This list contains my choice for the best PC Mag utilities, about 30 of them, which match or exceed the freeware equivalents. Where a title is marked with an "*", I recommend this application over the best freeware or shareware competitor I've found.

Computing tasks are listed within a category by the frequency with which I perform the computing task (most-used at the top). The change history of these recommendations is shown at the bottom of this page.

General Purpose 1 folder navigation - 2 text editor - 3 dictionary - 4 local weather - 5 calendar *DaysEase 6 folder size DiskPie Pro 7 folder comparison WMatch 2 8 text file comparison - 9 duplicate files Dupeless 10 print folder content TreePrint 11 compression - 12 clipboard ClipTrak 13 rename files MultiRen 14 reminder NoteWhen 15 keyboard controller *TradeKeys 16 text find & replace - 17 change file attributes *FileTouch 2 18 clock ClockRack, Rouser 2 19 timer - 20 unit conversion - 21 filename case -

Graphics 1 graphics viewer - 2 screen capture ScreenSeize 3 image resizer - 4 graphics editor - 5 color picker - 6 icon editor IconEdit32 7 icon extractor IconJack32 8 print control PCBook2 9 3D text - 10 font viewer *FontViewer2 11 3D graphics - System 1 system info - 2 registry tweak Registry Detective, Registry Robot 3 startup *Startup Cop Pro 4 uninstall UnClean2 5 context menu *ContextEdit, *ContextMenuPlus 6 registry clean - 7 file association *AppLauncher 8 process monitor *Task Power 9 remote PC control -

Programmer 1 code librarian - 2 hex editor *FileSnoop 2 3 installation - 4 programmer's editor - 5 resource files - 6 dependencies - Internet 1 browser tool - 2 email checker MailCall 3 email client - 4 news reader - 5 web cam (viewer) - 6 web site download Web Historian Games/Kids 1 bridge -

WebMaster 1 HTML editor - 2 FTP client - 3 webcam (server) - 4 link checker - 5 server log analyzer - 6 web server - 7 search position - Security 1 anti-virus - 2 firewall - 3 backup - 4 spyware locator - 5 cookies Cookie Cop 3 6 encryption *Filewarden 7 secure erase *Filewarden Music 1 mp3 player - 2 music ripper - 3 music creation -

Multiple Entries Per Category
In a few categories you'll see that I've recommended more than one application. Usually, the first recommendation is a simpler application (fewer options, easier to learn and use). The second is typically more capable and requires more effort to use. My personal tastes lean towards the simpler programs, but many users like the all-in-one variety.

• Rouser, ClockRack
  Rouser is a simple alarm clock. Clock rack gives the time for multiple cities anywhere in the world.

• Registry Detective, Registry Robot
  For a safe read-only search tool, use Registry Detective. To safely edit registry values use Registry Robot. But neither gives you the control that comes with the MS RegEdit.

• ContextMenuPlus, ContextEdit
  ContextMenuPlus works from a context menu (right-mouse click) whereas ContextEdit is a standalone application. Use the first for quick changes but use the second while you need to step in and out of other applications.