Wondering what you guys use for...

by Reaper2794 May 22, 2010 3:13AM PDT

Hey guys. I'm getting a new computer soon and I was wondering what YOU guys think is the best for each of these things.

I need a Virus Protection suite. What do you guys recommend?

For a VPN client?

Hiding/changing/masking your IP Adress?

Other free/paid virus protection programs like Hijack this and Search and Destroy. What else should I get?

What are some ESSENTIAL MUST HAVE programs?

Also what can I get to keep tabs on my CPU speed and my other computer parts? Is there something that'll let me see all my parts specs and all that?

Again, you may suggest as MANY things as you like and whatever. I just wanna know what you guys think is ESSENTIAL for a computer user in your opinion.

Thanks for your time

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and also things like..

by Reaper2794 May 22, 2010 3:28AM PDT

and also things like Video Converters, Cleaning tools, Defragging tools, and anything else

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The essential thing ...

by Kees Bakker May 23, 2010 7:43AM PDT

is an OS. I would recommend Windows 7 or a Linux distro.

If you choose Windows you'll need an antivirus, if you connect to Internet. Choose whichever you like most and can afford. None is the best. Free ones are Avast, AVG, Avira and Microsoft Security Essentials. Paid ones, for example: Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Panda, Trends. None is the best.

A webbrowser, although essential if you want to use Internet, comes with Windows (Internet Explorer), but you might prefer another one. Same for a file manager (Explorer). Linux, of course, has that kind of programs also.

For some people a word processor is essential, but that heavily depends on what you're using the PC for. One of our other members explicitely said he ONLY will use his PC to play Sims 3 (http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6122_102-0.html?messageID=3306625#3306625). Then it's doubtful if he even needs an antivirus. Well, maybe he connects to the Internet for program updates.

And if you have an iPod, you might need iTunes. Some phones also come with their own software to synchronise data with a PC.

That should be it, for the average user.

Kees

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...

by Reaper2794 May 23, 2010 7:49AM PDT

I was hoping you'd go more in depth. I'm not a newbie, I know quite a bit about tech. I don't use Linux, I know I need a word processor, I'm pretty sure people in Antarctica know about iTunes. I was hoping you would understand I wasn't a complete idiot.

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More in depth then, your whole list.

by Kees Bakker May 23, 2010 5:41PM PDT

- If I want to connect with a VPN I use the program from Cisco that was given to me by the company (on my Windows 98 machine, by the way).
- I don't mask my IP-address. It's in the modem anyway.
- I hardly ever use Hijackthis.
- Spybot SSD isn't the anti-spyware program of choice any more. That's MBAM or SAS.
- I don't measure my CPU speed
- The last time I ran Belarc was when this machine was new, 3 years ago.
- I used Handbrake to convert a DVD to AVI and DVD Flick to burn it to DVD again
- I use Treesize Free as a cleaning tool
- I use the defragger tool that comes with Windows.

But I wouldn't call any of these ESSENTIAL for anybody else. I didn't install any of those on the new PC of a friend when I set that up for her. Buf I did install ccleaner as a cleaning program.

As I said, it all depends on the needs of the user.

Kees

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Possible items to use

by Phil Crase May 24, 2010 11:22PM PDT

For masking IP address, Steganos software, resource hungry but fairly effective. If you don't want to pay for office software, download OPEN OFFICE it has all that is needed and is free. As far as AV software, your choice, there are a lot of freebees out there as a prior poster suggested, also the suggestion of using Linux, in my opinion, was a good one, open source OS Open Office part of the package. You have many choices, it is up to you to decide what to use for YOUR purpose(s), good luck!

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