1. Internet browsing
Making the switch from Internet Explorer is as simple as clicking on this link. Of course, Firefox isn’t for everybody. There’s also Netscape, K-meleon, Ghostzilla ((not really a web browser I’d use as a default.)), Konqueror and plenty others out there.

Personally, I prefer Firefox.

2. E-mail
I never used Outlook. When I needed to check my e-mail, I’d do it from the site of whatever service I was using at the time. However, with Thunderbird, you can have a nice alternative to Outlook (if you use Outlook, that is.)

3. Word processing
Replace Microsoft with Open Office.

Foxit for .pdfs.

4. MP3
Tired of Winamp and Windows Media Player? Then give MusikCube a try! Easy to use! Just synchronize it to the folders that contain your music, press and play and minimize it to the tray. It can also rip files into MP3 format, as well as read any major music file type.

5. Archiving
Winzip and Winrar are free… until your trial period runs out. So why bother with them? Get 7-zip and spend the $15 extra bucks on a case of beer.

6. Image Editing
Adobe Photoshop can be expensive. However, if image manipulation is what you want, then image manipulation is what you’re gonna get! Start off with Gimp, a tool used for “photo retouching, image composition and image authoring”. Want vector graphics? Try Inkscape.

7. Audio/Video Editing
Use Krut to record from your computer into .mov or .mpg. Use Audacity to record audio and mix tracks into .mp3 format.

8. A few things
I suggest getting Stickies for Windows ((place sticky notes on your desktop)), Eraser ((secure erase for Windows)), Winpooch ((anti-spyware and adware with real time monitoring)), and Clamwin ((Antivirus software for Windows)).