I think it is good practise for any tester to carry a thumb drive with their favorite testing tools wherever they go.
Here are some things that are on mine:
(Some are web-based tools, so may not be available if you’re working in a draconian conservative sweatshop)
General Testing Tools:
- perlclip (and activeperl installer)
- Rapid Reporter
- SessionTester
Recording and Graphics Manipulation
- SnagIt (the only testing tool I’ve actually shelled out cash for) MWSnap is a miser’s alternative
- paint.NET (cool freeware image modification tool for Windows)
- CamStudio
- Jing
Web Testing Tools
- Firefox + extensions
- Live HTTP Headers
- Firebug
- Perapera kun (with Japanese libraries) – actually I tell a lie re spending money. I donated cash to this also.
- Selenium IDE
- Firefox Throttle
- YSlow
- TamperIE
- Fiddler
Modelling / Mind Mapping
- FreeMind
- XMind
Bug Tracking
- Instant Mantis
Miscellaneous Utilities
- TeraTerm
- CutePDF
Customer Support
I also make sure to keep an eye on QuickTestingTips.com