Alternatives to windows common programs

We all use let's say a lot of common programs in everyday life. For example: browsers, office suites, pdf readers, "zips",... etc.

Lifehacker has an interesting article about superior (as they call it) software than "you" (as in average user) use now. Here is an a link to the site: click here.

To make the story short: let's face it lot's of so called common programs (RealPlayer, QuickTimePlayer, Adobe Reader,...) became so bloated with functins (ads?), that they are missing the point: they are not useful anymore: they are bloated with functionalities noone uses (Mi***ft Office for example?) - that they are slow, confusing and so on.

Another good link from LF: how to really speed up a computer