Staff laptops: Letting 'em install network software

I'd like to use the wireless network for our staff laptops. Currently, all our software is packaged in MSIs, deployed using active directory. The problem with this is that if I assign some software, it could cause there laptop to take ages to load one day (especially if they haven't brought it in for a few months!)
So, what I'm trying to find is a little program that will list all the programs they could install. Ideally, they could tick boxes for everything they want and it would get busy while they make tea or something. It could also notify them when new packages are available or updated.
Worst case, I'll just make a folder with a load of shortcuts in it. I know I could use the advertising feature in MSIs, but I'm such a lazy repackager I doubt it would ever work and there is no way I'm re-doing it all now.
Isn't there some way of adding programs to the add/remove programs list? (I read about that in the days of windows 95 or something)

IIRC you publish the software in the GPO against the user and they can go to add/remove programs and stick it on.

I have never done it this way, but it should work fine.

You could just ensure all the software is installed when you network it. Failing that, publish the apps to the laptop OU rather than assigning.

Ah... that easy. Thanks!