Software

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01/27/2011 | Software
OpenOffice and LibreOffice offer free options for productitvity software. Although not as indepth as Microsoft Office they offer a free alternative to those looking for similiar programs for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
02/22/2010 | Software

Computer Maintenance

This guide is a software review and computer maintenance suggestion article for Windows Based PCs, Install and use all Software mentioned at your own risk. By reading this sentence you are agreement that you have complete responsibility over your own computer, software you install on it, and all results of installing and using software from this guide.

Computer Maintenance, or tune-up, security, don't always need Technicians, PC mechanics or PC Doctors, most of the software is free and many of the tasks are DIY (do it yourself). This is a list of software programs in order of usage for a complete maintenance routine that will keep your computer performance as best as possible.

As with all software, install first, check for updates, then run the program after the latest updates are installed. If you do not want to check for and install updates, as well as routinely these software programs then don't waste time installing the programs.

1. Install Operating System updates, (Windows Update)

2. Uninstall any unused programs

3. Cleaners
Cleaners will remove your temporary files from your hard drive. Ccleaner is free and removes temporary files including internet history of most browsers all from one program. You can adjust settings for secure deletion from one pass to 35 passes.

Ccleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/

4. Anti Virus
Norton is recommended but is an annual subscription, if Norton isn't in your budget, then AVG's free anti virus is a close second.

Norton
http://www.symantec.com

AVG free
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free

5. Malware and Spyware Prevention
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
http://www.malwarebytes.org

SUPERAntiSpyware
http://superantispyware.com/

6. Defragmenters
When all the updates, hard drive scans, installs, uninstalls are complete the final program to run in a computer maintenance routine is the defragmenter. Defragment software will organize file on your hard drive that have been scattered from daily use and maintenance. Windows includes a defragmenter and My Defrag is a free option that is worth using.

My Defrag
http://www.mydefrag.com
10/30/2009 | Software
As written in this article, Microsoft has posted a Windows 7 Downloadable Product guide with 140 pages of information about the Windows 7 Operating System.
10/16/2009 | Software

Today was the official release of Adobe Flash 10.

What is it?
Flash is a web broswer plugin made by Adobe. It allows animation, mutimedia and interactive graphics that enhace websites.

Why does it matter?
Many sites including Pasefika.com use Adobe Flash and keeping up to date with the latest version can allow people to view webpage that have adobe flash content.

Where is the download site?
Adobe flash 10 can be downloaded free here

Silverlight 2

What is it?
Silverlight is a web broswer plugin made by microsoft. Like flash, it allows animation, mutimedia and interactive graphics that enhace websites.

Why does it matter?
Many sites including Microsoft.com use Silverlight and keeping up to date with the latest version can allow people to view webpage that have adobe Silverlight content.

Where is the download site?
Silverlight 2 can be downloaded free here
10/12/2009 | Science

Reports that Windows 8 and 9 are in development with 128 bit versions

As stated in a previous blog post most consumers with a Windows based PC have a 32 bit version of the Operating System. Although 64 bit versions of Windows have been available since Windows XP, Windows 7 (scheduled to be available October 22 2009) still ship with 32 bit and 64 versions.

For the small percentage of users running a 64 bit version , immediate advantages are that ability for the OS to use more than 4 gigabytes of Ram and can utilize 64 bit programs. The disadvantages are that there aren’t that many 64-bit programs. As consumer PCs are now available with more than 4gb of RAM, the trend for more RAM and Windows 7 64 bit should increase. Hopefully so should 64 bit applications most notably Adobe Flash and Microsoft’s own Silverlight which are used daily by 32-bit windows web broswers.

A Windows 8 and 9 with 128 bit versions are much needed if Microsoft wants its flagship product to compete in the 21 century. The key to success for 64 bit and 128 adoption will be hardware compatibility, price, and of course software. Even if Adobe Flash is unavailble for 64-bit browsers, there is no reason for Microsoft silverlight as well as every other application Microsoft offers to not have 64-bit, and 128bit versions (at the time that Windows is 128 bit) available and better performing.
09/11/2009 | Software

When choosing a computer, software programs can be one of the most influential decisions of your entire purchase. By determining how you will use the computer you can choose which software will be the best for you and what computer hardware you will need to run it it.

