Thanks Chris, we all like something with no cost! There are a couple which stand out as well as Firefox and Thunderbird which I cannot do without....
# cut/edit/mix/record/remix sound files : Audacity - wicked & simple and works on Macs as well as PCs
# use office suite (writer, calc, impress, draw base) : OpenOffice -

It's a real competitor to MS office, and it also works on a Mac as well as PCs