hey guys. finally put my T60 back on windows after hardware just not working like it should under freebsd and linux.
whats your required software? im looking to see what people are using for AV and firewalls on their personal machines (not corporate environments).
-firefox
-itunes and winamp2 (depending on what im doing)
-symantec corporate AV (not norton)
-gvim
-filezilla
-cygwin
-putty
-foxit (pdf reader)
thanks.
whats your required software? im looking to see what people are using for AV and firewalls on their personal machines (not corporate environments).
-firefox
-itunes and winamp2 (depending on what im doing)
-symantec corporate AV (not norton)
-gvim
-filezilla
-cygwin
-putty
-foxit (pdf reader)
thanks.
tweakui!
-firefox
-winamp
-gvim
-filezilla
-putty tray
-acrobat reader
-notepad [yeah sometimes rearranging text is easier with the mouse]
crap, more later.
-winamp
-gvim
-filezilla
-putty tray
-acrobat reader
-notepad [yeah sometimes rearranging text is easier with the mouse]
crap, more later.
firefox
notepad
putty tray
acrobat reader
vlc
notepad
putty tray
acrobat reader
vlc
i hadn't know about putty tray (did use putty alot). i like it.
for all you guys using acrobat you should check out 'foxit'. works perfect 99.9% of the time. only time i've seen it mess up is 2 times at my work where we have very complex pdfs and they were printing out upsidedown and reversed - weird. but its just a sinlge exe, no install, fast as hell. instant start time.
for all you guys using acrobat you should check out 'foxit'. works perfect 99.9% of the time. only time i've seen it mess up is 2 times at my work where we have very complex pdfs and they were printing out upsidedown and reversed - weird. but its just a sinlge exe, no install, fast as hell. instant start time.
firefox
vlc
putty-gssapi
winscp
visio
winamp
acrobat
vmware
ventrilo
xchat
utorrent
wget for windows
unix windows pack
active perl
vlc
putty-gssapi
winscp
visio
winamp
acrobat
vmware
ventrilo
xchat
utorrent
wget for windows
unix windows pack
active perl
sorry i skipped your question entirely, my av + fw is kaspersky
i love how the putty tray site has some completely unnecessary scriptaculous stuff going on
yeah really, OH SHIT IT'S FEATURES!
i really only have google earth and utorrent to add.
i really only have google earth and utorrent to add.
but it is an extremely good looking site
to me, the javascript just adds bulk and no real functionality.
to me, the javascript just adds bulk and no real functionality.
the drag and drop is cool though. same as with http://panic.com
foobar 2000. Minimal, and functional. Also Last.FM.
I need a better file manager. Someone recommend one to me.
I need a better file manager. Someone recommend one to me.
explorer (not IE) is actually one of my favorite pieces of software.
jedit
launchy! its like quicksilver lite
Litestep. I hate the windows Gui.
awesome, i've so needed something like that.
but yeah, isn't that neat? :D
but yeah, isn't that neat? :D
I just downloaded. Wow, interesting. I'm still a Firefox man.
whoooo posting this in safari 3 windoze beta. no problems with the site... there is massive antialiasing going on though.
i'm on ttf with safari now, too.. ghettoblastin'
* super-anti-aliased
* ttf is insanely fast
i'm kinda lovin' it.
* super-anti-aliased
* ttf is insanely fast
i'm kinda lovin' it.
imma get back on my tp and check that out. i would miss foxmarks immensely though.
(+)
* fast. idk if it is faster than ff
* webcore is a solid engine
* props to apple for porting stuff!
* plug-ins? we'll see
(-)
* lack of apparent customisability (where is about:config?)
* address bar + search box... no!
* blends in horribly with windows ui
* massive antialiasing is kind of weird- i like the ff engine more
* fast. idk if it is faster than ff
* webcore is a solid engine
* props to apple for porting stuff!
* plug-ins? we'll see
(-)
* lack of apparent customisability (where is about:config?)
* address bar + search box... no!
* blends in horribly with windows ui
* massive antialiasing is kind of weird- i like the ff engine more
* address bar + search box... no!
I despise this as well. they do it on Camino, but you can resize the search box all the way to the right so it's just completely gone.
this Safari on Windows thing is really weird. who wants to post a screenshot?
ew @ that menubar and titlebar buttons. same deal as iTunes on Windows. bad move, Apple.
