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MW's software recommendations
Yup - this got big enough to get its own page.
While I prefer Linux as an OS, there are just too many great toys that run best in Windoze, so I run 2 networked computers - Linux on one for most tasks, Win98 on the other for those programs that need it. Tweaking the Windoze system has taken far too much of my time, but I've found some wonderful programs and utilities while I was doing it, and here they are.
Total Commander is almost always the first thing I load, and what I use the most. It's a file manager that works fine with preset defaults, but is incredibly customizable. I only wish there was a Linux version, but there I have to make do with FileRunner. After getting used to Total Commander, working with Windoze Exploder is like dancing with your feet in buckets. Shareware, you'll need to see the nag screen until you register, but it's fully functional even before you pay the $32. Highly recommended.
Trend Micro Internet Security (PC-cillin) was my virus protection of choice - I've used their products for years. Many features I don't even use (Firewall, email UCE (spam)protection, URL blocking, etc.), but with as much online activity as I have, I've never had a virus, and I credit them. Free online virus scan from their web site, or download the trialware installable. Comes with 30 days of pattern updates, perpetual updates are $50 ($40 on sale as I type this). Highly recommended, but note that if you don't subscribe, it'll nag several times per day until you do, and quit working after 30 days. I can handle nagware, and I can handle the "we won't work after the trial period" stuff - but software that nags after it's quit working annoyed me, so I switched to:
Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus, on the other hand, has a single-user, home-only version that's freeware (look at the bottom of the left column). They enjoy a solid reputation, and seem to work fine for me so far.
Webroot Spy Sweeper is my spyware protection. I used another, more popular program, until I tried this, which found several pieces of spyware that the other program had missed. Blocks installation of most, scheduled scans gets the rest. Freeware with 1 pattern upgrade, a subscription with unlimited pattern upgrades runs $30 per year. Essential if you spend any time on the World Wide Wait and value your privacy. If you're as rabid as I am about privacy, check out their other products, too.
While we're dealing with security issues, one of the most highly-regarded pc security
tools is Evidence Eliminator. We all know that simply deleting a file
does not make it go away, and that Windoze tracks our activities, making it easy for
someone else to know what you've been doing on your computer - Bill Gates has some
control issues, it seems. With an easy interface,
Evidence Eliminator removes that information, permanantly. If you don't want your
boss, spouse, kids, or government to find out things you'd rather keep secret, this is
the program for you. It will even speed up Windoze, by keeping all of that information
out of your memory load space, and optimizing your registry by removing slack space and
deleted entries. Single-user license (currently bundled with lifetime upgrades) is $150,
complete with 30-day money-back guarantee.
HTML-Kit is by far the greatest HTML Editor I've ever seen. Again, works fine as installed, but can be customized until the author won't recognize it. It won't clean the catbox quite yet, but someone is probably writing a plugin to do that right now. Shareware, $55 registration.
Web Cal Plus is the HTML calendar generator I use, and it's slick - really slick. Customer support is amazing - I asked a question before I registered one Sunday afternoon, and had a clear answer that evening. It generates HTML and javascript, so nobody can hack the calendar database. Unregistered, you can save 40 events. Basic registration gets rid of the "unregistered" stuff at the bottom of the calendar pages and you can save 400 events and costs $50. Advanced registration is $300, and you can save unlimited events, customize the HTML, allow multiple people to do data entry updates, and more.
The TIES list is run on Mailman software - and the list administrators most
certainly recommend it. Learn more about it here, if you're looking for good
software with which to run a listserv. The list runs on a Linux box, but I believe
they have a version that'll run on a Windoze server, too.
Notetab Light is a free notepad replacement and a great text editor. This is the program that got me to quit whining about not being able to use Qedit in Windoze. Not bad for HTML, but there are better toys for that. If you're a serious user of text files, there are two other versions as well - Std for $10 and Pro for $20. Several other nice utilities are available from Fookes, at prices that range from free to damned cheap.
Ashampoo Media Player plays my tunes while I work, and does it well. Puts Windoze Media Player to shame. Several other utilities are available on their site. Freeware but requires registration.
Eags On is a MP3 manager that edits ID3 tags, plus lots more. Freeware, it integrates itself into whatever file manager you use. Well worth the small download and easy installation.
Opera Web Browser used to be my favorite, but they've been adding features until they've become bloatware. If you want a web browser that also handles newsgroups and email, they're great, with features that leave Internet Exploder in the dust. $40 for registration, or run the adware version for free.
Firefox Web Browser, on the other hand, is what Opera used to be - lean, nimble, and feature-rich. I haven't had any problems, nor are there any features I'm wishing for in vain. Open-source, multi-platform, and easily extensible. This one's a winner.
