|
|
|
My 5 Favorite Freeware Picks
|
|
|
LostUser
Junior Member
|
3. June 2009 @ 16:25 |
Link to this message
|
Indeed elliott, they do still make hp's - but I won't buy one. Don't get me wrong, HP makes a good machine. I run only ASUS motherboards now and believe them to be the best (my opinion, and I'm sticking to it!) The problem I have with HP is the way they bundle so much garbage software with every new machine. I did buy one - once! I have found that every computer, no matter who built it or what is on it, will at some point need to be reformatted. Maybe from malware picked up somewhere along the line, hardware changes, or for whatever reason, it eventually happens to all computers. HP gives you this neat "restore" disk to reformat with, but it reinstalls all of the crap that it came with initially - most of which you don't need, don't want and will never use. But all of the drivers you need for the hardware are on the same disk also. If you try to do a fresh install of just Windows to avoid the crap programs, you end up with something needing a driver that you have to go hunting for.
I now prefer to build my own computers. I reuse my old ATX case and fans, and just install a new ASUS motherboard which comes with all of the drivers you need to run it. Any boards or hardware I attach to it, I bought separately and still have drivers for that. This way I get a "new" machine with nothing on it that I don't want. I can install Windows from scratch, load ONLY the programs that I use (and have install disks for), and transfer all of the data files from the old machine to the new. I have found that this gives me a faster, cleaner, more efficient computer that causes fewer problems on down the road.
But, for someone uncomfortable with tearing a computer apart and rebuilding it, I guess HP is a good way to go. They just won't be getting any more of my money! Sorry, HP but IMHO you, like Microsoft, took a great product and "improved" it to the point of useless garbage.
I don't know killalot, maybe Vista has a good firewall, but I never found anything else about it that I liked. My opinion only - you guys use it if you like it. I just prefer XP.
Elliott is right, there are freeware programs for just about everything one needs; not just security. I use Microsoft Office (not the latest version, but it still does everything I need), but only because I have it and have been using it for so long. Open Office is (again, IMHO) just as good and is free. I use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator because I have for so long. But as elliott said, there are free programs that work just as well. I do use DVDfab and DVD Shrink for ripping DVD's. HandBrake is good for ripping DVD's to avi files, SubRip is good for making subtitle files and I use mkvmerge GUI to mux them back together for movie files with subtitles. All of those are freeware.
I am no expert, but I see no need to spend money on software any more. Indeed, I wouldn't want to buy stock in a software company. With all of the free options available now, I would expect hard times for paid software companies in the future.
Anyway, that's my soapbox sermon for the day. Any thoughts?
|
|
Advertisement
|
 |
|
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
6. June 2009 @ 05:34 |
Link to this message
|
I think Lost is ?sandbagging? us?.. Anyone that uses only ASUS mobo?s cannot be as dumb as he is letting on. LOL He?s just playing dumb and picking brains. In my case, that could be called ?Slim Pickin?s? LAMO
Have had a lot of unexpected work and not able to spend much time on the computer lately but, que sara sara, this too shall pass..
I have abandoned BoClean for ThreatFire.. Right now, I am being bombarded with pop-ups from the new files in Windows 7 that TF doesn?t recognize, hopefully that will change as it learns.. As I have said, I hate Vista but LOVE Win 7? My wife gets along with Vista just fine, she doesn?t expect as much out of it as I do.. : )
I did a little checking on Comodo Internet Security and will pass on that one.. Comodo has always had a great Firewall but ever since they have been trying to bundle it in a suite, they have been screwing the pooch? so to speak.
