some software recommendations

Some free (and/or open source) software that I recommend:

Paint.NET image and photo editing
GIMP image and photo editing
IrfanView image viewer
Picasa photo organization and editing
CutePDF pdf writer
Foxit pdf reader
ZoomIt for drawing on the screen

Firefox web browser
Thunderbird email client
Pidgin for IM (MSN, AIM, etc)
Skype internet phone

VLC video/music player
iTunes for music libraries and podcasts
YamiPod an iTunes alternatve for iPod management.
Miro for video podcasts and RSS, etc.
MovieMaker 2 video editing
PhotoStory for making slideshows easily
Audacity audio recording/editing

CD BurnerXP for burning CDs and DVDs
InfraRecorder for burning CDs and DVDs
Avast antivirus
Spybot S&D AntiSpyware
Ad-Aware AntiSpyware
uTorrent for downloading torrents
TightVNC remote admin
XP PowerToys
7-zip file archiving/unarchiving