Linux – Specifically, Fedora (or Silverblue), Mint (Or LMDE)
Linux is basically the reason why I like computers. Microsoft, Chrome OS, Apple, they all make a more polished product, and then ruin it by shoving garbage at you that you don’t want, tracking you, forcing obsolescence, or any combination of the above. Linux, in it’s various forms and incarnations, leaves you in control. Don’t like it? Switch! Also, free helps, but I do recommend donating.
Ventoy
Once you start distro-hopping, Ventoy will make your large collection of USB installers into one easy-to-pocket installer. Very much recommended.
Ninite
Ninite is how you make Windows a bit more Linuxy… Wait, that’s a terrible way to describe it! Ninite is how you install everything on a new computer. Ninite gives you a list of programs, (including everything you might want), and then lets you install it all in one big chunk! Even better, if you re-run the installer, it’ll update everything for you down the road. Fantastic.
Snappy Driver Installer Origin
Snappy Driver Installer Origin is how you make Windows a bit more Linuxy… Hmm, I need a better descriptor. SDIO is how you get all your drivers to the latest and greatest without stupid vendor specific updater tools and without spending hours on FTPs trying to find a driver. Let it get the indexes, then select all, wait a bit, reboot, done! Please note: SDI used to be awesome, then it got taken over by malware bastards. SDIO is the fork which is still good.
Rufus
This is how you make a Windows Installer, or how you burn an ISO (Disk image) onto a thumb drive, in style! Rufus has all sorts of bells and whistles, but when it comes right down to it, it just gets you a USB installer that works. (It doesn’t just do Windows installers, it does lots of installers, or disk writes.) Lately, it’s also let you get Windows 11 on machines that “don’t support it”, thanks entirely to forced obsolescence by Microsoft.
VLC
VLC is how everyone should make a piece of software. It does one thing (play video), and does it perfectly every time. Doesn’t matter what kind of video, from what source, if it’s video, and it can be played, VLC will play it. Also, it works great on every platform.