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000884.html
apple's font rendering.
apple's font rendering.
-lightroom (i guess...we'll see... makes icarus lurch...)
icarus - 768megs + 2gigs = larz + dpslung512megs - 256megs = larz 1gig
nestor + dpslung256megs = could be lovin' it?
icarus - 768megs + 2gigs = larz + dpslung512megs - 256megs = larz 1gig
nestor + dpslung256megs = could be lovin' it?
your mathematics boggles my mind
nestor - jerxtation = possible unslingage
more... information
icarus - 768megs + 2gigs = larz + dpslung512megs - 256megs = larz 1gig
\o/
plus, we cannot underestimate the value of:
icarus - 768megs + 2gigs = icarus 2gigs
more... information
I evacuate my thinkpad ram, 512 to larz, 256 to nestor respectively.
p.s. o/ 2gigs!!!
doesn't nestor get 512mb?
2gig -> dp
512mb dp -> lr
256mb dp -> nestor
256mb lr -> nestor
2gig -> dp
512mb dp -> lr
256mb dp -> nestor
256mb lr -> nestor
didn't want to speak for your 256 larz..plus I'm not sure how he could need two :o (assuming he has more than that in either slot already).
I have 2x 512MB.
:(
> plus I'm not sure how he could need two :o (assuming he has more than that in either slot already).
yeah, just realized that after i had posted
maybe we can sell the two 256ers and buy someone a gigger
yeah, just realized that after i had posted
maybe we can sell the two 256ers and buy someone a gigger
aaaaah im consumed by an irrational desire to format my raptor and go pure windoze (killing my hackintosh). I DONT KNOW WHY
gotta love those irrational desires to make drastic changes to your computers.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?It … 6820145157
i might just pick this up. i really need more ram, and i doubt 256mb will make too much of a difference.
i might just pick this up. i really need more ram, and i doubt 256mb will make too much of a difference.
that seems like a good deal.
DO IT! it's a great deal. i'd do it but i'd get fuxed on the customs
just installed the 2 gigs of ram. :D
now i need to pass on my 512mb stick + 256mb stick.
i doubt very many people will find them useful.
now i need to pass on my 512mb stick + 256mb stick.
i doubt very many people will find them useful.
I could use 512 :)
:( if i would have known, i would have busted it into yesterday's shipment to dp.
you want it? you got it. i'll mail it tomorrow.
you want it? you got it. i'll mail it tomorrow.
damn :o in lieu of transcription payments please!
touchtype training software for windows?
TypeFaster Typing Tutor
http://www.typefastertypingtutor.com/
other recommendations?
TypeFaster Typing Tutor
http://www.typefastertypingtutor.com/
other recommendations?
notepad2
grip + cd paranoia + lame
i found TCPView handy from sysinternals from the windows site.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals … pview.mspx
I used it in determining if my tunnel is working for ssh :p
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals … pview.mspx
I used it in determining if my tunnel is working for ssh :p
netstat?
maybe it's not that important but i liked watching it in real time and the ability to stop processes.
I use TCPView alot, as well as Filemon also from sys internals.
archivers
http://peazip.sourceforge.net/ free
http://www.7-zip.org/ free
http://www.rarlab.com/ not free :(
http://peazip.sourceforge.net/ free
http://www.7-zip.org/ free
http://www.rarlab.com/ not free :(
oh yeah i use 7zip for those pesky rar's.
7-zip is great. no need for winzip or winrar! and it does stuff like gunzip.
all i can find for free windows sftp clients is filezilla and winscp. any other recommendations?
if not, which of these do you prefer, and why?
if not, which of these do you prefer, and why?
winscp...
norton commander interface ftw
norton commander interface ftw
imap client favorites?
i download thunderbird today
but i am in love with web interfaces..
but i am in love with web interfaces..
there is nothing good about web interfaces for email.
does anyone use safari for windows?
