Here are my apps I always install on machines I work on. By default, Windows includes a Notepad editor, a web browser called Edge, and a rudimentary video player.
Here are superior alternatives that you can freely download. There are multiple versions of each program. Choose the x64 version if a choice is provided.
- Notepad++
- Notepad++ is a super simple program that makes editing text and files way easier and faster than the basic Notepad.
- Chrome and Firefox
- Chrome is currently the most popular browser. There are reasons to have Firefox also installed.
- The included Microsoft Edge is actually Chromium based as well, but with lots of Microsoft ads and Bing integration.
- I actually use Brave in lieu of Chrome. Its also based on Chromium but unlike Edge and Chrome, it eliminates ads effectively without extensions. Brave functions almost the same way otherwise.
- I use Firefox as some sites just run smoother on it, plus it’s a separate space where I stay logged out and keep my stuff separate from my main browser. Firefox plays protected streaming videos in a way that OBS can capture it.
- MPC-HC and VLC video players.
- You can mostly get away just using MPC-HC, but sometimes VLC has some good uses.
- MPC-HC is more customizable. Features like borderless windowed playback. Fine video speed adjustment. Better subtitle configuration options and video frame positioning.
- VLC can convert video formats. Their subtitle’s downloader is better than MPC-HC.
- Download MPC-HC from here: https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases