[Update: Steve Eichert shows how to make notepad2 replace good ol' Notepad without windows file protection interfering in the process. Thanks!]

Just found out this cool little util through the win-tech-off-topic list:

NotePad2 - freeware notepad replacement with some extra features:

Features
• Customizable syntax highlighting:
• • HTML, XML, CSS, JavaScript, VBScript, ASP, PHP, CSS, Perl/CGI
• • C/C++, C#, Java, VB, Pascal, Assembler, SQL, Python, NSIS
• • INI, REG, INF, BAT, DIFF
• Drag & drop text editing inside and outside Notepad2
• Basic regular expression search and replace
• Useful word, line and block editing shortcuts
• Rectangular selection (Alt+Mouse)
• Brace matching, auto indent, long line marker, zoom functions
• Support for Unicode, UTF-8, Unix and Mac text files
• Open shell links
• Mostly adjustable