Preferably something that doesn't COST anything?? Thanks

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Hmmm, do you think anyone could recommend a good compressing/decompressing software for the OP besides WinZip. Preferably something that doesn't COST anything?? Thanks

I have been using 7-zip for years, works with all the popular formats:
http://www.7-zip.org/

This thread seems to be turning into a clone of the other sticky, so I am destickying it.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: TBSN
Hmmm, do you think anyone could recommend a good compressing/decompressing software for the OP besides WinZip. Preferably something that doesn't COST anything?? Thanks

I have been using 7-zip for years, works with all the popular formats:
http://www.7-zip.org/

This thread seems to be turning into a clone of the other sticky, so I am destickying it.

Ooops, I just noticed it was un-stickified on purpose Sorry about that! *destickies it again*

 

[iskim86]

Please add AIM Lite to the list!!

http://x.aim.com/laim/

this thing is AWESOME!!