There are plenty of threads about software recommendations, but I'd hesitate to make a big list of recommended software because there's so much diversity in programs for most things you'd think of doing. I might like Banshee, but you might be an AmaroK supporter, for instance. We don't need links because for most of us finding the software is automated by a package manager. If I decide that I'm tired of Xine and want to try VLC I don't have to go to any web sites to install anything.
Hardware that works is a bit tough since it's dependent on
- The distro in use
- The version of the distro or software
- The version of the hardware
It changes all the time as drivers, distros, and hardware advances. I'm not sure how we'd make that work in the context of a forum.