Top 10 Back to School Software Applications for 2010 Discussion

For many students, surviving academia requires a well-equipped computer, and no PC is complete without the right software. We outline the top 10 apps you need to gear up for the academic gridiron -- both for work and for play.

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That's a great list to start with but it's just the tip of the iceberg. If you go to DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD. and install one of the super-easy linux flavours such as Ubuntu, Fedora, PCLinuxOS, Mepis,... you will be amazed at the vast amount of free software that is just clicks away.
If Win7 came with your computer you can keep it and dual boot with your new linux system. Then you can explore your new computing freedom and you'll find yourself booting to linux 90% of the time to get your school work done.

 

What about Skype? Isn't more widely used then google talk. I would want Ccleaner on there too.

 

I disagree with point #3. Google Docs is really handy for collaborative assignments, and I've used it for that before. But for your general-purpose essay writing, Powerpoint generating, and the like, there's no match for Office. Office is more full-featured and is more stable than Google Docs. You also aren't relying on an Internet connection for the ability to work on your assignment. I wouldn't trust an actual paper/Powerpoint to Google Docs. Collaborative planning, sure, but not time-critical or mission-critical work.

Open Office isn't that great, either. File compatibility goes from decent at the best end, to atrocious. I've used it exclusively for a month (uninstalled Office before remembering I didn't have my Office CD), and was quite glad to reinstall MS Office. Open Office Write and mathematics simply do not mix, and Open Office Slide Show (Powerpoint equivalent) is the least interoperable of the group, has the least intuitive interface (Lotus Symphony does better with this) and with the most missing features (Lotus Symphony does worse with this). You also risk the fate of my classmate who used Open Office to generate a presentation - coming to class and realizing the school computers don't open Open Document Format files, or not remembering to convert the file before sending it to a professor.

As reports and other documents are amongst the most important elements for a college students' grade, I'd say that Office Home and Student is well-worth the price for the stability, offerings, and professionalism it provides. Over four years, it's $38/year - half the cost of the average textbook - and just $20/year for Professional Academic for students. Compared to accessories such as smart phones, or college tuition, that's very affordable.

The other suggestions all seem pretty reasonable, even if some (most?) of them aren't my favorite applications in their respective category.