Favorite Files

1. AIMP
2. AllMyNotes Organizer Free Edition
3. Batch Compiler
4. ImgBurn
5. KompoZer for Windows
6. LibreOffice for Windows
7. Microsoft Security Essentials (32-bit)
8. Paint.NET
9. Trillian

Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - Windows 8 Simulator

   Beta 1.0 (Nov 10, 2011)

   Ummm... well, where to start... This is like a bad representation of Windows 8. It's small and images are a bit blurry. This isn't really a true simulation of an OS, or Windows 8. You can click things and images change to kind of represent things, such as clicking the explorer tile brings up bad images of the Windows explorer, but you can't really do anything with these as they are merely images and not actual working apps. This is basically a multimedia presentation that looks bad. The author's good intent is there, but the implementation is seriously lackluster. IMO this is a waste of a download and time.

2. 
   Review - Eagle Mode

   0.82.0 (Jun 22, 2011)

   Yes it's ugly... That's not much of a review though as one should also mention something about using the software as well, not just that it's ugly.
   
   The concept is old and interesting and this implementation actually works well, once you understand how to use this type of interface that is. Zooming in and out, scrolling and opening files all worked as intended.
   
   If you ask me, this should be ported to a tablet or smartphone interface. This would be the perfect interface for those platforms provided they offer multi-touch. Pinch and zoom in or out etc... But such an interface would have to be graphically enhanced from this current one to appeal to the average person. Everyone just loves that eye candy you know.

3. 
   Review - Microsoft Security Essentials (32-bit)

   2.0.657 (Dec 18, 2010)

   Compared to Avira and just about all other AV programs out there, this *IS* the lightest resource AV available.
   
   I was seriously skeptical of MSE when it was release thinking it would be a re-badge of their previous bloated AV software, but boy was I left with my jaw on the floor! It was light on resources, it didn't bring games to a halt, it didn't make my downloads slow, it didn't make browsing the file explorer a stuttering pain and it seemingly is doing it's job well.
   
   I have been critical of resource usage in AV programs since they became prolific in the PC market. They have always been resource hogs and usually bring a system to it's knees just as bad and as much as the software they're suppose to protect you from. I have even referred to Norton's AV as a Virus or Trojan itself because it digs it's claws so deep into your system that you can't get rid of it unless you wipe your system and start from scratch, that and the fact that it takes over your PC and makes your PC experience a nightmare.
   
   The other issue I've had with AV programs are the constant false-positives they produce. It's constant and annoying, it's as if they do it on purpose to justify their use to you so that you continue to pay them for their updates. MSE has not once given me a false-positive. I intentionally downloaded some virus infected software and some trojan infected software and MSE jumped right on them, but have yet to see one false positive from MSE, and I've been using it since it's initial release.
   
   Please don't mistake me for a MS fanboy, because I'm not! I've been a MS hater since XP and more so when Vista hit the market. But Windows 7 gave MS some new street creds and MSE just gives it that extra push. MSE is the one thing MS has done right thus far.
   
   As a note, do not use the update feature in the help menu of MSE, just download the latest from the MS site. When you run the install it will(should) detect your current installation and simply update it. Though I noticed one reviewer mentioning it didn't update his XP install :-(

4. 
   Review - XMPlay

   3.5.1 (May 21, 2010)

   It's small. It's easy to use. It lacks all the bloat and bull of other mainstream players. It's free.

5. 
   Review - OpenOffice.org for Windows

   3.2.1 RC (May 21, 2010)

   I've been following OpenOffice for a long time now, I think since it's initial public releases for Windows.
   
   My biggest complaints were speed; OpenOffice was so slow that it was unbearable to use, and MS Office Compatibility; there was always some quirk that would create incompatibilities between using OpenOffice and MS Office.
   
   With the release of this version both issues have been resolved to my satisfaction. Speed is more than acceptable for me now and I rarely encounter any compatibility issues now. I know there may still be some compatibility issues, but for me and my family, we do not seem to be running into them now.
   
   I have since uninstalled my old MS Office 2000 which I have kept on using because I didn't want to upgrade to the newer more bloated versions. I was so close to purchasing MS Office 2007 too! Now I am so glad that I did not.
   
   I am also so very glad that OpenOffice didn't adopt the Ribbon style toolbars that everyone seems to be going nuts for these days. I can't stand the Ribbon bars and I despise them. Give me a title bar, a menu bar and the tool bars that allow me to flow quickly through my work.
   
   OpenOffice has come a very very long way. If you don't need all the higher end features of MS Office, then OpenOffice is all you'll ever need.

6. Comment - Why isn't Apple protecting iTunes/App Store users from purchase fraud?

   3.2.1 RC (Aug 13, 2011 - 2:41 PM)

   ... Waiting for the deluge of thumbs down ratings from the Appleites ...

7. Comment - TeamSpeak 3 adds Android and iOS clients, improves voice quality

   3.2.1 RC (Aug 11, 2011 - 12:48 PM)

   I see you (PC Tool) have been frolicking around in your time travels again. I swear, you keep doing that and you're gonna bust open a rip in the time-space continuum and really screw things up around here. You'll come back from one of your time travels and find Joe Wilcox is President of the United States.

8. Comment - Can Vizio snatch the Android tablet biz like it did with LCD TVs?

   3.2.1 RC (Aug 9, 2011 - 3:01 PM)

   Yes yes, the bezel is standing out like all the hate posts against Joe Wilcox, and maybe the interface isn't the best, but you have to agree that with the specs given and the multimedia tie-in, that this has potential to make rather big splash in the tablet market. It gives an additional use that most other tablets lack. In fact, Vizio should start offering a TV/Tablet deal where they pair the items together.

9. Comment - RIM unveils the first BlackBerry 7 smartphones

   3.2.1 RC (Aug 6, 2011 - 2:44 AM)

   I personally don't know, but I for one am a recent new user to using a BlackBerry and I'm quite happy with it. Then again, I'm also one to buck the system and not go mainstream, so I've been avoiding iOS and Android devices intentionally. I also like the possibility of getting the HP Pre3.
   
   RIM's devices seem very very solid and reliable. So many other devices I've used felt cheap and just were not reliable.
   
   I doubt RIM can ever return to it's hey days. Android devices will see to that, but I think with these new devices from RIM, it might be enough to keep RIM from going under. But they're going to have to focus a bit more on consumers rather than just business users and that Torch 9850/9860 is a step in the right direction.

10. Comment - My mother is getting a Chromebook

    3.2.1 RC (Jul 30, 2011 - 2:10 PM)

    The Chromebook should work perfect for your mom. A Mac or PC would be overkill.