TechPenny - Essential Software

VMware the company that makes virtual machines has released two new free editions. The VMware Player and Server. It come with pre-packaged appliances so that you can just run the latest OS and apps without installation at all. Its great for playing with the latest software without messing up your current operating system.
VMware

Microsoft in an unprecedented move has released their new OS Vista Beta version to the public.
Try out the new WinFX and aero, just make sure your machine can handle it.
Vista