(hell, i didn't even use it when i ran osx)
(hell, i didn't even use it when i ran osx)
> does anyone use safari for windows?
oui: becca (etrangere).
oui: becca (etrangere).
anyone know of any solid foobar guides? i'm looking to get a media library interface without panelsui.
everyone at the hydrogen audio forums is in love with foobar. maybe there's something over there?
yeah they are. i've been looking around but there are no really solid guides at first glance...
tried searching the forums for anything?
yeah the trouble is i don't know exactly what I want
is there anything else like Launchy for Windows? it seemed slow and crashed when I typed a backslash. I got frustrated and uninstalled it. maybe I should try again?
CutePDF virtual device printer outputs pdf files
what is it with Windows launchers crashing when you type anything other than alphanumeric characters? I typed a colon today to see if I could type like "H:" to bring up the H drive and Launchy froze.
that is a good one, dp!
removing notepad++
installing geany
go scintilla!
it's all part of my eventual move to *nix 100%
installing geany
go scintilla!
it's all part of my eventual move to *nix 100%
any backup software recommendations or solutions?
rdiff-backup and/or rsync
seconded
thanks guys. trying rdiff-backup now.
rdiff-backup is great!
anyone know a good image editing program somewhere between Paint and The GIMP?
anyone know a good image editing program somewhere between Paint and The GIMP?
ah ha, I knew there was something. thanks again, bluet :).
I use Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004 myself, because it's easy to get hold of a serial key.
Nessicary software:
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Thunderbird
Internet Explorer 8
Macromedia Fireworks
php_e
Windows Media Player 11
Nessicary software:
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Thunderbird
Internet Explorer 8
Macromedia Fireworks
php_e
Windows Media Player 11
damn weasley, thats the worst collection of software i've ever seen. hahah :)
:)
Well you can't check for cross-compatibility without IE8.
Well you can't check for cross-compatibility without IE8.
WMP = :(((
I love my foobar2k + MPC-HC (with ffdshow, ac3filter, vsfilter, haali)
I love my foobar2k + MPC-HC (with ffdshow, ac3filter, vsfilter, haali)
@maple: hahaha
k-lite scares me, i'd go with cccp if you want to go that route
why?
why not just install VLC Player?
because playback sucks on it. i keep it around for REALLY weird formats, but for regular avi/XviD mkv/x264 MPC-HC can't be beat.
deblocking and stuff with ffdshow is good.
deblocking and stuff with ffdshow is good.
does vlc have a firefox plugin?
it does. there's a checkbox in the install to install the Mozilla plugin.
oh, ok. thanks
- procmon!! (process monitor)
I have been using this so much the past few days to find registry entries for various settings in the GUI.
I have been using this so much the past few days to find registry entries for various settings in the GUI.
new list:
-irfanview
-picasa
-gvim
-winscp
-putty/pageant
-firefox
-winamp(+flac)
-daemon tools
-cutepdf
-utorrent
-foxit
-vlc
-7zip
-irfanview
-picasa
-gvim
-winscp
-putty/pageant
-firefox
-winamp(+flac)
-daemon tools
-cutepdf
-utorrent
-foxit
-vlc
-7zip
im game
-msoffice
-utorrent
-foobar2000
-media player home cinema + ffdshow + haali + acfilter
-putty tray
-firefox
-foxit
-7zip
-daemon tools
-winscp
-filezilla
-last.fm
-audacity
-soulseek
-skype
-handbrake
-launchy
-dbpoweramp
-itunes
-tightvnc
-msoffice
-utorrent
-foobar2000
-media player home cinema + ffdshow + haali + acfilter
-putty tray
-firefox
-foxit
-7zip
-daemon tools
-winscp
-filezilla
-last.fm
-audacity
-soulseek
-skype
-handbrake
-launchy
-dbpoweramp
-itunes
-tightvnc
-firefox
-imgburn
-last.fm
-utorrent
-winamp(with web radio plugin)
-alcohol 120
-winAVI converter
-audacity
-office
-7zip
-vlc
-foxit
-imgburn
-last.fm
-utorrent
-winamp(with web radio plugin)
-alcohol 120
-winAVI converter
-audacity
-office
-7zip
-vlc
-foxit
i jumped to foobar2000!
me too!
