Might sound a bit strange as the roles are usually reversed, but I am a Linux user coming to Windows and I need suggestions for the usual apps everyone needs (Antivirus, etc). I'll be doing a lot of writing on the system and will need a decent calendar/contacts/mail app. I would go out and just grab OpenOffice, VLC, and all the usual Linux players, but it's been so long, maybe Windows has some note worthy ones. I'd appriciate any advice.

I'll be getting a modest GFX card in the next couple of days and I also just installed Steam, so any GBers who want to add me as a friend (Or send a gift ;-)), please feel free! My username there is also Jambones. Aside from Sam and Max, Monkey Island (Which are insta-buys), any other games I should be checking out?

Assuming you only want free software, use AVG for anti-virus. I don't use a calendar/contacts/mail app since I do that online, but I know Thunderbird is pretty popular, which you may be familiar with since it's on Linux too. For calendar, you can add Lightning to Thunderbird or use Sunbird. OpenOffice is still the best free office suite I know of. VLC and MPlayer work just as well on Windows. ImgBurn is good for burning discs. I use Pidgin as my IM client.

and throw in some emulators for good measure.

I use Avast! for my anti-virus, Paint.NET for basic image editing tasks, although I own Office 2007 for my calendar stuff so I can't help you out much there. If it's even a fraction of Outlook 2007's usefulness, though, Outlook Express (if it's still around) might be decent. I think it's part of the Live package, which you can install via Windows Update.

I also own Office 07 but I used Thunderbird, lightning and Oo.org for a fair amount of time so those are execllent. I use AIM for IM, Perhaps you should check if Google Chrome works in the RC because I tested it in th Beta and it didn't work, regardless, awesome browser. GIMP for image editing. Zune software is pretty good for music? at least for my needs. Music editing however; Audacity gets the job done. 

OpenOffice, VLC, FIrefox, Thunderbird(with calender extension), GIMP. The only software I use on Windows that I don't use on linux is Pinnacle Studio 12 and my games, everything else is open source stuff that I use on Linux as well.

AVG, OpenOffice are good.

Well, what I use is just the website for Gmail(depending on your e-mail account obviously, if I had to pick an application; thunderbird)

Email/Cal/Contacts: Gmail and other Google stuff.
Office: If you don't want to pay for or pirate Microsoft Office, then I guess OpenOffice is the only real alternative. I get Microsoft Office for free so I'm using that.
Mediaplayer: Media Player Classic Home Cinema + QuickTime Alternative if you need QuickTime.
Music: Windows Media Player (Win 7 standard one), Spotify and/or Foobar2000
MSN client: Windows Live Messenger with Live Messenger Plus addon. If you need multi protocol support, Pidgin maybe. Digsby if you want to give your passwords away.
Browser: Firefox / Google Chrome / Opera
ISO mounting: PowerISO
ISO burning: ImgBurn
Adware/spyware paranoia program: CCleaner
Antivirus: Dunno. Don't use it.
Encryption software: TrueCrypt
File archiver: 7zip

I recommend these applications, but as with linux, there's 320813501375 alternatives out there. You just have to find the ones that work for you.

Get VLC so you don't have to mess around with installing codecs.  Usually a perfect application for nearly every video format.  Rarely a AVI or WMV won't play right.  The latest version has a problem scanning in some MPEG files too, just so you know.

I use Winamp for all music.

I like Spyware Search & Destroy for anti-spyware.

I use an oldish free version of WinRAR (3.51) for all compressed files.

Deepburner is a great free DVD/CD burner (use it for making audio CDs or backing up data on DVDs)

Open Office, VLC, Avast Antivirus, Pidgin, Spybot Search and Destroy, 7zip, Foxit Reader, and Thunderbird are basically must haves.

AVG is bloat, and just not as good anymore.

Get Avast or Avira for antivirus.
If you have a router, Firewall isn't needed(just use Windows Firewall).
Openoffice is great as a MS office alternative.

If you're any sort of smart user, you won't need any antivirus software at all.  However, if you do need something, I would also throw in my hat to AVG, as well. OpenOffice and VLC are still the leading free Office/Video/Music software, in my opinion. You could always try out Winamp or Foobar2000 as music players, but Winamp has become bloatware over the years, and Foobar requires way too much customization to get working with any amount of decent usability.

Steam games are up to you. I'd always suggest Peggle as a casual game (I  love it, my mom loves it; two opposite ends of the gaming spectrum that can enjoy a single game). Try out any of the Half-Life series, and then search around and wait for Steam weekend deals to pick up any other games you might find interesting. Every weekend, Steam has between a 25% and 75% discount on a chosen game. Those are your best times to pick up games new and old alike for a kickass price.

And I'll gladly add you as a friend on Steam, as I have next to none. Hope to see you around.