Google Earth

Download from:  http://earth.google.com/

Google Earth gives you awesome 3D high resolution aerial views of virtually any place on earth.  It's even got a measuring tool to measure distances between cities, a jogging route or distances on a golf course.

ScreenHunter

Download from: 

http://www.wisdom-soft.com/products/screenhunter.htm

Captures a screen image as a jpg file.  I used this with Gammonlab to produce backgammon flash cards.

Skype

Download from:  http://www.skype.com/helloagain.html

You can talk to anyone over the Internet for free with Skype.   All you need on your PC is a microphone (about $ 10 at BestBuy or Staples) and speakers.  Clarity is better than a phone!

Skype version 2 supports video!  (However:  you must have Windows XP as your operating system.)  On February 26, 2006 I bought a Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 web camera for $ 85.59 (including tax) after learning that it scored high marks in some reviews I found on the web.