i set up a portable copy on my external with playlists from there :]
list for my work computer:
7-Zip
Adobe Flash
Adobe Reader
Adobe Shockwave
CmdHere Powertoy
DYMO Label
Firefox
Google Calendar Sync
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool
Image Resizer Powertoy
ISO Recorder
Java
Office 2007
PuTTY
Silverlight
Taskbar Shuffle
TrendMicro OfficeScan
Tweak UI
UPHClean
Vim
Virtual PC
VLC
Windows SDK
WinSCP
Wireshark
7-Zip
Adobe Flash
Adobe Reader
Adobe Shockwave
CmdHere Powertoy
DYMO Label
Firefox
Google Calendar Sync
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool
Image Resizer Powertoy
ISO Recorder
Java
Office 2007
PuTTY
Silverlight
Taskbar Shuffle
TrendMicro OfficeScan
Tweak UI
UPHClean
Vim
Virtual PC
VLC
Windows SDK
WinSCP
Wireshark
VirtuaWin
Free Multiple Desktops for Windows that actually work well -- Most other solutions I tried didn't work as good (And fast) as this one ...
Free Multiple Desktops for Windows that actually work well -- Most other solutions I tried didn't work as good (And fast) as this one ...
New list:
Drivers
Firefox
IE8 (for testing purposes only)
Chrome
Safari
Opera
Notepad ++
Visual Studio 2008
VLC
Live for Speed
TrueVision 3D SDK
Drivers
Firefox
IE8 (for testing purposes only)
Chrome
Safari
Opera
Notepad ++
Visual Studio 2008
VLC
Live for Speed
TrueVision 3D SDK
:D great find!
stuff I usually use:
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Thunderbird
VLC Media Player
Google Chrome
MSN Messenger
SmartFTP
Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004
Notepad++
XAMPP
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Thunderbird
VLC Media Player
Google Chrome
MSN Messenger
SmartFTP
Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004
Notepad++
XAMPP
Just set up my brother's laptop with Vista Ultimate:
- Google Chrome
- GIMP
- VLC
- uTorrent
That's it for now. He can do the rest himself.
- Google Chrome
- GIMP
- VLC
- uTorrent
That's it for now. He can do the rest himself.
I'm doing something I never thought I'd do. I'm using Windows (7).
I take that back. one look at the pricing of windows 7 and I went back to my macbook. hahahha. something about the idea of paying for windows...
that is 2 awesome posts in a row. 'windows 7!.... fuck windows 7!'
kind of like your emacs thread :).
I do wish I could use foobar2000 though.
Yeah, foobar200 is an awesome app, one of the few GUI apps I really like.
here I am again.
7-zip
Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Shockwave Player
foobar2000
Foxit Reader
Mozilla Firefox
Pidgin
PuTTY
VLC Media Player
WinSCP
Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Shockwave Player
foobar2000
Foxit Reader
Mozilla Firefox
Pidgin
PuTTY
VLC Media Player
WinSCP
installing xp pro sp3 on my workstation tonight. this thread will be useful!
go thread /o/
installed currently
7-zip
adobe acrobat
adobe photoshop
adobe photoshop lightroom
dbpoweramp
foobar2000
gvim
irfanview
jabref
jets3t cockpit
microsoft excel
microsoft powerpoint
microsoft virtual cd control tool
microsoft word
miktex
mozilla firefox
pageant
putty
puttygen
tortoisesvn
utorrent
vlc player
winscp
others that i use but aren't currently installed
adobe audition
r
skype
soulseek
stata
hardware specific
bitpim (cell phone)
imgburn (optical drive)
infrarecorder (optical drive)
scansnap manager (fujitsu scansnap scanner)
squeezecenter (logitech squeezebox)
7-zip
adobe acrobat
adobe photoshop
adobe photoshop lightroom
dbpoweramp
foobar2000
gvim
irfanview
jabref
jets3t cockpit
microsoft excel
microsoft powerpoint
microsoft virtual cd control tool
microsoft word
miktex
mozilla firefox
pageant
putty
puttygen
tortoisesvn
utorrent
vlc player
winscp
others that i use but aren't currently installed
adobe audition
r
skype
soulseek
stata
hardware specific
bitpim (cell phone)
imgburn (optical drive)
infrarecorder (optical drive)
scansnap manager (fujitsu scansnap scanner)
squeezecenter (logitech squeezebox)
have to use windows vista atm on my laptop as XP dosen't support SATA hard drives.
there's a workaround though and I may use that, or stick with Vista, or use Windows 7, I don't know.
there's a workaround though and I may use that, or stick with Vista, or use Windows 7, I don't know.
