Regarding text editor I prefer to use UltraEdit as this is the only one editor I found currently that is actually useful when you have need to open large logfiles to check/edit...etc. All other editors claim there has no file size limitation but you need to have enough memory in order to open the large text file. For example, I use a 40MB text file for the test, notepad use around 90MB real memory, metapad use around 100MB real memory, although it load faster than notepad. On ultraedit it use around 15MB real memory only, that seems the only editor to use a feature named 'MMIO' (memory mapped I/O?) from OS....

also I will add objectdock and HyperSnap DX 5 in my most useful apps list as well.

i really like metapad too. all the text editing tricks it has makes it not just freeware but pricelessware. irfanview is cool too. in reverse of most people i use avantbrower (IE shell) to surf the web and firebird for sites that don't work because i have activex and flash turned off.

trillian not so much: the time i installed it my computer crashed, so i use "easy message" instead.

i wrote a list a long time ago that matches some of what you had. the most useful ones are below. you might want to check them out (on google, i didn't provide links). all freeware!

coolkeys: does lots of stuff but the best feature is that you can create a new folder by hitting shift-ctrl-f in windows explorer, instead of the annoying, right-click > new > folder

Radvideo: used to look at bik videos and convert graphics files.

Startman: for poking around my startup settings.

Proximitron: a proxy server. Very easy to set up. Basically it edits the HTML on a webpage before you see it. So it can get rid of banner ads on top, stop popup windows, remove background images, remove any music and sounds that webpages force on you. Advanced users can create their own filters: for example on a forum I go to I have three other forums listed on top as links right on the page that I added myself. And you can bypass the program itself if you need something on a page.

Adaware and Spybot to kill spyware.

Two icon lock programs to restore my desktop icon placement (in case I save instead of restore on one).

Agent Ransack to replace the crappy 2 inch by 4 inch windows file finder that never leaves enough room for directory paths and never remembers I resized it.

Enditall 2 to kill all programs before I shutdown.

Multirunner so I can run a group of programs at once without having to do my own batch file.

Quick Folders to remember the last x number of folders I accessed. Appears as a small button on the "Open" dialog box. Click it and it lists the last x number folders you used.

rjhExtensions to get a multiple file renamer, save directory list, copy file/dir path to clipboard, and duplicate file options in my right click menu on Windows Explorer.

I've tried Samurize - great! I propose SciTE for text editing.

Weird list. We live in very different worlds. Heheh. So it goes.

Eclipse ?!?!

www.pricelessware.org has a superior list of software. It would benefit from more complete commentary and comparisons.

Alt.Comp.Freeware users have put together a Pricelessware 2004 CD that has many of the programs mentioned, a copy of the relevant Pricelessware descriptions, and checksum calculator. The CD is available by mail at cost from several semi-official and completely unofficial users (e.g., for $3 or mail CD-R with return mailer). .iso images are also floating around (check ACF for current locations - including active torrent / BitTorrent). BE SURE TO VERIFY _ANY_ Pricelessware 2004 CD with the checksums at Pricelessware.Org using a checksum program you download separately (not the one on the CD -- be paranoid).