I’ve occasionally come across programs that I just can’t live without. And in a number of cases, I think others should use them also. Below are links to these programs.
I have a number of email addresses, and I get a lot of email. And early on I discovered that Outlook/Outlook Express or Eurdora wasn’t going to do it. So I tried Mozilla’s built in email client, and sorta liked it. I ended up sticking with it for a while, but moved on to a couple other clients for a while until they released Thunderbird. Not just a stand alone version of that. Its how an email client should be. Powerful, and with the ability to transform hundreds of spam into a couple meaningful emails and the rest that just disappear. Thunderbird’s built in email blocking doesn’t just use an existing list, it learns from you, so it quickly blocks emails it knows you won’t like.
I’ve already been pushing the Firefox web browser. Internet Explorer is buggy, way too insecure, and simply doesn’t work in todays world. Firefox is clean, powerful, and works well. It also has built in pop up blocking which means, I really don’t get the complaints about the number of popups in this world.*
One of the first programs I install on my new machines is actually a text editor. As most can imagine notepad is a little sparse for any work. And also its security issues for being a stupid text editor leads much to be desired (yes I know that most bugs have been fixed. But come on, exploit a system using a text editor?). So I ran across a text editor called Editpad. With the ability to work with multiple documents in tabs, saving in multiple formats (Windwos, Mac, and *nix) plus the ability to do multiple line rexgreps over a single or all documents. Made it well beloved by me. Add in the fact that it plays nicely on a Thumbdrive and I never go anywhere without it. It comes in two versions a decently featured packed EditPadLite which is free, and an awesome EditPadPro. If you click the image and actually go to the site you’ll see they actually have a number of versions, including ones for linux!
The Google Pack is one of those Oooo nice things. Google takes a number of programs that they deem important, and then throws them together with a single installer, and adds an updater. Now these aren’t junk programs. In it you’ll find Anti Virus and Anti Spyware, a very usable Image Organizer, Firefox, Acrobat and a number of other programs that you may go wait… I can use that!
Now for Anti-Virus I always go with AVG. They come in 2 forms a free version for home use, and a very nice Pro version for business, or advanced use. The home version works fine (actually very well) for normal every day use. But if you want to be able to tweak schedules, tweak scans, or if you are a business; then you are supposed to buy a license. The program is simple, doesn’t use a lot of resources, and the license doesn’t expire in 1 year leaving you in the lurch.
For Anti-Spyware I used to use only Spybot Search and Destroy. And truthfully it is a swiss Army Knife of Anti-Spyware. BUT, AVG came out with a Anti-Spyware that works just as nicely and as powerfully as its anti-virus. Now the free version is a little more neutered in that there won’t be the real time protection after 30 days, but you can still do manual scans and the updates will always be free. But for the real time protection and guaranteed download spots for the updates pay the $30 and get the full version.
And another thing I’m going to start suggesting, either for those wanting an up to date Operating System and don’t want to buy Vista, or tired of getting viruses all the time, and perhaps have heard of this operating system called linux, but is afraid to try it. I really suggest Ubuntu. With it you’ve got a very clean Operating System that isn’t hard to use. Plus it comes with most the software you’d think of needing… like an Office Suite, Email Client, Web Browser, Image Editor and so forth.
* I never meant this website to be focused only on one browser but I’ve noticed something. In Internet Explorer 6 the site is broken. Plugins may not work properly and give you errors, at random times seeming to cut content off exactly at the video. But it’s not the site. It’s the way that Microsoft was forced to patch their browser after they had been found to be illegally allowing embedded videos.
Also for some strange reason at times the sidebar drops down below the content. Its not this way in ie7 or Firefox, so I’ve got to assume it’s a layout issue in Internet Explorer 6. The easy fixes are either update your browser to ie7 or download and install Firefox. I’m sure you can guess my preference.
Tags: Interesting
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