> as XP dosen't support SATA hard drives.
Huh?
Huh?
you need additional drivers at setup which I don't currently have but I'm going to slipstream them into the installation CD.
yeah i'm gonna install XP on my laptop as soon as.
yeah i'm gonna install XP on my laptop as soon as.
what do you all use to burn cds (music; i noticed some iso burners on the list)?
eac for audio discs (flac and cue for perfect duplicates)
infrarecorder for data discs
imgburn for isos
infrarecorder for data discs
imgburn for isos
are infrarecorder's iso-burning capabilities inferior to imgburn?
I've never used anything but imgburn.
i installed imgburn and would like to have a "one-stop" utility for all burning needs- this works pretty well for you, asemi?
I don't use it regularly, but I've used it every few months and it's always worked well. I think I've only burned images with it though, never data or audio.
> are infrarecorder's iso-burning capabilities inferior to imgburn?
i'm unsure.
i'm unsure.
burning data and audio with imgburn sucks. really bad.
New list, though probably not much different from the last one:
- Mozilla Firefox 3.6
- Google Chrome
- Internet Explorer 8 (testing)
- Notepad++
- DOSBox
- SmartFTP (though I still need to purchase a legit copy of this)
- AbiWord Word Processor
- Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004
- Mozilla Firefox 3.6
- Google Chrome
- Internet Explorer 8 (testing)
- Notepad++
- DOSBox
- SmartFTP (though I still need to purchase a legit copy of this)
- AbiWord Word Processor
- Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004
Current list on the new laptop:
- 7zip
- Handbrake
- Audacity
- Adobe Production Suite
- Google Chrome
- Celtx
- VirtualBox
- VLC
- Partition Magic
- TightVNC
- uTorrent
- 7zip
- Handbrake
- Audacity
- Adobe Production Suite
- Google Chrome
- Celtx
- VirtualBox
- VLC
- Partition Magic
- TightVNC
- uTorrent
VLC sucks for audio. That's all I'm saying.
so is smplayer better than vlc? i think it might be. the latter couldn't play a dvd on the p2110.
--
i installed the following on the p2110 for use by a random cl buyer. i think this is a good essentials-only list.
windows xp with sp3
critical windows updates
internet explorer 8 update
microsoft security essentials
google chrome
smplayer
7-zip
--
i installed the following on the p2110 for use by a random cl buyer. i think this is a good essentials-only list.
windows xp with sp3
critical windows updates
internet explorer 8 update
microsoft security essentials
google chrome
smplayer
7-zip
Neither are well suited for audio. Go for foobar2000 for audio.
HeidiSQL has also to my "standard software repertoire".
HeidiSQL has also to my "standard software repertoire".
VLC does suck for audio.
Agreed.
i agree regarding audio. i also prefer foobar2000.
but what's the best video file and dvd player? vlc? smplayer? another?
but what's the best video file and dvd player? vlc? smplayer? another?
VLC on windows. mplayer on UNIX.
why?
I dunno, thats the way I do it as well.
Same. SMPlayer can usually cover anything VLC can't in windows. I used to use xine to cover anything mplayer couldn't in linux... but mplayer is fairly robust these days.
I wasn't really familiar with any players on linux so I installed vlc,xine, and mplayer/smplayer and just found myself liking and using smplayer more than vlc.
so why not use smplayer on both OSes?
that's also the way I do it. vlc on linux/bsd has always sucked for me. just random stuff like not being able to play a dvd or playing everything choppily (I really hate that word for some reason). although on ubuntu I've always used totem just because it's pre-installed, and it works fine.
I've also accepted the fact that I'll never use the same player for audio and video, so I'm talking about using these as solely video players.
I've also accepted the fact that I'll never use the same player for audio and video, so I'm talking about using these as solely video players.
and to listen to random audio files that I don't want to add to my music library.
When SMplayer crashes on windows... it REALLY crashes.
I can't think of a single time VLC has failed to play a weird video format for me. <3
I had never actually known that there was a release of smplayer for windows. now that I see there is I may actually give it a try.
for some reason i would get awful crashes with foobar2000. the program would just ass-up. vlc player works but it's a shit audio player. maybe i'll try the foo again.
foos never crashed on me.
