These are programs that I found that are useful and FREE.  I thought I would make a collection of my favorites in case people might like some of them.  Disclaimer:  this is merely a list of useful, functional, free applications.   Please read description and support information on the site before you download.  I have used each of these  at various times with no problems.   Metrics  Rainlendar  This is a small desktop calendar which has many functions including appointment entry, alarm reminders, to do lists.  You can configure the appearance several ways and you can find new skins on many sites to change it to your liking. Rainmeter This is on the same site as rainlendar.  This application lets you have desktop meters, clocks, weather widgets... Sysmetrix This is a very complex application, or it can be.  You can have a whole plethora of metrics including computer data, web connection data, time, weather....  Again, many different sites have free skins to download.          GUI Enhancement Object Dock  This puts a Mac-like dock on your desktop.  There are a number of plugins available and it has several different configurations.  You can find skins and icons on many sites (free).  Konfabulator I really love this one.  Yahoo recently acquired it and made it free.  You can download lots and lots and lots and lots of widgets including meters, games, news feeds, cam feeds....  You need windows 2k or XP, though.  Or a Mac. Google Desk Bar   Cursor XP This application lets you have fancy cursors.  And you can find lots of downloads for it. Kapsules This is another application that offers a lot of free widgets. Beatnik This is a nice little skinnable clock. MS Power Toys This is a bunch of applications that you can use to tweak your GUI settings.  My fav is Tweak UI.  This is for XP only. Graphics Irfanview  This is an image viewer with several functions.  I use it most for quick views and image manipulation when I don't want to open a big program. Image Forge This is a graphics program that is a lot more powerful than windows paint.  The pro version has animation tools that are nice.  Picasa This is an image management tool.  On first use it will scan your computer and make a list of all of the images you have.  Then you will be able to recall them easily.  It has some manipulation tools.  It is from Google. Inkscape This is a little drawing program that is really quite powerful.   It features layers, vector graphic abilities, and many of the other features on expensive programs. Acrylic  This is a microsoft product, currently in beta.  It is very similar to Inkscape.  You need to register to download it, but it is free.  I guess this is really a development build.  Later on it might not be available. Apophysis This is a fractal rendering program.  It is a little hard to understand, but fun to play around with.  There is a free screensaver called electric sheep that uses images from this program. Project Dogwaffle This is a nice little program with lots of capabilities for drawing. ChaosPro 3.2  Another fractal program. ArtRage Originally intended for use with a tablet, this program has some interesting features. Tux paint  For the kids.         Internet Related Maxthon   A tabbed browser built on the IE engine.  It has a lot of power features and is the one I use most often.  Firefox  A tabbed browser NOT built on IE... many people like it better.  It has some of the same problems, but most people say it is more secure than IE based browsers.  WordWeb  A dictionary/thesaurus that comes in handy.   IE Spell  A right-click spellchecker for use when writing in forums and blogs using IE based browsers.     Miscellaneous  AceMoney  A free checkbook.  Good for keeping track.  KeyNote  Kind of a cross between stickynotes and notepad...Old program but very functional.  Belarc Advisor  This will scan your computer and give you a readout of all the internal workings of your computer.  Useful for talking to tech supports, or determining what graphics driver you have, or what motherboard....  SolitairesForFree  A free solitaire set... it has 30 games I think.  QuicCalc  A different kind of calculator.  More functional in some ways.  Iconico  Screen calipers here along with other onscreen measuring devices.