What I use / recommend

  • Browser – Firefox 2.0.0.4 – Free, customisable, stable, fast, portable, secure, cross-platform and more advantages..
  • Operating system – Ubuntu 7.04 – Free, Fast, Stable, Secure (No Virus!), Frequent updates & upgrades, Works even in outdated hardware, Outstanding community support.
  • Office Software – 1. Google Docs and Spreadsheets – simple, free, online 2. Open Office – Free, Updated always, better than MS office in many ways.
  • Blogging Software – WordPress – Free, Best in the trade, Outstanding community feel and support, numerous themes and plugins.
  • Mediaplayer – VLC – Free, will play 99% of the media files you would give it, Cross-platform.
  • Tamil Typing utility – eKalappai, Tamilvisai – Tamil99 keyboard – The best way to do it. Don’t go for anything else.
  • Mail – GmailBest search for mails, conversational view, integration with gtalk, no spam, 20 MB attachments, recent conversations, labels
  • Chat – Google Talk – Integrated with Gmail, Clutter-free interface
  • Homepage – iGoogle – Cute themes, numerous widgets, one stop place for Google stuff.
  • Photo sharing, viewing – Picasa
  • Feed Reader – Google Reader
  • Tamil news – Thatstamil – For Dinathanthi type masala news, updated often
  • Tamil movies download – TamilTorrents – Free, great collection, good quality prints, first to release.
  • Tamil songs search – S-anand.net
  • Tamil songs online – Musicplug – Great collection, share songs, no ads, good quality.
  • Tamil movie news – Indiaglitz, Behind woods, Sify Movies.
  • Tamil blogs portal – Maatru!
  • Encyclopedia – Wikipedia
  • Dictionary – Dictionary.com
  • Tamil Dictionaries – Madras university Lexicon, Tamil virtual University
  • Bookmarking – Google Bookmarks
  • Search – Google