Software

People have made comments to me for a long time that I use and find some of the coolest software and they wonder where I get it. So here's a shortlist of the free software that I use and where you can get it.

1) AVG Anti-virus
If you use McAfee or Norton anti-virus--stop it. These programs are bloated and will simply slow your computer down, giving you more headaches than most viruses I've encountered.For a free solution that stays up-to-date, has a pretty small footprint on computer resources, check out AVG Free, produced by Grisoft. Over the past 5 years I have used this program I have never had a virus. Strange but true, I know. Now of course I'm not going to guarantee that you never will either, but its reliable and never requires a subscription. Check it out.Download: http://free.avg.com/ww.download?prd=afe

2) PC Tools Spyware Doctor Starter Edition
I'll admit this isn't a program I've used long enough to swear by it (like AVG) but it is reliable and easy on the system resouces. For all you Spybot and Ad-Aware users out there: it's time to catch up. They just don't do the tricks they used to.This program protects you from both adware and spyware and removes it when it (inevitably) gets onto your computer.

Download: http://www.download.com/Spyware-Doctor-Starter-Edition/3000-8022_4-10704508.html

3) CCleanup
Whether you want it to happen or not, junk gets onto your computer. Temp files, Internet cache, and other miscellaneous junk just piles up. Not only that but your registry gets all screwed up too (the file that Windows uses to keep track of everything on your computer and what it does). This small program cleans up all of that with 4 simple clicks of the mouse. This may be for more advanced users, however, so don't use this unless you know what you're doing.

Download: http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

4) CutePDF
This may make my uncle who works at Adobe turn in his grave (if he were dead), but if you need or want to write PDFs without spending hundreds of dollars on fancy Acrobat software, this is what you need. No, this not a place to discuss why you are writing PDFs, I just assume that you are. Basically CuteWriter creates a printer that you "print" to from any program that you could print from - Word, Internet Explorer, etc. It then gives you the option of what you want to name your PDF and where you would like to save it to.

Download: http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

5) FoxIt Reader
Speaking of PDFs, you probably use Adobe Acrobat Reader to read them. Well, that's a bad idea. It's ungodly slow and immensely huge (Reader 9 uses 210 MB of space; compare that to Windows 98 which used 250).Instead of that massive monstrousity of a program, use the 2.13MB FoxIt reader. It's rendered every PDF I've thrown at it just fine. It's faster than you can probably imagine if you use Adobe Reader. It's pretty much a no-brainer.Download: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/

6) Mozilla FirefoxIf you're viewing this using Internet Explorer, then we really need to sit down and have a chat. I threatened to quit my job if my boss didn't start using Firefox (okay, so it was in jest, but it actually did the trick!). Microsoft's browser is slow and prone to security problems. That's all there is to it. Firefox renders pages much faster, is less prone to hacks, adware, and spyware (but again, no software is perfect), and just simply powerful.What do I mean by powerful? I'm referring to the thousand of Add-ons that people write for Firefox. Be it for blocking advertisements, bookmarking, Windows Updates, downloading, weather, searching, fixing ".ocm" to ".com", browsing media, or just about anything else you can think of, it's out there.Use Firefox. Please.

Download: www.mozilla.com

7) Digsby
Digsby is an amazing software. It is a chat-client that puts everyone else to shame. It integrates MSN, AIM, Yahoo, and Google Talk into one program. It also will check your email, give you status updates for your facebook, Twitter, or MySpace account, and will also serve you coffee. Okay, I lied about the coffee. But you get my point. It's purely amazing.

Download: http://www.digsby.com

8) RealAlternative
It's rare that you come across a file that needs to use RealPlayer, but they're still out there, unfortunately. However, RealPlayer has been marked as Malware by several websites that keep track of that sort of thing (it tracks your movements online without your permission, adds software that you don't need, etc.). So, for your own good use RealAlternative. Of course, if you don't ever see or use Real files, then why do you care?

Download: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/real_Alternative.htm

9) Tune-Up Utilities
Unfortunately this gem isn't free, however it is a must have for any computer-fixer-up guy or gal. I cannot tell you how many times people have come in with miscellaneous problems on their PC. I use the tools in this software (start-up manager, registry cleaner, file cleaner, PC optimizer, uninstaller) and voila have a fixed computer.Though it isn't free, it does have a 30-day trial. But if you're ever having troubles with your computer or just notice it being slower than usual, you just need it for 1 day anyway. Download it, use it, uninstall it, and be happy. Again, this is suggested only to advanced users.

Download: www.tune-up.com (you don't have to fill out the e-mail form, btw)

10) CDBurnerXP
If you don't feel like shelling out the bucks for gigantic, slow, obnoxious burning suites (Roxio and Nero, I'm looking at you) this is the way to go. It burns .ISOs, copy's CDs, data, MP3, music, whatever you throught at it basically.

Download: http://cdburnerxp.se/en/download

10) Everything Else
For the software that doesn't really need a description...

• Codecs - K-Lite Basic - http://www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Codec_Pack_download.htm
• Driver Updates, Backup - DriverMax - http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/
• Creating Custom XP install CD - nLite - http://www.nliteos.com/download.html

If you have any questions, you know what to do...ask!