Windows ships with a competent baseline of tools, but for users who prefer transparency, control, and long-term maintainability, the open-source alternatives on this How‑To Geek roster are worth considering — this article examines the nine apps the original author installs on every fresh Windows PC, verifies their core claims, explains the rationale for each pick, highlights important caveats, and offers practical guidance for safe, repeatable installs.
Background / Overview
The original...