Essentials
Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox
Firefox has a great interface and is much less prone to spyware & adware than Internet Explorer. One of my favorite features is the integrated find feature that highlights text on the page. Don't uninstall Internet Explorer though; some websites still require that you use it.
Firefox has a great interface and is much less prone to spyware & adware than Internet Explorer. One of my favorite features is the integrated find feature that highlights text on the page. Don't uninstall Internet Explorer though; some websites still require that you use it.
AntiVirus: AVG AntiVirus
AVG AntiVirus has all the features of Norton and McAfee, and it is free for personal use. I also find it less annoying than these paid alternatives.
AVG AntiVirus has all the features of Norton and McAfee, and it is free for personal use. I also find it less annoying than these paid alternatives. AntiSpyware: Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Ad-Aware is a solid anti-spyware / anti adware program with an easy-to-use interface. I recommend scanning your computer once a week and removing all critical objects found.
Ad-Aware is a solid anti-spyware / anti adware program with an easy-to-use interface. I recommend scanning your computer once a week and removing all critical objects found. Firewall: ZoneAlarm
ZoneAlarm is a powerful firewall with a nice array of features. It includes simple step-by-step tutorial to get you started.
ZoneAlarm is a powerful firewall with a nice array of features. It includes simple step-by-step tutorial to get you started. PDF Reader: Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader 8 is much faster than previous versions. It loads in just a few seconds on most systems. Use it to open the popular .PDF format for electronic documents.
Adobe Reader 8 is much faster than previous versions. It loads in just a few seconds on most systems. Use it to open the popular .PDF format for electronic documents.
Desktop Search: Google Desktop
Google Desktop is a great solution if you have ever lost a file. It automatically indexes the files on your computer. Now I can quickly find my sister's birthday wishlist without even having to know the filename. It also searches AIM conversations, emails, and previously-viewed webpages.
Google Desktop is a great solution if you have ever lost a file. It automatically indexes the files on your computer. Now I can quickly find my sister's birthday wishlist without even having to know the filename. It also searches AIM conversations, emails, and previously-viewed webpages. Program Launcher: Launchy
Launchy is a tool that makes it very quick and simple to launch programs and open files. Simply press Alt+Space and type the first few letters of the program you want to run. Launcy shows you the best results. Just hit enter to open the program or document.
Music Player: Winamp
This is a better alternative to iTunes and Windows Media player. It loads my music quickly and the interface displays many features without being cluttered or difficult to navigate. Want to be a DJ? There are several hundred free plugins on Winamp's website.
This is a better alternative to iTunes and Windows Media player. It loads my music quickly and the interface displays many features without being cluttered or difficult to navigate. Want to be a DJ? There are several hundred free plugins on Winamp's website.