|
General |
|
Software: | AVG Antivirus |
Replaces: | Symantec
Antivirus; McAfee
VirusScan; viruses! |
License: | Non-commercialware |
Web Site: | http://free.grisoft.com |
Version: | 7.5.472 (June 12/07) |
|
Advantages |
Free on-access and on-demand virus scanning.
Scans incoming and outgoing e-mails.
Semi-frequent automatic updates.
|
Disadvantages |
None.
|
Notes: | After my trial period ended with Symantec I went looking for a free Antivirus program. After trying a few and getting frustrated, I found AVG. It has all of the features and none of the cost! |
| General |
|
Software: | CDBurnerXP Pro |
Replaces: | Nero;
NTI CD/DVD
Maker; Sonic |
License: | FREE |
Web Site: | http://www.cdburnerxp.se |
Version: | 3.0.116 (Oct. 31/04) |
|
Advantages |
Comparable to some commercial CD/DVD burning applications.
Can convert proprietary Bin/Cue and Nrg images
into the ISO image standard.
|
Disadvantages | WARNING! Will corrupt multisession DVDs. |
Notes: | I uninstalled the software that came with my burner because it was making my system unstable. CDBurnerXP Pro is much better; second only to commercial product Nero for usability. |
| General |
|
Software: | CutePDF Writer |
Replaces: | Adobe
Acrobat Writer |
License: | FREE |
Web Site: | http://www.cutepdf.com |
Version: | 2.7 |
|
Advantages |
Quickly "print" to a PDF file.
|
Disadvantages |
As with other Ghostscript-based PDF creators,
the documents created don't seem to allow you to
properly copy text from them.
Now requires you to install Ghostscript
separately.
|
Notes: | Using PDFs is helpful if you send out resumes and other Word documents by e-mail. |
| General |
|
Software: | Daemon Tools |
Replaces: | A CD Burner; swapping CDs all the time |
License: | Non-commercialware |
Web Site: | http://www.daemon-tools.cc |
Version: | 4.0.9 (Dec. 2/06) |
|
Advantages |
Run your CDs as virtual drives instead of having
to swap discs all the time.
|
Disadvantages |
None.
|
Notes: | Oh...my...God! This program kicks major butt!
Daemon Tools will take a CD image, such as an ISO file or BIN/CUE combo and mount the image, creating a virtual CD-ROM drive. This drive acts entirely like the original CD, right down to being able to autorun the disc image. I have not felt the need to purchase a CD burner thanks to the ingenuity of this product. |
| General |
|
Software: | IZArc |
Replaces: | WinZip;
WinRAR;
UltimateZip |
License: | FREE |
Web Site: | http://www.izarc.org |
Version: | 3.8 |
|
Advantages |
Handles more compression types, such as RAR, ACE
and GZip files.
Skinnable toolbar.
|
Disadvantages |
None.
|
Notes: | Almost indistinguishable from the popular WinZip. |
| General |
|
Software: | Size-O-Matic |
Replaces: | Guessing at window sizes |
License: | Donationware |
Web Site: | http://www.pythoness.com |
Version: | 2.0.0.50 |
|
Advantages | Allows you to resize windows to exactly the size
you want. Just drag the screen size icon to the
target window. |
Disadvantages |
None.
|
Notes: | Very helpful if you're a web designer, so you can see what your web site will look in browsers at various resolutions, without actually having to change your screen size. |
| General |
|
Software: | Spybot - Search & Destroy |
Replaces: | Spyware;
Ad-Aware |
License: | Donationware |
Web Site: | http://www.safer-networking.org |
Version: | 1.4 (May 31/05) |
|
Advantages |
Removes insidious Spyware and cookies that you
had no idea were in your system.
Immunizes your system so Spyware can't get installed.
|
Disadvantages |
None.
|
Notes: | I thought
Ad-Aware was good, but Spybot is even better.
Please
read the Tale of Woe
to understand why. |
| General |
|
Software: | TweakUI |
Replaces: | Manual registry editing |
License: | FREE |
Web Site: | http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx |
Version: | 2.10.0.0 |
|
Advantages |
Lets you "tweak" lots of things in Windows
that are normally untouchable, such as creating
address line shortcuts to search engines, command
line autocomplete shortcut keys, and more.
|
Disadvantages |
Unsupported by Microsoft.
|
Notes: | I've
added some of the things you can do with this utility
to the Tips & Tricks
section. |
|
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