ForumGarden

What are some of the things you absolutely could not live without on your computer and what programs do you totally avoid?

I couldn't be without my McAfee antivirus, Adaware, and Hijack This. I like as much protection on my computer as possible.

I used to use Notron antivirus, but not only did it seem to slow my computer down a lot, it let a lot of viruses in my computers that McAfee picked up. I realize no virus scanner will pick them all up, but too many got through.

Are we allowed to post links here? I know a good, free antivirus if we are allowed to post links. You are virus free as far as you know, but can you be sure?

I use Ad-aware,but then some guys tell me its spyware and that they sent you lots of spam.

I also use Norton Security + Anti virus. Since I started useing Norton,I don't get any pop-ups or spam. But as you say,it slows your pc down,I have had that trouble of late. :guitarist

Can't live without!

IE

McAfee - especially the privacy service. the best filtering of crud to keep young eyes from being violated.

Ad-aware

Eudora - email

WinAmp & iTunes

UltraVNC

Photoshop

Oh, so many to list!

The programs I despise?

Real Player

All spy-ware software



:-3

I am familiar with it. The problem is - I'm stuck to Eudora for life. I depend on email for my livelihood and Eudora is the best client program for those of us who have massive amounts of email. I have my emails back to 1994 - when I first started using Eudora. I've tried everything else over the years, but they just don't hold up, or they get corrupted, or they crash. My attachment folder alone is 8.4 gigs. :-5 I'm doomed. :wah:



Warsai wrote: Ever tried Thunderbird? It's a great email program that includes live streaming news to your address.

Erm... (thinks).... nethack?

I too have Winamp. I prefer it over all others. I have windows media player, but rarely use it.

Also I would not be without my DVD. I'm not into webcams,but I have live online chats via MSN & YAHOO.

I love all new gimics that come out every now and then. I first got me a CB Radio,then came the Bearcat scanner. But I don't use any of them today.

My local store calls me every time something comes in. :wah: I shout down the line,Harry I don't need anymore I got my computer.

LOL--I used to talk on the CB radio for hours. Then I got my computer Haven't talked on a CB in probably 4 years now.

The only people who use the CB here now are cab driveres and the truckers, which it was meant for in the first place and those living in out of the way places. Every home had one here back in the 1970s. I still have it setup by my desk here,but don't switch it on much. Now in Ireland,its mobile phone mad. Everywhere you go in the city,from 8 year old's to 90 year old's are texting away to all over europe and the US. The computers were big here when Dell opened a firm here back in late 1979. But now we have many computer firms. But its not as popular as it was to go online. Oh the kids from 7 to 99 play computer games. Irish adults tend to go in for Irish & EU forums only. They just will not venture into the UK at all.

Many people in the UK still will not join an Irish forum,and most Irish will not join British Forums. What have we got in common - Bill?

Now, what I want to know is, which one of you guy's is going to become the FG-

Computer Help Desk?



:-6 :-6

I nominate Uncle Bob.

Is that Open Office freeware?

Awesome list! Thanks for this. There are a few programs on here that I forgot completely about. It's about time I go check them out again!



Jinn wrote: image browser - IrfanView

Web browser - Mozilla

antivirus - AVG

antispyware - Spy bot

antispyware - Ad-aware

antispyware - Pest Patroll

FireWall - Sygate

Office - Open Office

wipe - Eraser

wipe - dban

registry - regseeker

3d modeling - Blender

PDF - adobe pdf viewer

image editing - Photoshop

archive handling - WinRAR

Flash utility - Flash Movie Extract Pilot.

File Recovery - PC Inspector File Recovery



To name a few. I have and use all sorts of junk on this machine.

Since we all had an interest in CB radio in the "old days" - anyone here take the next step? Become a ham radio operator?



Peg wrote: LOL--I used to talk on the CB radio for hours. Then I got my computer Haven't talked on a CB in probably 4 years now.

email: eudora 6.1, http://www.eudora.com , there is no finer email client available. built in bayesian filters, say goodbye to spam $

browser: MyIE2, now known as Maxthon, http://www.maxthon.com , the tabbed interface revolutionized the way i browse. i normally have from 15 to 40 tabs open at any given time. free, donations accepted

secure shell: SecureCRT, http://www.vandyke.com , this is really for the geeks out there who connect to UNIX shell, or in other words, about 1/1000000th of the online population :yahoo_big $

drive activity: DriveLED, http://www.oo-software.com , not much to it, just shows two 'LED's per drive, one for read one for write. i find it handy. free

accurate time: SocketWatch, http://www.robomagic.com , keep your PC's clock accurate. true, XP includes a time sync function, and there are freeware time sync programs, but i've used socketwatch forever, and i like it! cheap shareware. $

World Time Clock: World Time 6, http://www.pawprint.net/wt/ , if you need to know what time it is in New Delhi and you're in Denver, this is the program to beat all. free

firewall: Sygate personal firewall. http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm , i swear by this. free.

remote desktop: UltraVNC, http://ultravnc.sf.net , the best remote desktop utility around. free.

'whois' client: GTWhois, http://www.geektools.com , another rather esoteric program, this is a systray whois client. if you look up domain information regularly, it's invaluable. free

desktop clock: ClockX http://www.tenzor.cz/clocx/ . the best dektop clock, bar none. free

memory management: CacheMan http://www.outertech.com . absolutely the most stable, useful memory manager. shareware, but can be used free if you don't mind the startup banner, which isn't intrusive.

CPU activity monitor: CPUUsage, by the same folks as cacheman. free.

TCP/IP optimizer: TCP Optimizer, http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php , this can make a dramatic difference to the quality of your internet connection, whether it be dialup or broadband. free

Bookmark management: AM-Deadlink, http://www.aignes.com/deadlink.htm , great little tool. free

Disk Usage: Scanner, http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/ , a remarkable graphical display of how your disk is being used. free

news ticker: EasyByte News Ticker, http://www.easybyte.com/products/ticker.html , can be surprisingly handy, particularly when you want to follow a major breaking news event. free

Disk Defragmenter: PerfectDisk, http://www.raxco.com , don't ever waste your time on DiskKeeper again. Perfect Disk runs circles around it. $

Startup Management: Startup Control Panel and Startup Monitor, http://www.mlin.net/ , the two programs work together. never have your machine hijacked by a stealth program adding nastiness to your startup. free, donations accepted

Disk Imaging/Partitioning/Boot management: BootIt-NG, http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html , this is definitely 'expertware', but i've found no faster way to back up my data onto DVD's. $

Desktop pretty-fier: StyleXP, http://www.tgtsoft.com/ , if you're tired of having only three 'themes' for windows XP, this is the only way to fly. $

Globe: http://www.djuga.net/winglobe.html , okay, no real practical value, but it sure is purty! shareware

Tombstone wrote: Since we all had an interest in CB radio in the "old days" - anyone here take the next step? Become a ham radio operator?


Not me. I never was one to try to talk world wide on it. I was happy to talk locally and meet them all at coffee breaks. My husband liked shooting skip, but never did become a ham operator.