Must-Have Software in New PC

Introduction

While smartphones and tablets have slowly taken over social media and casual browsing, the laptop remains the strong foundation of productivity - especially for those who rely on the speed and precision of a mouse and keyboard.

Contrary to popular belief, the software market is not constantly changing; many tools that worked 15 years ago remain dominant players today. However, some have become bloated with unnecessary gimmicks and, more recently, forced artificial intelligence integration.

Nonetheless, there are several essential software programs you should consider installing on a new Windows laptop, depending on your needs and preferences.



Cloud Storage: Google Drive

Cloud Storage

With the drastic improvement in internet speeds, the need for physical external storage - like USB drives or hard disks - has largely become a thing of the past. The emerging trend is the ubiquitous use of cloud storage, favoured for its convenience and safety against physical data loss.

  • In simple terms, cloud storage provides a virtual space for storing and accessing your files from anywhere via a web browser or app.
  • This allows for automatic backups, easy file sharing, and disaster recovery, making your data both more accessible and secure.

Dropbox was once the undisputed leader in this space, famous for its 'block-level' syncing technique. This feature only uploads the changed parts of a file rather than the whole file, making updates incredibly fast.

  • However, with today's ultra-fast internet speeds, this speed advantage has become less critical for average users.
  • Furthermore, Dropbox’s free plan is restrictive, offering only 2 GB of storage and a limit of 3 connected devices - though you can still earn up to 16 GB via their referral program (500 MB per friend).

On the other hand, Google Drive is much more generous, offering 15 GB for free - more than competitors like pCloud (10 GB) or OneDrive (5 GB).

  • However, there is a catch: this 15 GB is shared across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail. Once you exceed this limit, you will not only lose storage space but also the ability to receive emails.
  • This pressure often forces users to upgrade to a paid plan.

Mega is another strong contender, offering 20 GB of free storage.

  • But apart from free space, you should also consider syncing speed, security features, and the price of future upgrades when choosing your provider.



Web Browser: Brave

Web Browsers

While Internet Explorer was once infamous for its sluggishness, Microsoft has successfully transitioned users to Microsoft Edge, a fast and modern browser based on the Chromium engine.

  • However, the undisputed king of the market remains Google Chrome.
  • While Chrome is the default choice for many, it is not without faults. It is notoriously resource-intensive - often slowing down laptops with limited RAM - and acts as a massive data-harvesting tool for Google's advertising network.
  • This shift raises the question: Does it really matter which browser you use today (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera or Brave)?

The answer depends entirely on your ecosystem and priorities.

Ultimately, the best browser is the one that suits your habits.

  • For instance, the Brave browser, built on the open-source Chromium browser engine, automatically blocks advertisements, resulting in significantly faster page loading speeds.
  • However, while Brave now features its own AI assistant named 'Leo', it still lacks the deep system-level integration found in Microsoft's Copilot.

NOTE: You can always customize your search experience by changing the default search engine in any browser (e.g., using Google Search inside Edge).



Office Suite: Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office

For decades, Microsoft Office (now available via a Microsoft 365 subscription or as the standalone Office 2024) has been the industry standard for office productivity software.

However, depending on your budget and needs, there are excellent free alternatives that may suit you better:

  • Microsoft 365 for the Web - If you do not want to pay for a subscription, Microsoft offers a free web-based version of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. While it has fewer features than the paid desktop version, it ensures 100% compatibility with your documents.
  • Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) - These are web-based applications famous for their real-time co-authoring capabilities. If you collaborate frequently with others, this is often the smoother choice.
  • Canva - Canva is aggressively challenging PowerPoint’s dominance. It is a user-friendly presentation tool with a wide variety of templates and graphics, ideal for creating visually appealing presentations.
  • WPS Office - A lightweight, feature-rich suite that mimics the look and feel of Microsoft Office almost perfectly, making the transition easy. However, the free version is ad-supported. You may find the frequent pop-up advertisements annoying unless you upgrade to the paid version.



Antivirus Software: Windows Security

Windows Security

Malware, like viruses and trojans, has been a constant threat since the early days of computing. These malicious programs can wreak havoc on your computer, silently slowing it down and potentially compromising your financial information and personal identity.

  • The best defence against these threats is to be cautious online - avoid visiting suspicious websites and installing unknown software.
  • However, even the most careful user can benefit from an antivirus program.

