Software Recommendations for new T60?

Perhaps not the correct thread for this question, but now that my new T60 is on the way, what software should I consider? Is there anything that particularly well-suited to Lenovo/IBM products that I should consider?

Background: I ordered my laptop with MS Home XP (which is what I have at home), and already own MS Office 2003, but will likely move to Vista and Office 2007 with the rest of the business world at some point. My computer use is generally limited to MS Office products (Word, Outlook, IE, Excel, and Power Point, in that order), although I sync with Palm software (currently use a Palm Tungsten T as my mobile calendar). I have heard many mention Firefox as an alternative to IE, but I have not been "unhappy enough" with IE7 to care. I am also considering a jump to the Treo, in order to reduce the number of "accessories" I need to carry, but not sure I want to carry a large phone everywhere (currently use the Motorola mini-razr).

 

First and foremost -
Use System Update 3.0. From all the posts I've seen the new Lenovos that ship out have the older versions. A download link is in my sig below.

After that you can then remove whatever that you want, but the System Update 3.0 definately keeps everything up to date. A LOT of the stuff that came with my T60 that I got in feb was really outdated.

I personally just took out pretty much everything except for a few of the ThinkVantage stuff.

 

Did you see the free software sticky in the Software Forum?

 

One of the most useful piece of software I have ever used is Daemon Tools. It's a virtual drive that lets you mount a CD or DVD image without actually burning them to physical media.

 

If your laptop comes with an embedded security chip, DON'T install ZoneAlarm 7 because it will block yor computer at the stage when it's verifying the status of the security chip.

 

Thanks all for the recommendations so far ...

Zaz, I did miss the "free software" thread and briefly looked through there. There are a lot of good suggestions in there, but perhaps I should have been more specific.

I am looking for more business-related apps, and in particular, something that would better coordinate a calendar/task list, keep time, and incorporate custom word/excel files and phone messaging (or functionally replace them). I am an attorney, and I end up keeping the same information in several different places ... a hearing on the calendar, a task to write a brief, a note to call the client to check something, and notes for my hard file. My "Holy Grail" would be a single program/user interface which keeps all of these things in the same place, but then drops the "event" into my Outlook, and the "task" into my To Do List, and my "Notes" into an electronic file ... All of which could be accessed by calling up the same client or matter.

My guess is that (a) Thinkpad users are largely people using it for work, and (b) there are many, many professionals who would have similar needs (e.g., sales, IT, medical, mgmt, etc.).

Also interested in any software that, for whatever reason, works well with Lenovo/IBM products, as well as the type of recommendations in the software thread even if they are not free.

Thanks in advance for the info/advice.