[Answer] Any recommendations for useful software on a Windows 10 PC?

[Answer] Any recommendations for useful software on a Windows 10 PC?

Although Microsoft has already released Windows 11, Windows 10 is still the most mainstream operating system at present. Below is a categorized overview of commonly used software and tools for Windows 10, which can serve as a reference for essential everyday office PC software.

1. Software not recommended for installation, and download sources

Various kinds of "security" software are actually one of the biggest security risks on Windows systems. Windows 10's built-in security mechanisms can defend against the vast majority of unsafe factors, so on Windows, it is not recommended to install any "security software" or "management software" such as 360, Tencent PC Manager, Kingsoft PC Manager, and similar tools.

In addition, another important measure for keeping a Windows system secure is to strictly control software download sources. Never download resources from sites such as "Pacific Software Center," "Green Software Alliance," or any similar websites with that kind of download-page interface.

Making sure that all software is downloaded from its official website or another trusted source is the most important—and really the only practical—way to keep a Windows system secure.

2. Common portable software and tools

2.1 OBS screen recording and streaming software

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a very popular open-source screen recording and live streaming tool. It can be used to record video tutorials and also supports live streaming to online platforms. Several major live-streaming platforms even use the OBS core in their desktop broadcasting tools.

OBS supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems. It can record and switch between multiple audio and video sources at the same time, such as the desktop and webcam. It supports export formats such as MKV and MP4, and is very convenient to use.

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2.2 Joplin note-taking software

Joplin is an open-source note-taking application that can serve as an alternative to services such as Evernote and NetEase Youdao Notes. Joplin supports editing documents in Markdown with real-time preview. Markdown is a simple and practical markup language that is very easy to learn.

Joplin supports synchronization through platforms such as OneDrive, and also supports real-time syncing through self-hosted methods such as WebDAV. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and other platforms and mobile devices. It also supports a Chrome browser extension that can directly capture and save web pages as note files, which is very convenient for organizing materials and resources. This article itself was edited using Joplin.

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2.3 PowerToys utility suite

PowerToys is an excellent set of utilities originally developed by Microsoft back in the Windows 95 and XP era, and Microsoft has revived and open-sourced it in recent years. PowerToys includes a wide range of highly useful features such as batch file renaming, quick batch image resizing, fast desktop window zoning and arrangement, quick app launching, keyboard and mouse remapping, and quick color picking from anywhere on the screen. It can greatly improve efficiency when using Windows and is a genuinely rare and powerful Windows toolkit.

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2.4 Bandizip 6 compression and extraction software

Bandizip used to be a very good compression and extraction tool—specifically versions before 7.0. After Bandizip was upgraded to version 7, the free version introduced many feature restrictions and advertisements, which means it is no longer a tool that offers all functions freely. Therefore, it is recommended to download and use only Bandizip version 6.29 and to disable automatic updates.

To prevent users from easily downloading this older version, which remains powerful and freely usable, Bandizip has hidden the 6.29 download link behind multiple layers. You can access it through the following URLs: https://www.bandisoft.com/bandizip/old/6/ https://www.bandisoft.com/bandizip/dl.php?old

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2.5 bahraniapps utility collection

bahraniapps includes several very useful portable tools. Among them, GifCam can capture a selected area anywhere on the screen and turn it into an animated GIF, which is very practical for making tutorials, recording code demonstrations, and capturing operation steps. RecButton and VClip provide convenient video recording and clipping functions.

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2.6 FileZilla FTP server and client

FileZilla is arguably the most useful FTP tool on Windows systems (though Linux may offer more and even better alternatives). It provides both server and client applications. Our team's internal FTP client recommendation is FileZilla.

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2.7 HandBrake video format conversion

HandBrake can convert almost any video format and also supports functions such as DVD ripping/transcoding. It is open-source, free, cross-platform, and a classic example of excellent open-source software.

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2.8 KeePass password manager

KeePass is a free and open-source password management tool. Password security is extremely important, yet it is often overlooked. The vast majority of people do not use strong, secure passwords. Using KeePass can effectively improve password security. It supports database synchronization and can also be used on mobile devices with the help of third-party apps.

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3. Other commonly used software on Windows

3.1 Office and reading software

• WPS and Microsoft Office: For individual users, WPS is recommended as office software. On the one hand, in recent years WPS has narrowed the gap with Microsoft Office in terms of core functionality; on the other hand, it better matches the usage habits of Chinese users. Of course, if conditions allow, Microsoft Office is also a good choice, and its functions are somewhat more powerful—if you need them.
• CAJViewer: CAJ files from CNKI can only be opened with the proprietary CAJViewer, so for users who need to read CAJ-format files, CAJViewer is essential.
• PDF reading: Although WPS includes PDF reading functionality, if you need to further edit or modify PDF files, Adobe Acrobat DC is still recommended. It supports advanced functions such as format conversion, text extraction and editing, page adjustment, and OCR.
• Zotero reference management: Zotero is an excellent academic reference management tool and is very helpful for researchers in organizing literature.

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3.2 Video and image processing: the Adobe suite

Adobe has strong competitiveness in graphic and image processing. Photoshop (PS) is one of the best tools for image editing, while Premiere Pro (PR) and After Effects (AE) are also among the best tools for video editing and visual effects. For image and video work, Adobe may not always be the absolute best choice, but it is certainly never a wrong one.

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3.3 Browsers, input methods, download tools, etc.

For browsers, it is recommended to use the built-in Edge on Windows 10, or alternatively Chrome or Firefox. Other browsers are not recommended.

Baidu Netdisk and Thunder are two commonly needed tools for file downloading in the domestic Chinese internet environment.

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For input methods, QQ Pinyin Input Method or iFlytek Input Method are recommended.

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3.4 Other software

Other commonly used Windows software for office work and daily use includes QQ, WeChat Desktop, DingTalk, and Tencent Meeting. You can download and use them as needed.

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