Antivirus software acts as a shield, safeguarding your personal information, data and bank account from malwares and other online threats.

  • Several popular antivirus options exist, including Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, ESET, McAfee and Norton.
  • While Windows Security (pre-installed on Windows computers) offers a decent level of protection, it might not be as comprehensive as some paid antivirus software.
  • For more information on antivirus performance, you can refer the AV-Test website.

To further strengthen my computer's defences, I use Malwarebytes Free Antivirus for additional malware scanning and removal.

  • Real-time protection, which continuously monitors your computer for threats but can be resource-intensive, is only available in the paid version of Malwarebytes.



Media Player: VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player

Windows 11 comes with a built-in app simply called Media Player (the modern successor to the legacy Windows Media Player).

  • While it has come a long way in terms of design and basic format support, it still has frustrating limitations. Most notably, it often requires you to pay for basic compatibility; for example, to play the standard HEVC (H.265) video format, Windows frequently asks you to purchase a $0.99 extension from the Microsoft Store.
  • For users who desire more intuitive controls and playback capabilities for a wider range of multimedia files, third-party players offer a compelling alternative.

Two popular options include VLC Media Player and Pot Player.

  • VLC is renowned for its ability to play virtually any media format without the need for additional codecs.
  • On the other hand, Pot Player offers a lightweight design with a focus on interface customization, such as themes and skins.



PDF Reader: Microsoft Edge

https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a versatile file format created by Adobe. It precisely preserves document formatting and layout regardless of the device or software used to view it, making it the global standard for sharing documents.

  • While Adobe Acrobat Reader was once the default choice for viewing PDFs, the software has become increasingly bloated. It frequently pushes users to subscribe to the 'Pro' version while locking essential editing features behind a paywall.

For Viewing & Basic Markup:

  • Surprisingly, the best tool for simply reading or highlighting a PDF is now Microsoft Edge.
  • Thanks to a recent collaboration with Adobe, Edge offers a smooth, high-performance PDF engine built directly into Windows, eliminating the need to install a separate viewer.
For Advanced Editing:
  • If you need to edit text, merge files, or sign documents, PDFgear is currently the best full-featured, completely free PDF editor that does not watermark your files.
  • However, in an era of surveillance capitalism, the fact that this software offers premium features for free - without ads or constant upgrade prompts - raises serious questions about its business model. This suspicious generosity suggests users should exercise caution regarding data privacy.
  • Therefore, if privacy and security are concerns, it is best to avoid it and consider trusted alternatives like PDF24 Creator or PDFill Free PDF Tools.
Other Alternatives:
  • Foxit Reader: Once a popular lightweight alternative, Foxit has followed Adobe's path. Since version 2023.3, many advanced features (like bookmark editing and inserting attachments) have been removed from the free version, and the push to upgrade to Premium has become aggressive.
  • Online Tools: There is a growing trend of impressive, free online tools like iLovePDF. These websites offer premium-level features - such as splitting files, compressing large PDFs, or converting PDF to Word - completely for free, without installing any software. However, online tools are unsafe for confidential documents like bank statements or legal contracts, as you lose control over your data.



EPUB Reader: Thorium Reader

EPUB (electronic publication) is a popular open-standard file format specifically designed for eBooks, developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF).

  • Unlike fixed-layout PDFs, EPUB allows the text to automatically adjust its size and layout to fit the screen of any device, ensuring a comfortable reading experience on smartphones, tablets, e-readers and computers.

While tablets are generally preferred for reading novels, you may often need to consult EPUB textbooks or technical references directly on your laptop. Since Windows 11 does not natively support this format, you will need a dedicated app.

Two excellent options are:

  • Thorium Reader: An open-source, no-nonsense reader known for its clean, distraction-free interface.
  • Aquile Reader: A modern, highly customizable app that feels right at home on Windows 11. It offers features like different themes, fonts, and even text-to-speech.



File Compression and Extraction: WinRAR (Optional)

WinRAR

In the past, large files were often compressed into ZIP files to facilitate easier transfer.

However, the built-in Windows tool is still significantly slower when handling large, complex archives and lacks advanced security features.

  • If you plan to encrypt your archives with a password for protection, you will still need a dedicated tool like WinRAR.



Summary

Ultimately, the specific software you choose will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

  • However, the programs listed here are all popular and well-respected options that are well worth your consideration when setting up a new machine.

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