> so why not use smplayer on both OSes?
Because Mplayer on Windows has issues. Not to mention SMPlayer as a GUI kind of sucks.
Because Mplayer on Windows has issues. Not to mention SMPlayer as a GUI kind of sucks.
dannyp> maybe i'll try the foo again.
yeah, give it a try again! i think it's great--i've never heard of crashes. hopefully it was just an anomaly.
chiken> foos never crashed on me.
same
étrangère> I can't think of a single time VLC has failed to play a weird video format for me.
same, until it couldn't play a dvd on the p2110 (nor could windows media player) but smplayer could.
carpetsmoker> Because Mplayer on Windows has issues. Not to mention SMPlayer as a GUI kind of sucks.
maybe. :p
nny> When SMplayer crashes on windows... it REALLY crashes.
bsod or what?
yeah, give it a try again! i think it's great--i've never heard of crashes. hopefully it was just an anomaly.
chiken> foos never crashed on me.
same
étrangère> I can't think of a single time VLC has failed to play a weird video format for me.
same, until it couldn't play a dvd on the p2110 (nor could windows media player) but smplayer could.
carpetsmoker> Because Mplayer on Windows has issues. Not to mention SMPlayer as a GUI kind of sucks.
maybe. :p
nny> When SMplayer crashes on windows... it REALLY crashes.
bsod or what?
I've had BSOD, but more like it locks up the accelerated video driver. So accelerated video stops being possible.
i use media player classic - home cinema x64.
i remember someone saying that media player classic was potentially full of malwares
oh ok
after looking into alternative clipboard managers I came across this superuser thread must have windows programs thought it would fit here too!
also we can cross this with best free programs here on ttf!
also we can cross this with best free programs here on ttf!
doing a reinstall, i may consider using this to save some time / get up and running quickly
anyone have keyboard launcher recommendations for windows? I never found a good one.
I wonder how hard it would be to write a script to set the PATH variable to include every subdirectory of program files. then I could just use the run dialog.
launchy works great for me.
On Windows 7, you can also it the start button and start typing in the "Search programs and files" box, this is pretty much the same as launchy (Except that launchy is a bit better, I still prefer it).
Oh, and foxit PDF reader has been replaced by SumatraPDF.
I'm about to toss Windows 7, and in turn my laptop, out the fucking window. AAAAAAAGH!
My CarpetSense™ tells me you're slightly annoyed with something?
About twice a day I need to hard reboot my laptop because the audio screws up to the point it locks up the system emitting this horrible screeching sound. Started happening the day after I installed 7. Why did I install 7? I dunno. Debian crashed hardcore and I had to re-install.
Fuck this, I'm abandoning Windows.
Fuck this, I'm abandoning Windows.
I thought you used OpenBSD on your laptop (?)
No, I had Debian running on my netbook, OpenBSD on the server laptop ... which is actually running Arch now.
I'm going back to BSD for my netbook, though. I never had these problems with them before.
I'm going back to BSD for my netbook, though. I never had these problems with them before.
every time i reinstall windows xp, i return to this thread, mostly to get this link:
microsoft virtual cdrom control panel
maybe the "power toys" for windows xp are nice, too. link
microsoft virtual cdrom control panel
maybe the "power toys" for windows xp are nice, too. link
i just did a fresh windows 7 install and i came back here too
http://bluemars.org/clipx/
Fuck yes, this rocks.
Get the beta from 2008, seems to work great on Windows 7
Fuck yes, this rocks.
Get the beta from 2008, seems to work great on Windows 7
cool. thanks for the recommendation!
i wonder if it works well with excel
anyone used rainmeter ? I just installed it today and it is very promising.
there is a method in this thread to create a hot corner to hide/unhide everything. I am going to set this up so I can bring up the sidebar with it. and then probably hide the windows taskbar somehow. only downside is it doesn't do any window management like showing icons for minimized stuff.
related post in the screenshots thread
autohotkey is also great. I bound alt+space to open the start menu. it works fairly well for launching stuff.
this thread is pretty useful. i like ttf as a reference.
it may not be quite what you're looking for but I love my racer-x bag from waterfield.
boom wrong thread
:D
aw man.
I remember closing my ttf tabs last night and thinking "why do I have the briefcase thread open in two separate tabs?"