Windows es, en general, bastante bueno. Hay una razón por la que ha seguido siendo el sistema operativo de PC número uno durante décadas, y no es porque Microsoft venció a la industria con prácticas comerciales despiadadas en los años 90. De todos modos, no solo eso: es porque el software ha innovado suave pero constantemente desde entonces, y se ha vuelto, bueno, ¡bastante bueno! Pero siempre puede ser mejor.
Outside developers are always looking for ways to improve Windows. Microsoft has even borrowed some of their ideas on occasion. UltraMon is a great example: Microsoft copied its multi-monitor taskbars for Windows 8. But there are still many tools that can make Windows 10 or 11 easier to use, from the most basic novice to the most experienced power user in the office. .
Here are five tools for power users that are small, simple and free (although most developers welcome donations if they find their software invaluable). Better yet, they all work with Windows 10 and 11.
Here’s how to get Windows for cheap (or even free)
SoundSwitch: quickly switch sound devices with a keyboard command
Windows is still not very good at managing more than one sound device. Even in Windows 11, it takes at least three clicks to switch, for example, from your laptop speakers to Bluetooth headphones, or vice versa. (Although this may be fixed in a newer version of Windows in 2023). This can get old quickly if you regularly switch between speakers and headsets for video conferencing.
PowerToys – a set of useful utilities for Windows
PowerToys is a collection of tools that Microsoft develops and maintains for advanced users. It includes features such as FancyZones (a custom window manager), PowerRename (a massive file renamer), Image Resizer (a quick image resizing tool), Color Picker (a color picker tool) and more. You can download PowerToys from GitHub and install it on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. You can also customize the settings and keyboard shortcuts for each tool.
Wox: a powerful launcher for Windows
Wox is a launcher that allows you to quickly access files, folders, applications, web pages and more with a single keystroke. You can also use add-ons to extend its functionality, such as searching Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, Spotify, etc. Wox is similar to Spotlight on macOS or Alfred on Linux. You can download Wox from their website and install it on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. You can also change the theme, language and hotkey of Wox.
AutoHotkey: a scripting language to automate tasks in Windows
AutoHotkey is a programming language that allows you to create macros and automate tasks in Windows. You can use it to remap keys, create custom shortcuts, manipulate windows, control the mouse and keyboard, and more. AutoHotkey is very powerful and flexible, but it also requires some coding skills to use. You can download AutoHotkey from their website and install it on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. You can also find tutorials and scripts on their forum and wiki.
Todo: a fast and lightweight file search tool for Windows
Everything is a file search tool that can find any file or folder on your Windows PC in seconds. It uses a database to index your files and folders, making it much faster than the built-in Windows search. Everything also supports advanced search operators, filters, bookmarks and export options. You can download Everything from its website and install it on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. You can also change Everything’s appearance, behavior and hotkeys.
SoundSwitch: Switch sound devices with a keyboard shortcut
Ever wanted to quickly switch from speakers to headphones, or vice versa, without having to open the Windows sound menu? SoundSwitch, from developer Antoine Aflalo, solves this. Once installed, the little program sits in your toolbar, waiting for you to enter a keyboard shortcut (I use Ctrl + Alt + ~). When you do, it will switch between any number of sound devices, without the need to enter the cumbersome sound menu. SoundSwitch also supports a separate list of recording devices with their own shortcut, and is constantly being updated and improved.
SpaceSniffer: Find the files that occupy your hard disk
Managing your computer’s storage space is an all-or-nothing experience. Windows will tell you how much space is left on your disk, and that’s it; it’s up to you to dive into a million directories and clean out the junk when you run out of space. SpaceSniffer (try not to laugh) from Uderzo Software solves this by scanning an entire disk and presenting your files and folders in a visual grid.