I have never been a fan of Suites, when bundling programs together you may get a great firewall but a poor AV or vice versa.. When I renovate my Home, I hire a licensed electrician, plumber, carpenter, painter, etc etc not a ?handyman? that tries to do everything.. lol
Will drop in when I get my ?Honey Do? list caught up.. hehe
2oG
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
Senior Member
|
6. June 2009 @ 09:43 |
Link to this message
|
You May be right geek becuz lost uses alot of cool freeware not your average user does that, btw I agree hp bundles alot of useless drivel into thier pc's but then again so do most oem builders it's how they make a few extra bucks, or quid or euros lol. Geek you take your time with that honey doo list.
pokin'around
|
|
LostUser
Junior Member
|
6. June 2009 @ 18:26 |
Link to this message
|
A wise philosopher once said: ?Stupid is as stupid does?. I?ve done some pretty stupid things in my time, so ? Draw your own conclusions. Remember, oldGeek, I?m the guy that has - actually, literally, for real ? peed on an electric fence. Granted, I was a young boy at the time, but I guess it goes to show that I have always been one for having to find things out the hard way. Trust me, that was one lesson that you remember for a lifetime!!!
You?re right oldGeek, I am picking you guys brains for as much information as I can learn. But I think you are the one sandbagging with the ?Slim Pickins? bit. I admit that I know enough to get me into trouble, but I have read many of your posts, and I see that you know enough to get people out of trouble. That is much harder to do. You do a great service in these forums, and I tip my hat to you. Keep it up!
So I take it that you guys agree with me on ASUS mobo?s. I said that I run only ASUS motherboards now, I didn?t say that I have never used any others. That was part of my learning curve. Now I am trying to learn how to avoid when possible, and purge when necessary, viruses and malware that inevitably invades every computer. So, in that respect, yes I am picking your brains. Hope you don?t mind.
Indeed Elliott, HP is not the only one to bundle a lot of useless drivel into their pc?s. Yes, most oem builders do it. That is why I won?t buy any of their machines. I realize that it is a way for them to make a few extra bucks. They get kickbacks from all of these software companies for including that crap on every machine that they sell. I just don?t like it on my machine. I have no problem with adding programs that I want or need, but I find it counter-productive having a lot of other junk on the machine that I never use. Every software engineer believes his program to be the best thing to happen to computers since the invention of the transistor, and can?t imagine anyone not wanting to run his ?baby? as a primary program. So they all write their programs to start with windows and run ?in the background?. This all uses resources and, I find, slows the computer down. Building my own machines is a way to avoid suffering, just so that the oem could line his pockets with a few extra bucks. Still, not everyone is comfortable with building their own machine, so the oem builders are essential to the industry. HP does do a good job at filling that niche.
So Elliott, you think I use a lot of ?cool? freeware? Most of the programs I mentioned, I learned about here at AfterDawn, over in the ?Subtitle Help? forum. I have a fairly extensive collection of VHS and DVD movies that I have accumulated over the years. Most of it is kids movies. I wanted to put it all on a hard drive so as to not have to keep up with individual VHS tapes and DVD?s. It also keeps my DVD's out of the hands of grandkids that treat all disks like frisbys. I ?picked? some other users brains in that forum in learning how to do that. If anyone is interested, you can follow my learning curve on that one here: [url=http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/766218][/url]
Another freeware program I use that I didn?t mention is FileZilla for ftp transfer of data. I won?t go into how or why I use that. For anyone reading this that is not familiar with ftp, it is a way to transfer large files over the internet. As I have said before, I also use AVG ? Free for anti-virus protection, and SpyBot ? Search and Destroy, SpyBlaster, and MalwareBytes for anti-spyware / malware protection. Those are, again, all free and discussed throughout these forums.
2oldGeek, after you finish the ?honey do? list, please discuss ThreatFire a little. No hurry, take your time, I know you are working a lot of long hours right now. I agree that it looks like BoClean is in the abandonment category. I share your concern for bundled suites, and I liked the home renovation analogy. ThreatFire does sound like a good solution, but some of your earlier comments on it still have me a little scared. It obviously is not as simple to run as BoClean was.
I do hope you guys are not offended if I am ?picking your brains?. That is how I learn, and these forums are a great place to do that. Please bear with me!
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
7. June 2009 @ 07:57 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by LostUser:
actually, literally, for real ? peed on an electric fence.
