Favorite Files

1. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
2. Norton Removal Tool
3. Picasa for Windows
4. Pidgin for Windows
5. The GIMP
6. Ubuntu
7. VirtualBox
8. VLC (VideoLAN) for Windows (64-bit)

Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - LibreOffice for Windows

   4.0.3 (May 9, 2013)

   Just started using 4.0.3.3 in Windows, and it seems faster than ever. Haven't tried the updated Linux or Mac versions yet, but expect they will also work well. This release drops Word95 support and Star Office binary support, from the release notes. Shouldn't be a problem for most folks, as Word97 and forward are all supported.

2. 
   Review - Mozilla Firefox for Windows

   20.0 (Apr 2, 2013)

   ver. 20 working much faster on Win7. Haven't tried that version on Linux and Mac yet today...

3. 
   Review - OpenOffice.org for Windows

   3.3.0 (Jan 26, 2011)

   Installed 3.3 of OpenOffice and 3.3 of LibreOffice today. I haven't had much time to do in depth testing, but both worked well for me on a document with some unusual formatting. Neither says release candidate. I downloaded them from the respective organizations' sites.

4. 
   Review - Belarc Advisor

   8.1.16.2 (Oct 15, 2010)

   Very useful tool. Similar to the old Aida32.

5. 
   Review - PDF-XChange Viewer

   2.055 (Sep 13, 2010)

   Been using it since I dumped Foxit. While this also offers to install the objectionable Ask Toolbar, if you uncheck it, it doesn't install. I'd rate it a 5 if it didn't try to install a toolbar.

6. Comment - FCC: New wireless spectrum worth upwards of $120B, more than double 2008 value

   2.055 (Oct 22, 2010 - 10:42 PM)

   It's a surprise that limited usable spectrum is increasing in value as we use more wireless? The gov't auctions, instead of rentals of those frequencies, were scandalous, as the value can only go up. Several areas of the country are already out of unused spectrum, and, as cgmark points out, everything is already allocated. Public safety signals are now narrower so more can fit in the limited resources, yet we consider auctioning more frequencies!

7. Comment - Are you a Mac, or are you a PC?

   2.055 (May 25, 2010 - 9:51 AM)

   Interesting point. "NeXTSTEP was based on the Mach kernel and BSD," (wikipedia)
   I had to laugh when I read, "2006 will be remembered as a transformative year." I can't think of a single person who would agree with that, other than the author.
   I use Windows PC's, Linux(several distributions, mostly Ubuntu), and Mac. All have strengths and weaknesses. Ever notice how the best IT people have some familiarity with all?

8. Comment - Cops raid Gizmodo editor home -- you don't mess with Steve Jobs

   2.055 (Apr 27, 2010 - 12:51 AM)

   I also wondered how a writer could one week encourage a lawsuit against another writer, and the following week be "chilled to the bone" by the natural reaction to his quoting of laws covering the situation, complaining about legal action. With, presumably, a straight face.

9. Comment - Apple should sue Gizmodo over stolen iPhone prototype

   2.055 (Apr 19, 2010 - 11:29 PM)

   Another possibility is that Apple intentionally gave the phone to someone to get it covered in the press, free of charge, and was successful in accomplishing that.

10. Comment - It's not flat if you tilt it 45 degrees: IE usage share in EU remains steady

    2.055 (Mar 22, 2010 - 12:52 PM)

    If IE useage goes down on weekends, that would seem to indicate people are using other browsers at home, then return to work and use what the IT guy at the office's picked for a browser.
    
    IF indeed that is the case, note the if, then we can expect the trend to migrate to the office, as people begin to get comfortable with browsers which better suit their needs.