Program for windows to load mac formatted drives(which are normally not recognized): hfsexplorer
A well-written tutorial for chmod in linux. I've used it so often, I figured I'd link it here for others as much as myself:)
3d
OGRE - an open source 3d rendering etc program/engine, very popular and powerful
If you are in academia, you get many AutoDesk programs free (for noncommercial use of course). AutoDesk makes AutoCAD, Maya, 3DStudio Max, Inventor, and more. Worth it to check out!
Blender - an open source free 3d modeler, engine, renderer, and more. Scriptable, command line and GUI interface, powerful python integration
About proper poster presenation and development
Some of my thoughts : There is a great deal of information online regarding development of posters. Sometimes this can be overwhelming consider the following
No one format exists - you are creating this poster to communicate something, start with considering what to communicate, and go from there
I have seen some completely non-standard posters which were extremely successful at various conferences - remember it is about communication; what is the best way to communicate your work?
For that matter I have also seen very successful and interesting standard posters
Some websites make it seem that the only way you can create a scientific work is to spend months and months ahead of time creating the first draft, then iterating over and over for a long period of time refining, then weeks practicing. Anyone who has actually written a scientific paper or created a presentation knows that life is not always (though it is sometimes!) ideal in this sense. If you refuse to communicate anything unless you have many months to prepare, there are times when you (and the scientific community) will miss opportunities to communicate important results.
If you find yourself with less time than you would like, it does not mean you cannot create a meaningful and clear presentation of your work. It just means you have to be strategic about how you spend your time, and avoid pitfalls.
Err on the side of simple methods which are dependable and less likely to leave you with nothing right before you give a talk, poster, or a paper is due. For example, if you are considering some complex 3d rendering which requires you to install a new program, or you want to generate new data but you have the necessary data, I would suggest you use what you have, and lay it out well - remember this is supposed to be about work you have already done.
There's always room for another paper or poster in the future! Limit the scope of what you cover.
Attempt to focus on one topic.
If you think there isn't enough content in one topic remember that a wise person once said "The entire universe is contained within one flower."
A nice website with various resources about poster presentation and development here
A free repository of books which are in the public domain. Many many classics here, such as H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and more - roughly 34000 texts at the time of this upload