Word Processing, SpreadSheets, SlideShows, Database
Open Office (FREE)
http://www.openoffice.org/
No more Microsoft Office! Now you don't have to use Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Access, Excel, etc. This application suite is FREE and can open all of those expensive Microsoft suite application files (.doc, .xlsx, .xls, etc).
Internet Browsing
Fire Fox Browser (FREE)
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
This a faster and more secure browser used for surfing the web. Use it in place of, or atleast as well as, Internet Explorer.
PDF Document Creation
PDF Creator (FREE)
http://www.pdfforge.org/
You can use this to create anything to a pdf file (the files that Adobe Reader can read). Once installed, in the program that you are using, go to print the thing you want to create the pdf from and choose the the PDF Creator in the printer listings.
Image Resizer and Thumbnail Maker
Easy Thumbnails (FREE)
http://www.fookes.com/ezthumbs/
Easily change all of your pictures from your camera into thumbnails(smaller images of any size). Once installed, choose your pictures, then choose the size you want them all to be.
more coming later...