Computer & Web Tools I Use

Friends often ask me for computer and software advice, simply because I use both more than most people. But I am certainly an "end user," not a geek. My tools need to be easy to acquire, understand, use, and maintain. I prefer that they also be low-cost, or even free.

This collection of software tools was developed on the advice of geeks. I used to watch Call For Help before TechTV became G4TTV, abandoning its loyal computer-using audience for teen gamers -- much of this list was discovered there.

I also used to pick up the occasional computer magazine, PC World or PC Magazine -- both full of information, much of it beyond me. So my first recommendation is a computer magazine I subscribe to, with a website that I often use: Smart Computing. Their tag line is In Plain English, and it is! I am actually pleased when this shows up in my mail box, and sit down with a cuppa to read it through. I highly recommend it.

For computer security, I use the following tools, all free for download (donations welcomed):

• Ad-Aware
• Spybot
• Zone Alarm Firewall

I use Mailwasher Pro as a spam-blocker; this costs about $40, but is upgraded for free, apparently indefinitely. This does put an extra step between me and my mail, but lets me preview everything before I download it to my machine; and when spam does get through my ISP's filters, I get to bounce it. Very gratifying.

Norton Anti-Virus came with my computer, and so far I have renewed the subscription; but I hear very good things about the free anti-virus program, AVG, and have put this on friends' computers with no problem.

You will have heard by now about the many security issues with Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Outlook email program, but that is not the only reason to switch. There are other programs that not only offer better security, but much more of the wow factor. Mozilla's mail program, Thunderbird, is quite adequate for most needs -- I don't miss Outlook.

Firefox, the Mozilla browser, is just plain fun. Tabbed browsing makes web surfing a completely different experience. My "home page" is actually nine pages. Firefox can be lean and basic, or you can add extensions to meet your specific needs (or just to change its appearance.) The extensions I use daily are Adblock (no popups!), the Mycroft search engines and Spellbound. On the rare occasions when I am forced to use IE, the IE View extension comes in handy. And all this is free.

So those are the basics. Another time, perhaps, a post on frills.

Comments

[rio]

You have a nice list of programs there.. well, I've updated the list of International Weblogger's Day with your link on it.. continue blogging and help spread the word! Thanks once again.

[Mondo]

I hated when they made that change and got rid of Leo and went to LA. That totally sucked.