Cool things to do on a modern Win7 machine?

[PrinceXizor]

I now officially pronounce myself old (or at least out of touch)!

My brother-in-law just recently introduced me to pandora radio (which I mistakenly thought was an android app and not a website) which is very cool. So it got me thinking, what other cool stuff is out there that I know nothing about!

So educate an ageing luddite. I just purchased a new Win7 laptop. Nothing fancy but it qualifies as modern. What can I do with; d/l for or purchase for this laptop that is "cool"?

Please make sure these are high quality suggestions. For example, streaming audio on your computer is not "fancy" for lack of a better word but the way pandora uses consumer input makes it so. I hope that gives you an idea. Looking forward to your input.

P-X

 

[Ken g6]

I think this kind of belongs in Software for Windows.

Anyway, the first thing that comes to mind is Hulu: an "evil plot to destroy the world" by streaming TV shows for free. (Except it's only an evil plot to destroy the USA because people outside this country are blocked. But that shouldn't matter to you. ) Pay a little and you can get Netflix, which has even more TV and movies.

Also, Skype - free computer-to-computer phone calls and video phone.

You know about Facebook, right?

Beyond that...any particular hobbies you're into?

 

[PrinceXizor]

Already signed up for netflix through our Wii. Been on Hulu. Both are excellent suggestions, though, I just happen to know about them.

Not interested in facebook (though I am aware of it).

Hobbies include reading, music, audio recording (am aware of reaper), board games (am aware and registered at boardgamegeek.com), computers and video games.

Mods, please feel free to move this if it should be in another forum.

P-X

 

[JasonCoder]

Steam

/thread

 

[oynaz]

Is Spotify available in the US? If yes, check it out.

 

[Blain]

Cool things to do on a modern Win7 machine?

Mods, please feel free to move this if it should be in another forum.

Sounds like a solid suggestion out of "General Hardware".

 

[Madmanden81]

Check out Goodreads for all things books It's both a great way to find new books and to keep track of your collection.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Anandtech.

 

[piasabird]

There are also some sites out there with things like Comics/anime. I met one of the authors in Chicago at an Anime convention. Conventions can be kind of interesting. It is like an escape from boring.

I like to watch Korean tv videos with sub-titles.

http://en.viki.com/channels/7238-time-slip-dr-jin/videos/70489?id=70489

This is a show about a korean brain surgeon that goes back in time 150 years. It is kind of interesting. Or you can watch some of the actual Historic series. There are some on HULU. They have all kinds of Films that I found interesting.

 

[Billb2]

Google Earth
PhotoShop
iTunes

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Get Adobe CS and become a graphics designer. It's all the rage.

 

[Ken g6]

Google Earth

This reminds me of a couple more suggestions, which are a little more "out there" :

• Space Engine
• Celestia

Space Engine has been updated more recently, but you can add more detailed graphics and add-ons (e.g. space probes) to Celestia.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Is Spotify available in the US? If yes, check it out.

How does spotify differ from pandora?

P-X

 

[mfenn]

How does spotify differ from pandora?

P-X

You choose the song.