Below are some programs that I recommend for both Windows and Mac OS X. I will update the list as need be, so come back often.

Windows Vista & XP

1) Trillion - Trillion is a multiprotocol messenger for Windows that supports AIM, MSN, IRC, and ICQ.

2) Firefox - If you have to ask, then GOT OFF MY INTERNET NUB!

3) The GIMP - It’s basically Photoshop that is free and open source.

4) Avast! Anti-Virus - This is not a Mac. Not having a good virus program is like sleeping with a hooker.

5) Notepad++ - Notepad, but with extra tools and such. A must have for anyone doing web pages.

6) VLC Media Player - Lets face it, WMP is full of bugs. And Real Player is annoying. VLC is a must have.

7) PageDefrag - De-frags your hard drive far better than the preinstalled Windows version.

8 ) Smart FTP - SmartFTP allows you to transfer files across the Internet. It features an Explorer-like, customizable interface and supports drag-and-drop functions.

9) WindowsBlinds - Change your Windows theme without having to hack anything yourself and risk damaging anything you cant fix.

10) Audacity - Audacity is a free audio editor that is free and simple to use.

Mac OS X

1) Adium X - Its a multiprotocol messenger for OSX that works with AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and a plethora of others. Its free, and works like a charm.

2) Firefox - Firefox web browser. What more can I say? Its skinnable, open source, and free. Next to Apple’s own Safari, its the best browser on the market today.

3) NeoOffice - NeoOffice is a free and open source word processing program. Built off of OpenOffice just for the Mac, its like nothing that I have ever used. Unless you want to shell out the $399.95 for Microsoft Office, this is the way to go.

4) VLC Media Player - If you don’t want to buy the pro version of Quicktime, or you are just wanting an alternative to QT, VLC is for you. It allows you to float video over anything on the screen to make your viewing experiance just right. Did I mention its free?

5) ClamXav - Ok, I know that I have mentioned ClamXav before, but with a new wave of viruses and worms for OSX floating around, its even more important to have than ever before.

6) Acorn - For any graphic designers or just basic PhotoShop users out there, Acorn is for you. Its basically PhotoShop that is free and open source.

7) Flip4Mac WMV Products - If you didn’t know already, Microsoft has discontinued the development of Microsoft Media Player for Mac, and they are now giving Flip4Mac away. Flip4Mac is a little codec for Quicktime that forces WMP files to play in Quicktime.

8 ) Cyberduck - Probably the best, and most full featured, FTP client on the market today.

9) X-Chat Aqua - For any IRC users out there, X-Chat Aqua is THE IRC client for the Mac OS.

10)ShapeShifter - ShapeShifter is a program similar to WindowBlinds that alters the Mac OSX interface to something more to your liking. Its the only program on the list that isn’t free, but its worth the measly $20 that you have to pay for it. << Does not work on OS X Leopard, but still works great on OS X Tiger.

*Links coming soon.