10 Iconic Computer Programs from the 2000s

The 2000s were the beginning of a technological revolution, thanks to the development of personal computers and the Internet. Those who grew up during this time, like other Batangans in the 1990s, may still remember popular computer software installed on computers at home, in their parents’ office, in the school computer lab, and even in computer stores.

You may remember that the Internet in the 2000s, especially in the early years, was really slow (some systems even required a dial-up connection), but there were some cool apps and software installed on your computer.

Let’s go back in time and reminisce about the days when there were no smartphones and the only device available back then was a desktop computer, with these ten iconic apps.

1. Winamp

Winamp, released in 1997 by Nullsoft, was a popular music player in the late 90s and 2000s and created a cult following of music lovers around the world. Anyone who wanted to play downloaded MP3s (and other music formats) probably preferred to have their Winamp running over the default Windows Media Player because the music sounded better.

The best thing about Winamp is that you can download plugins or choose from available skins and visualizations to match your preferences. You can even create playlists and organize your music collection. However, it gradually lost popularity after the rapid rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.

Much like Winamp became the standard music player in the 2000s, VLC Media Player was also a popular alternative to Windows Media Player for watching movies. Who wouldn’t remember its iconic traffic cone logo and 200% volume for louder audio output when watching movies? However, the use of VLC and other media players has steadily declined due to the rise of streaming video services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.

3. Lime

Who doesn’t remember LimeWire, the best place on the internet to download apps, music, movies and videos – but there’s a catch. Depending on what you’re trying to download, there’s a small or large chance you’re downloading a virus. Still, that hasn’t stopped users from using the product – mostly because we had no choice.

LimeWire allowed people, especially in the Philippines, to access pirated versions of apps and media because they were too expensive at the time. However, LimeWire was eventually forced to shut down its operations in 2010 due to copyright infringement allegations.

4. Encarta Encyclopedia

Encarta Encyclopedia, or simply “Encarta,” is what we think of Google today because it allows us to read and research so many things. In the 2000s, almost everything was still paper, including books and encyclopedias (you probably even had a set from Grolier’s), so research was harder and more time-consuming.

At that time, having an internet connection at home was rare due to its high cost, so even if you had a computer, you probably didn’t have access to the internet, so having Encarta was a game-changer for students at all levels. Encarta covered a wide range of topics, from science and technology to history, literature, and more.

5.Adobe Flash Player

While we may not remember the actual function of Adobe Flash Player, you probably had it installed on your computer before you needed it to play Flash-based games like Max Dirt Bike, Super Smash Flash, Whack Your Boss, and others. However, with the rise of online and LAN gaming, Flash games have become less popular.

6. Counterattack

There were many great computer games in the 2000s. When it came to LAN, there was WarCraft III (DOTA was still just a mod), StarCraft, The Sims, NBA Live, Battle Realms, and GTA. There were also online games like Ragnarok, MU, Gunbound, Flyff, and others, but nothing was more iconic in the 2000s than Counter-Strike.

At the time, the first-person shooter (FPS) could fill local computer stores with young and rowdy players betting against each other on the “de_dust” map, showing off their skills, and gossiping. However, the rise of DOTA and other online games took Counter-Strike’s crown.

7. Internet Explorer browser

Internet Explorer was the most dominant web browser in the 2000s, largely because it is the default browser on every computer running a Microsoft operating system (OS). This means you have no choice but to use it, even if you simply need to download a new browser.

However, one thing about Internet Explorer is most notorious – its snail-like speed that makes it take you ages to get to a website. Soon, newer, faster, and better web browsers came onto the market, with Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome taking over most of the market share. Soon, Microsoft Edge replaced Internet Explorer as the default browser.

8. Windows Office 2003

One of the main reasons people had computers in their homes in the 2000s was so students could do homework, such as essays and presentations. And because of that, the software that would be best suited at the time, with the exception of Windows Office 2003, included the trinity of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

You may also remember Clippy, the AI-like assistant in Windows Office that has been trying to interact with you as you type since 2007 before being ultimately removed in newer versions of Microsoft Office.

9. WinRAR

Back in the 2000s, the internet was really slow. So if you wanted to send a big file, you had to compress it into a ZIP or RAR file—that’s where WinRAR comes in. This iconic app can compress, extract, and even password-protect files, especially those containing sensitive information. But there’s nothing more iconic to WinRAR than its near-lifetime “trial period.”

10. Yahoo! Messenger

Before Facebook Messenger, there was Yahoo! Messenger. This application was the most widely used instant messaging (IM), video chatting, and file transfer application in the early 21st century, allowing users to connect with friends, classmates, and relatives over the Internet.

At the time, Yahoo! was similar to Google, with almost everyone having a Yahoo! account, especially the Yahoo! Messenger apps. However, its dominance soon waned with the rise of Skype, before newer messaging platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger took over the market share.

Technology is constantly changing; even the most popular and beloved software and applications are not future-proof and can suddenly fall out of favor. However, just like the pioneering applications of the 2000s that disappeared due to newer products and technologies, we should also adapt.

What is your favorite software or games from the 2000s? Share them in the comments below.