Me too! Thought I had permanently lost the use of my ?little pink willie?. 
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from a lot of bad judgment.
Hell, I was 16 before I could get the last bite off a shish kabob without gagging myself. 
On building your own computer, this 4 part ?how to? is great and it?s a great site to kick around on. That is, if you haven?t found it yet?
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-...osing-hardware/
Am giving ThreatFire a working out, but having doubts about it?s compatibility with other software especially Win7.. I just gave DriveSentry a try and it crashed my win7.. Oh, Thank heaven for Acronis.. 
Anyway, I gonna test DriveSentry on XP or Vista cause it's highly recommended by Gizmo and he's usually pretty much on the mark..
Later guys,
2oG
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
Senior Member
|
7. June 2009 @ 10:29 |
Link to this message
|
Asus,Gigabyte,are my preferred choice of boards,used msi before,well twice over the years,and both died of death within 2 years.if I'm asked to build a system for any one these are the boards i will only buy.Just built my son a new rig,his out computer,which i knocked up had an asus board lasted him a good 4 years and is still going strong,his new rig has a gigabyte board and was set up and running in no time,and yes loaded with VISTA got to love it... :)
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
7. June 2009 @ 10:47 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by killalot:
loaded with VISTA got to love it... :)
Masochist!! 
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
|
LostUser
Junior Member
|
7. June 2009 @ 13:17 |
Link to this message
|
|
Thanks oldGeek. Keep us posted as you consider and test alternatives for BoClean. I will especially be interested in what you find for DriveSentry on XP. I don't plan to upgrade to Win 7 for a long time (if ever), and, sorry killalot, I will NEVER have another machine with Vista on it. If it turns out that DriveSentry works on XP, please try it again on 7 and see if it crashes again. For now it is only the XP results that I am interested in, but all good things must come to an end and sooner or later I will have to leave XP behind. By that time we may be up to Win 14 or something like that, but we will all still need something like this that works.
Thanks for the link on building your own computer. I will check it out. No, I did not know of it before. True to form for me, most of what I know about building computers was learned through trial and error - mostly errors! lol
|
Senior Member
|
8. June 2009 @ 04:34 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by 2oldGeek:
Originally posted by killalot:
loaded with VISTA got to love it... :)
Masochist!!
Cheeky Monkey :)
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
8. June 2009 @ 10:50 |
Link to this message
|
Even though I am in love with Win7, XP will live and receive security updates until 2014 no new features will be added so, it?s not dead and not necessary to upgrade for awhile. Do check out TweakHounds Tweaking guide for XP here -> http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks1.htm
@ killalot , what you mean ?Cheeky Monkey?? I look great in shorts -> Check it out!
2oG now using: 
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
Senior Member
|
8. June 2009 @ 12:42 |
Link to this message
|
Ha.love it.
I still use xp some programs don't work on Vista x64,dvd rebuilder to name 1,XP just looks dated compared to vista,and like i said previously Vista is more secure. :)
|
|
LostUser
Junior Member
|
8. June 2009 @ 14:46 |
Link to this message
|
|
Like I said, for now at least - they are still making Fords and Chevys!
|
|
LostUser
Junior Member
|
8. June 2009 @ 14:48 |
Link to this message
|
|
Oh, great pic Monkey!
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
10. June 2009 @ 09:17 |
Link to this message
|
|
@Lost, glad you liked my baby picture lol
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
AfterDawn Addict
|
13. June 2009 @ 12:46 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by killalot:
XP just looks dated compared to vista,and like i said previously Vista is more secure.
Wrong bubba, My XP is the product of 7 years of tweaking and slipstreaming to come up with what I call ?XP Maximus? ? it is tweaked for extreme stability, security and minimal resources. Has a Vista opening screen and tool bar, sidebar and Aero transparent windows. Custom folder and program icons, very fast and smooth and IS NOT dated? It is my personal ?Operandus de Maximus? LOL I Love it and will probably be using it when they pat me on the belly with a shovel?