Many know that often a computer's cost can skyrocket from software alone but the good thing is that now more than ever there are options in software for a variety of applications and budgets.

For simplicity of this blog will start off by comparing and contrasting Windows XP / Vista, Mac OS X, and Ubuntu Linux based software.

Operating Systems:

These are arguably the major piece of software in your computer. It will identify your computer as PC or Mac, which means it will identify, what hardware it will run on, which programs you can use on it and what kinds of peripherals accessories you will be able to purchase with it.

Windows XP / Vista: Installed in most new PC computers and can be installed on PC computers built from parts.
OS X: Installed on Macs only, upgrade discs are for Mac only
Ubuntu Linux: - Free offers a graphical interface able to install on PCs, PC computers built from parts, as well as Mac OS X (with a virtual machine or dual boot options)

Productivity Suites:

Microsoft Office:
Pros - Industry Standard
Cons - It's expensive and like most Microsoft products comes in several versions.

iWork:
Pros - Cheaper than Microsoft Office,
Cons - For Macs only

OpenOffice.org:
Pros - It's free and fully functional.
Cons – It’s not the industry standard (yet), since it has to be installed on the machine by an administrator it may or may not be installed on public computers.

Google Docs:
Pros - It's free, works on any computer with compatible web browser.
Cons - you files are on Google’s servers not yours.

Email Clients:

Microsoft Outlook:
Pros - It's an industry standard. Once your emails are downloaded they are on your own local computer.
Cons – It costs money. You can only view your emails on the computer Outlook is installed on and you must setup every email account.

Mozilla Thunderbird:
Pros - It's free and offers most of the functionality as Outlook as well as being able to sync with Google calendar (via you own setup). Once your emails are downloaded they are on your own local computer.
Cons – You can only view your emails on the computer thunderbird is installed on and you must setup every email account.

Web Based Email:

Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.
Pros - It's free, works on any computer with compatible web browser and internet connection.
Cons – As if you spam email isn’t enough you are bombarded with advertisements which is why the service is free. Your archived emails and files are saved on a server at who knows where collecting bits and pieces about your internet habits to serve you relevant ads.
08/18/2009 | Software
Windows 7, scheduled to be released October 22, 2009 is receiving better reviews than Vista as seen in this CNN video. To learn more read here:
maximumpc windows 7 review
wired windows 7review
And for those who recently purchased a Windows Vista computer or operating system, Microsoft is offering a free Windows 7 upgrade.
08/11/2009 | Software

In a computer hard drive, files may be come fragmented or scattered across the disk itself. Disk Defragmenters help to re-organize the files on the hard drive for more efficient access and help performance.

Microsoft Windows includes a Disk Defragmentation Tool. Although this tool is included with Windows the most common complaint is that the speed of the tool is too slow and the benefit of defragmentation doesn't out weigh the time is take to defrag the computer.

Because of this many commercial based Defragmentation tools are available for use. Although there are numerous defragmenters, here is a list of three that are free to download and use.

MyDefrag
http://www.mydefrag.com/

Mydefrag is tool that compromises performance stability and time for good results in defragmentation. The user interface is lacking, instead it installed a list of scripts (which look like a list of programs from the start menu). Using the fast optimize script is as simple as clicking on the icon in the start menu (like all start menu icons can be added to desktop or quick launch). It is recommended to quit all other applications when defragmenting but like other defragmentation software based on the Windows API it's possible to run while you work (Windows Vista also has scheduled automatic defragmentation while you work)

Defraggler
http://www.defraggler.com/

Defraggler was developed from Piriform the same company who developed ccleaner (a free cleaning tool) and is marketed to defragment not only hard drives but also individual files. The 32 bit software works well on Windows though it has a had time to achieve 0% fragmentation on 64 bit Windows until it released a native 64 bit version.

Auslogics Disk Defrag
http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag

Auslogics is a good 32 bit defragmenter for Windows but the free version sells its paid version of software by displaying results of "junk files" still on hard drive when the defragmentation is finished.

It should be noted that proper computer maintenance includes an installed antivirus, anti spyware/malware software programs that are updated and used for scanning, deleting or cleaning of unnecessary files including those in the recycle bin and temporary internet files prior to disk defragmentation.
08/09/2009 | Software

64 bit computing has been around for decades in many forms, has been gaining consumer popularity in recent years and could be the desktop computer standard very soon.

