As a long time computer user, and a nerd. Let me give you my run down of “Got to Have” software. This is software I use personally and recommend. These are all windows based software, if you are using Linux (Ubuntu) it comes with everything you need.
So lets get started…
Web Browser of 2008
Firefox
There is just nothing better, yet. I see a chrome version coming that will include the ability to have addon’s but until it comes out and has taken a beating like Firefox. There is just nothing better period. Firefox gets my tops for 2008 Web Browsers. If you are not using it.. You should be!
Spyware Clean and Detect 2008:
Spybot Search & Destroy
There are several others I have tried, but when it comes down to it. This is the old fall back. I do recommend as a minimalist that you do not install the tea timer and or any other features that will run every time you start your machine. I just run it about once a week myself.
Anti Virus Solution for 2008:
ClamWin
I do not run an active Anti Virus detector. I know a lot of people prefer to do so and that is your choice. I prefer to have something I can run when and if I need to. This is where Clamwin comes in. Using Common Internet Smarts I do not open or run anything that comes from an untrusted source. When I do download something new and want to run it, I right click and scan it with ClamWin. I have NEVER had a computer infected with a virus that I didn’t infect myself either testing or out of stupidity.
Search Engine of 2008:
This one is a split decision, my normal search engine is Google. I use a lot of Google things, yes I’ve drank from the Google Aid! I’ve tried to leave Google for other search engines and none of them just work right. I want relevant searches. So I use Google. I also have a Google Start Page http://www.google.com/ig, I use Google Reader, Google Talk, and Gmail. If Google made a Virus themselves, I would probably run it just cause I would want to see how good it was, and it would of course still be in Beta!
ChaCha
My other Nod for 2008 Search Engine in ChaCha! This is a People Powered Search engine and is searchable via Text Message and Call in, to use Text ChaCha (242242) or call 1.800.2ChaCha.
Chat IM of 2008:
Digsby
I started out a huge fan of Pidgin and still would recommend it to anyone, but my favorite now is Digsby. The first time I used it I was not happy, it was bloated and slowed my PC down to a crawl. Since then I took another chance with it and they have updated and fixed it up right nice. I can have all my chat in it. I currently run Yahoo, Google, AOL, MSN, Facebook, and Twitter. If you look to the right while I’m available I can chat you directly from my website. So say Hi!
What do you think is can’t live without software? Do you have something you recommend to everyone?
