Steam for regular applications?

[quadnad]

I'm not totally sure this belongs here, but since it relates to backups I figured this is likely it.

Has anyone found a program like Steam, but instead of just games it has 'regular' applications? The reason I say this is because in Steam all of your games and (if it's a newer title) their saves are tied to my account - if I reformat my machine, all I need to do is download Steam, sign in, and everything is available to be downloaded and installed automatically. This is a MASSIVE timesaver.

After reformatting, I always find it such a huge pain in the ass having to track down discs and/or login information and/or just the download link for things like Office, NOD32, Filezilla, utorrent, Chrome, and so forth, having also to redo my settings in each program. I've seen some programs that try to bundle commonly used programs, but it's only ever part of what I'm looking for.

So, is there a service like Steam for regular applications, or something else that I should be looking at?

 

[xnoodle]

AFAIK the only one I've heard of is Ninite. The funcitonality you're looking for isn't free tho.

 

[drescherjm]

After reformatting, I always find it such a huge pain in the ass having to track down discs and/or login information and/or just the download link for things like Office, NOD32, Filezilla, utorrent, Chrome, and so forth, having also to redo my settings in each program. I've seen some programs that try to bundle commonly used programs, but it's only ever part of what I'm looking for.

Just image your OS drive right after installing this. I recommend "Acronis® True Image" for those who are not familiar with the free linux utilities that can do the same.

 

[quadnad]

AFAIK the only one I've heard of is Ninite. The funcitonality you're looking for isn't free tho.

That looks great - it's definitely more advanced than the old packages I remember. It won't cover everything, but it's a really good collection of the majority of stuff I need. I like the update functionality (although not quite at Steam levels).

Just image your OS drive right after installing this. I recommend "Acronis® True Image" for those who are not familiar with the free linux utilities that can do the same.

The issue with this is setting up a new machine - say I build a new rig and want to install all my normal applications. I wouldn't have an image to work with given the new hardware, and moreover even if I could they would also be frozen at whatever version they were when I first imaged the drive.

I still think having a cohesive "app store" for normal programs like we have with Steam would be a good idea...

 

[quadnad]

Alrighty, as though by magic today I see that Windows 8 is rumored to have an app store - this could be what I'm looking for, provided they don't limit the programs on there too much...

link

 

[Jesse B]

provided they don't limit the programs on there too much...

I'm sure they'll do their very best to promote their own products, and shoo off any companies they decide they don't like. I hope this isn't the case, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[odditory]

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