64 Bit Hardware
The foundation for 64 bit computing is at the microprocessor. For PC 64 bit processors can represent and calculate larger numbers than 32 bit or prior versions.

In the 1960s 64 bit processors were used in the super computers of the time. In the 1990s more workstations and server had 64 bit capability, even the Nintendo 64 used a 64 bit processor RISC based.
In the 21st century Processors made by Intel, IBM, and AMD have had 64 bit capabilities. Many Intel, IBM and AMD have been used for servers and workstations and started to trickle down consumer level with Apple G5, Playstation 3 and now Intel based Apple and Intel/AMD based PCs. So although the processor technology was available 64 bit computing has had a slow implementation rate among consumers in the beginning 21st century is not because of hardware but software.

64 Bit Software
Given the right platform, marketing, and consumer reviews, software can boost implementation of any platform including 64 bit and software availability and variety is now more valued than the hardware capability it resides on. Two examples of this are in video gaming and mobile communication. In video gaming the nintendo wii has accelled past the xbox 360 and Playstation 3 because of price and the software capabilities. Even with the most powerful 64 bit Playstation 3 it still trails behind xbox 360 because of price and size of the software library. In mobile communication, although the Apple iphone has been over priced and lower technology than it's competitors the poularity of it's itunes app store has allowed it great sucess in the U.S. market.

64 bit revolution
As we are in the second half of 2009 and near the end of the first decade in this new millennium, a revolution will occur very soon, 64 bit computing will be standard on the consumer PC platform. Windows XP one of the longest running and most popular PC operating systems was the start of Microsoft's entry into 64bit computing Mac OS X for G5 was the entry for Apple. With the failure in popularity for Windows Vista, Vista also brought consumers 1 step closer into 64 bit computing. Along with the help of Intel Core 2 Duo and Intel processors for the Apple G5, adoption of the intel multicore processors have also brought with the 64 bit computing capability. The software was lacking with Windows XP 64 but with the price of ram dropping, and 4gb because affordable to many PC consumers, the 4gb limit of the 32 bit Windows Operating system has led to the rise of popularity in 64 bit which is capable of addressing more than 4gb of RAM.

Currently, in the last days of Windows Vista the Intel I7, many consumer systems that come with 6gb or more run a 64bit version of this software Windows Vista that has 32 bit emulation, meaning it can run most of today's 32 bit programs. Windows 7 will have this same capability that started in Windows XP 64 bit, and backwards compatibility always helps to gain consumer confidence and market share in the product.

But with Vista 64 bit, Internet explorer 64 bit on the market, Microsoft will be in good position for Windows 7 64 bit. Other software to have 64 bit available soon is Microsoft Office 64bit, which may or may not make as big of an impact with Open Office .org and Google docs for competition. Microsoft needs it's Silverlight and Adobe Flash to be 64 bit compatible for it to gain popularity with net users. With Implementation of 64 bit OS soon all mainstream sofware companies will need to offer 64 bit versions of thier software to utilize more of the CPU, more RAM, and be competitive for this next progression in personal computing.

Consumers Options

Consumers Now have the option for migrating to 64 bit without sacrificing or paying alot of overhead to do so. If in the market for a new computer and within their budget, select a system with a multicore (64 bit) processor and more than 4gb of RAM, because those computers already have 64 bit OS to utilize the more than 4gb of RAM. When Windows 7 is released, consumers should also purchase the 64 bit version (if hardware is capable to run it) or a new computer with a 64 bit version of Windows 7. Apple G5 OS X users already own a 64 bit system so it'll be up to the software developers to keep ultilzing the hardware to it's maximum capacity.

Windows 64 bit software compatibility Here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/Default.aspx?type=Software

to learn more about 64 bit history read here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit

Details about 64 bit processors are here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit
07/08/2009 | Software
As written in this article, Google OS to complete with Microsoft Windows, focusing on using their web browser Google chrome for applications and services. Although this will most likely be a free and popular choice, Microsoft will have to make an extremely strong case to compete with an internet connected, cloud computing OS. If it is free, no doubt it will be funded some way by relevant advertising, and internt browsing tracking much as goole currently uses to fund their free internet applications.

Software