cpuhack

Let An Epic Begin: My Favorite Software

// November 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Computers, Windows

I am very frequently asked my opinion on what software to use to get something done.  These requests run the gamut from, “What’s the best accounting software for my brother-in-laws business?” to “What can I use to download videos from YouTube?”.  Any question that never has a wrong answer, and multiple right answers is a good question to me.  I change my answers (opinions) as the world, and I, evolve.  This epic will change with my opinions.  The descriptions and opinions are intentionally non-technical.  After all, most of the time the folks asking me for technical advice are not technical people.

Let the alphabetically-sorted-by-category opinions begin…

// Anti-virus

Avast or Microsoft Security Essentials

Free for non-commercial home use

It doesn’t slow down your computer or use a lot of memory.  It does a very comprehensive job of protecting your computer from viruses.  Basically, the exact opposite of the Norton and McAfee products that you’ve been convinced are worth the money.

// Clean-up (New Windows computer)
 

PC Decrapifier

Free for non-commercial home use

The first time you turn on a new Windows computer that you purchased from Dell, HP, Toshiba, etc., you are presented with a wheelbarrow full of shit bags.  That may be an exaggeration, but the need to rid the machine of trial software, toolbars, and offers for free shit with strings attached should not be underestimated.  Use this to dump the wheelbarrow.

// Photography 

Picasa

Free

This is a one-stop-shop for most digital photography needs.  If you need more than this…you probably don’t need me telling you what software to use.

// Web Browser

Google Chrome

Free

Fast and clean makes it the best on the scene.

// YouTube Downloader

YouTube Downloader

Free

It downloads YouTube video files and converts them so that they playback easily on your computer.

To be continued…

You need this free online backup service

// October 30th, 2008 // No Comments » // Windows

Reposted from November 7, 2007

I’ve been thinking over recent months about backing up some things on my computer that I’d prefer not to lose. Things like the “My Documents” folder, web browser favorites (and bookmarks), the single-file backup of the server that served what you’re reading right now…you know, stuff I should have a backup of.

Until now, I’ve relied entirely on an external USB hard drive that always has a fairly current image of the entire computer. While it provides some level of protection, it doesn’t do anything for the odd “act of god” that can happen now and again. I’ve wanted online backup that’s reliable, but also cost-friendly for home use. I believe I’ve found exactly that…

The name is lame. Mozy. It sounds like it might do a lazy job of just mozying around until it decides to backup my bytes. Good thing I didn’t stop when I first read the name, or I would have missed out on an amazing service.

A relatively small download and quick install and I was ready to begin backing up my files. It went ahead and picked out what it thought was best. Not bad, but it exceeded the 2GB of gratis storage you’re given. I hadn’t even gotten this service out of Park and into Drive yet…so, I cut out “My Pictures” and the backup set dropped to a reasonable 59MB. A minimal interface packed cleanly into a small window is central command for Mozy. I clicked a button and it began “encoding” my files. After a minute or two, it began to upload those files to the Mozy service. A few minutes after that it was done.

Restoring is the most important part of any backup system. Having a backup of data you can’t restore won’t do you any good. It’ll probably just make a bad situation feel really bad. Mozy seems to have a handle on this concept and they have taken some good approaches to getting your data back to you. You have four data delivery choices:

1. Right-click Restore – Integrates with Windows Explorer. You locate the place you’d like to restore files to, right-click and choose the “Restore Files in Folder” option.
2. Virtual Drive Restore – Integrates with Windows Explorer. Access your backup files via a virtual drive mounted in your computer. It looks and acts like a hard drive.
3. Web-based Restore – Very robust interface for navigating your backup set and restoring individual files or entire folders.
4. DVD Restore – For a fee the folks that run Mozy will burn DVDs and FedEx Priority Overnight them to you.

The only limit to this wonderful service is a very generous 2GB storage limit for free accounts. The 2GB storage limit can be converted to unlimited storage for $4.95/month (USD). This makes it one of the least expensive online backup services I’ve ever seen.

Sign-up for Mozy Home (Free)