The Personal Computer Enthusiast

In the near future, we will be forced to decide between Sony's Blu-ray disc and Toshiba's (along with others such as Microsoft) HD DVD. Either way, it sounds like CDs are more and more quickly becoming with the way of the tape cassette or vinyl record (whatever that is). Both of these new high capacity DVDs will be able to hold storage of over 50GB!! which, in my opinion, is more than anyone would ever need considering most personal hard drives aren't even that large. Now the downside to this battle between the new standards is that the consumer will be forced to choose and buy one set of hardware making it so it is compatible with only one of the two mediums. This proprietary hardware seems to be holding back technology as a whole because the ideas are so similar that it's such a waste that they must compete. Reminds me of the struggle between VHS and Beta.

More info can be found at:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD

Here is software that I use on my personal setup of Windows XP. I highly recommend all of the following software for anyone and everyone.

• Firefox (see menu on right for download) – best internet browser to date - More Tips
  
• Extensions:
• Flashgot – for use with Flashget
• NoScript – disables user-defined javascript (prevent popups/ads)
• Adblock – more ad prevention
• IE Tab – allows you to view Internet Explorer inside Firefox
• Undoclosetab – handy if you accidentally close a tab
• Linkification – turns text into clickable links
• Greasemonkey – 100% Internet customization (I use it for viewing launch.yahoo.com videos and converting mailto: links for gmail)
• Google Web Accelerator – slight speed increase in page load times but also works as a proxy to change your IP
• iTunes – can be set up to do just about anything you need for your personal music needs.
• PeerGuardian – IP Specific Firewall for added protection on p2p
• Flashget – extremely well put together program for downloading
• AVG free – free antivirus to replace Norton/McAfee
• Netlimiter – lets you monitor and control your bandwidth usage
• GAIM – replaces AIM and MSN Messenger
• Spybot: Search & Destroy – good spyware remover

There is also Google’s suggested software which has some good picks, but of course many of these items are not necessary (i.e. Google Talk is supported inside of GAIM).

The following are compilations of work by thousands of computer development experts.
Some open source projects that YOU should know about:

• Linux – Powerful End-User Operating System (rivals: Windows, Mac OSX) *considers personal use only – ignores server oriented OS's
• Mandrake, Red Hat: Fedora Core, Debian, etc – versions of Home Linux
• Firefox – Powerful Web Browser (rivals: Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, etc)
• OpenOffice – The open source answer to Microsoft Office (rivals: Microsoft Office, Works, etc)
• DC++ - original p2p concepts (rivals: other Direct Connect clients, and loosely other p2p programs such as the legendary extinct napster, limewire, kazaa, etc)
• Gaim – Instant Messaging Client which supports: AOL's AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Jabber, IRC, Yahoo's YIM, and has completely open source plugin features to do support virtually anything (rivals: Trillian, Miranda, stand-alone clients, etc)

For more specific open source applications, you can visit:

• SourceForge.net – "The world's largest development and download repository of Open Source code and applications"( wikipedia.org )

Now these topics can be somewhat controversial so I'll spare the details for now. But for a good start, I highly recommend using Firefox over Internet Explorer since it will offer many things that Internet Explorer cannot. The biggest threat with Internet Explorer, in my opinion, is the use of ActiveX which allows webmasters to install unwanted spyware/malware onto your comp if you settings are not set correctly. Firefox also has a huge database of user-submitted extensions (plugins) which makes almost anything possible. I'll probably create a post on Firefox in more detail later – possibly after Internet Explorer 7 is officially launched with Vista (Jan. 07).

Got other suggestions on what should be in this list? Leave a comment!

In today's world of relatively no transaction costs of transferring data, almost everything virtual is free. Luckily, with help from talented coders who believe in open source distribution, or even organizations who choose to remain proprietary but give out software for free, you should never have to pay for anything again. The purpose of this is to help you get the knowledge you need in order to keep up to date with the fast paced world of virtual PC Technology by means of security, entertainment, or just plain efficiency.

Now there are two ways to get essential software for free. Legally or Illegally (assuming you are in the U.S. or another place where these laws exist). I’ll try to teach you how to get what you want - for free - but I refuse to promote any illegal activity. I’m reminded by that saying: “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. But teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” The topics that I’ve planned out to cover over the next few posts are:

• spyware/malware: (pro) adaware, spybot, microsoft, zone alarm, (anti) aol
• antivirus: (pro) AVG free, kaspersky, (anti) McAfee/aol/norton
• firewall: sygate, zonealarm, peer guardian (IP Blocker), hardware – (issues)
• p2p: DC++ (stealth), limewire, IRC, kazaa, html – (small history + concept of warez)
• IM clients: (pro) Trillian (PRO), GAIM, (anti) AOL Triton, etc – Skype?
• sites: wikipedia, google (dictionary, etc)
• microsoft: office? - openoffice.org, Windows? – Linux … (maintenance – registry, spyware, firewall, updates, etc)