Just to keep you guys informed, I am switched over from Win7 to XP and giving a couple of HIPS programs the workout. So far I am impressed with DriveSentry, it has over 3 million online signatures and stops anything it doesn?t recognize that tries to write to the disk..
Another possibility is Dynamic Security Agent. Haven?t got into that one, yet?
2oG
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
Senior Member
|
13. June 2009 @ 15:03 |
Link to this message
|
|
Yes I know you can tweak,change the settings and even have a sidebar,done it myself my friend,no need to with Vista already got them,Vista you got to love it.
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
13. June 2009 @ 15:34 |
Link to this message
|
Vista has some good features.. When applied to XP it makes a very good OS even better.
When left on Vista, it?s like gold plating a cow chip? looks like a million but, when broken open, it?s still just a piece of s**t!
IMHO 2oG : )
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
Senior Member
|
13. June 2009 @ 16:40 |
Link to this message
|
|
me soooo love VISTA me no complain me buyers oh so happy
pokin'around
|
Senior Member
|
13. June 2009 @ 18:03 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by 2oldGeek:
Vista has some good features..
You starting to turn my friend?Come over to the dark side"Vista" you know you want to.
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
14. June 2009 @ 01:15 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by 2oldGeek:
Vista has some good features..
Did I say ?T..H..A..T ???
Just an ?ID ten T? error?
Father forgive me, for I know not what I do?.
XP Forever??.
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
Senior Member
|
14. June 2009 @ 03:01 |
Link to this message
|
Father forgive me, for I know not what I do?.
XP Forever??.
"Let me guide you my son,Vista is the path you must choose"
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14. June 2009 @ 03:02
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
14. June 2009 @ 03:24 |
Link to this message
|
Quote:
"Let me guide you my son,Vista is the path you must choose"
But Father, the last time you sent me down a path and I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, it was a damned ole train! Called the ME express..
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves... |
Senior Member
|
14. June 2009 @ 05:14 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by 2oldGeek:
But Father, the last time you sent me down a path and I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, it was a damned ole train! Called the ME express..
Obi-Wan once thought as you do. You don't know the *power* of the Dark Side,"Vista" U *must* obey Your master.
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
14. June 2009 @ 07:51 |
Link to this message
|
I know who you are.. My friend Yoda told me.. You are not really the dark side, you?re blind.. That?s why you are always mistakenly calling me ?Grasshopper?. Yoda also gave me the *Force* which is F=W72 (Force=Windows7 squared) I am now ?Luke Filewalker?? TA-DA!
On the serious side, I just downloaded a book that I have been wanting for a long time.
It?s Windows XP Registry Guide in PDF and 430 pages.. I am calculating the cost of printer ink I will need in order to print it.. lol
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading; The few who learn by observation;
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves...This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14. June 2009 @ 08:08
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
LostUser
Junior Member
|
14. June 2009 @ 10:05 |
Link to this message
|
Damn, you guys were at it early this morning. You must have both slept like I did last night. I'm having a blast following this p-ssing contest. Who's got the highest mark on the wall so far??
I know it's all in fun though, so keep it up. It's entertaining.
Sorry Sir Vader but I must follow the true Masters - Luke Filewalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi on this journey. The Force is just too strong. And then there is that charming and oh-so-wise little Yoda on our side. I know that we shall prevail over the dark side! Ready your lightsabers, Sir Vader and Trooper Elliott. The duel is not over! The Force of 7 and XP shall prevail!!!!!!!
430 pages?? Master Filewalker, allow me to suggest that you dust off the laser printer. Toner is much cheaper than ink for a job like that.
Now back to the peeing contest. Oh, speaking of peeing,Quote:
Me too! Thought I had permanently lost the use of my ?little pink willie?.
I guess that was a lesson that a lot of us old Texas farm boys had to learn growing up, huh Geek? It's a rite of passage! Since you are a member of our elite club, you understand when I say that it is a lesson that one remembers for a lifetime!
|
|
