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(12/30/02)
We try out a lot of software in the Download.com offices. Particularly interesting titles spread like wildfire from computer to computer, as each staff member installs them. But we're pretty jaded, so it takes impressive features or novelty for an application to stay installed for more than a day. For the best of 2002, 10 staff members stepped forward to offer up their favorite software titles. Besides our idiosyncratic picks, if you want to see what Download.com users prefer,
click here for our 2002 Top 10 Downloads.
 | George LaTourette, Jr.
Customer Service Manager |
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SereneScreen Marine Aquarium
This breathtaking screensaver will have everyone in your office saying, "ooh, ah, it looks so real... ." Not only is the tank environment super-realistic, but the fish are 3D models. My favorite creature is the seemingly static starfish. If you do a close inspection, the starfish moves realistically and slowly. I like low-maintenance plants and pets, so this screensaver is a blessing for me. |
 | Hunter Hoffman
Program Manager |
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MP3 Voyeur
This cool application lets you search for and download MP3s from shared drives and folders over a local area network. Perhaps the coolest feature of MP3 Voyeur is that it lets you play songs from a remote location without first saving them to your local computer. |
 | Jason Parker
Assistant Editor |
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ICQ Lite
ICQ Lite gets my work questions answered quickly and it isn't as much of a resource hog as the original. It still offers all the best features of its big brother, such as file sharing and SMS capabilities, and if I really want to switch back to the full version, I can do so from within the program. |
 | Jim Stanley
Associate Vice President |
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eBay Toolbar
I do a lot of bargain-hunting on eBay with the help of this simple IE toolbar. It's a welcome aid in my pursuit of left-handed instruments, wall-sized maps, and otherwise bizarre items. Among the toolbar's available menus, I've found the Bid and Watch Alert features handy in ensuring I don't lose sight of choice items that have caught my eye. |
 | Kelly Green
Director |
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Arcade Lines
Ever since Tetris, I've been addicted to puzzle games. Arcade Lines, a deceptively simple little arcade game, satisfies my obsession. The concept isn't new: try to match five like-colored dots on a puzzle board. But Lobstersoft has delivered a very nice implementation of this timeless puzzle game, which gets my pick for the pure sugar-coated fun of it. |
 | Mike Federico
Producer |
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Trillian
While the first release of Trillian was clunky and buggy, the .7x versions added necessary stability and features to compete with the biggest names in instant messaging, and the interface is easy to work with. Trillian does exactly what I need it to do, sharing information on several different IM platforms seamlessly while minimizing my desktop clutter and system resource usage. |
 | Nick Ulman
Associate Technical Producer |
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GoldWave
Anyone who's into creating music on the PC needs to own Goldwave. It is by far the most powerful tool in my digital music arsenal. Its no-brainer interface lets me create loops for Sonic Foundry's ACID, add expensive sound effects, and clean up MP3 and WAV files for burning CDs at a fraction of the cost of big-time audio editing software. |
 | Scott Arpajian
Senior Vice President |
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Swiff Chart
Swiff Chart is a brilliantly designed program that creates great-looking animated charts in Macromedia Flash format. The wizard-driven interface makes it simple and quick to take any numerical data and produce an impressive chart in minutes. Beginners will love the dozens of column, bar, and pie chart templates. Perfectionists will appreciate the complete customization potential at every step. |
 | Trish Hageny
Associate Producer |
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Microsoft Money 2003 Deluxe
Last year, I resolved to get my finances in order. I'm currently using Microsoft Money 2003 to help me manage my green. It offers neat tools such as a budget planner and a debt reduction planner, as well as a portfolio management tool to watch my 401k and CNET stock options. Hopefully, by the end of 2055, I'll be well on my way to homeownership in San Francisco! |
 | Wayne Cunningham
Senior Editor |
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Mozilla
This long-awaited browser made it to version 1.0 in 2002, and recent releases put it at 1.2.1. I use Mozilla at work and home, looking at multiple pages in its tabbed interface while happily cruising along pop-up free. Mozilla is a fine example of software designed for users, and not for profit. |
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