Comments on: Free Software to Make Your Computer Run Better, Stronger, Faster http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Thu, 24 May 2012 19:20:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: maria http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-264901 maria Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:54:52 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-264901 i dont get it i dont get it

]]> By: Andy http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-96204 Andy Wed, 09 May 2007 16:30:35 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-96204 I have just bought a new Laptop, (core2 duo with all the bells and whistles) and I was thinking about Microsoft office, but then I remembered Openoffice, so there it is now downloaded on my laptop and it interacts with Word and Excel. I have, however, bought Windows Live onecare, for my firewall, virus checker and spyware, seems to work ok so far although it did miss this wretched MBS billing thing...which brings me on to my last recommendation, Startup Inspector, do a search in Google its at the top. It prevents programs that really do not need to startup from starting up, it's easy to use and works for me. I have just bought a new Laptop, (core2 duo with all the bells and whistles) and I was thinking about Microsoft office, but then I remembered Openoffice, so there it is now downloaded on my laptop and it interacts with Word and Excel.

I have, however, bought Windows Live onecare, for my firewall, virus checker and spyware, seems to work ok so far although it did miss this wretched MBS billing thing…which brings me on to my last recommendation, Startup Inspector, do a search in Google its at the top. It prevents programs that really do not need to startup from starting up, it’s easy to use and works for me.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-60181 Jeremy Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:25:57 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-60181 All good choices. For email with a customized look, you might also look at the free beta of Google apps for your domain. https://www.google.com/a/ Jeremy All good choices.

For email with a customized look, you might also look at the free beta of Google apps for your domain. https://www.google.com/a/

Jeremy

]]> By: Golbguru http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-60139 Golbguru Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:57:58 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-60139 While I have always liked the idea of freeware, I have to say not all of them have been up to the mark. This does not amount to saying that all freeware is bad. Users should do an extensive review about antivirus and antispyware software and decide if the free ones fit their sense of security. Till a few weeks ago I was using Windows Defender for antispyware, however a scan by Ad-aware and later by Spysweeper clearly identified atleast 3 threats that Windows Defender had missed ...Switched to spysweeper since then. Wont mind a few bucks for some extra peace of mind. While I have always liked the idea of freeware, I have to say not all of them have been up to the mark. This does not amount to saying that all freeware is bad. Users should do an extensive review about antivirus and antispyware software and decide if the free ones fit their sense of security. Till a few weeks ago I was using Windows Defender for antispyware, however a scan by Ad-aware and later by Spysweeper clearly identified atleast 3 threats that Windows Defender had missed …Switched to spysweeper since then. Wont mind a few bucks for some extra peace of mind.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59893 Kevin Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:21:15 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59893 I like your idea of using free apps, but I'd suggest the following: AVG or the new AOL free anti-virus. Check your ISP for free offers. Comcast offers McAfee for free. AT&T DSL has a Yahoo one for free too. Spybot Search & Destroy. Unlike Ad-Aware, it also immunizes your system against thousands of Spyware threats, not just clean them out. I believe you have to pay for that feature in Ad-Aware. For email, calendar and contacts, I recommend chucking Outlook, Thunderbird, or any other email client, and going with Yahoo Mail Beta. It looks and functions a lot like Outlook, and even synchs with it. I know everyone's jumping on the FireFox bandwagon, but it just isn't there yet for me. Too many small annoying issues keep popping up. I'll stick to IE for now, since it's free too. For office apps, look at Zoho.com. They've got a ton of good online apps like a word processor, spreadsheet, database, project management, etc. They even have a great CRM similar to Salesforce.com, for free to individuals or very small businesses! I like your idea of using free apps, but I’d suggest the following:

AVG or the new AOL free anti-virus. Check your ISP for free offers. Comcast offers McAfee for free. AT&T DSL has a Yahoo one for free too.

Spybot Search & Destroy. Unlike Ad-Aware, it also immunizes your system against thousands of Spyware threats, not just clean them out. I believe you have to pay for that feature in Ad-Aware.

For email, calendar and contacts, I recommend chucking Outlook, Thunderbird, or any other email client, and going with Yahoo Mail Beta. It looks and functions a lot like Outlook, and even synchs with it.

I know everyone’s jumping on the FireFox bandwagon, but it just isn’t there yet for me. Too many small annoying issues keep popping up. I’ll stick to IE for now, since it’s free too.

For office apps, look at Zoho.com. They’ve got a ton of good online apps like a word processor, spreadsheet, database, project management, etc. They even have a great CRM similar to Salesforce.com, for free to individuals or very small businesses!

]]> By: Jerry Kindall http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59786 Jerry Kindall Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:19:05 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59786 AOL's new free Active Virus Shield (a rebranded Kaspersky) is apparently the new hawtness in free antivirus tools. It catches more stuff than AVG and has a nicer UI. AOL’s new free Active Virus Shield (a rebranded Kaspersky) is apparently the new hawtness in free antivirus tools. It catches more stuff than AVG and has a nicer UI.

]]> By: Matt Orley http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59744 Matt Orley Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:58:34 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59744 Ubuntu Linux! It includes all of the above, fits on one disk, and loads all with the Operating System! See www.Distrowatch.com to find it. I keep a Windows PC around, but my laptop is all free Unbuntu. Oh - DOnt forget Picasa from Google for photo organization - for Wiondows or Linux! Ubuntu Linux! It includes all of the above, fits on one disk, and loads all with the Operating System! See http://www.Distrowatch.com to find it. I keep a Windows PC around, but my laptop is all free Unbuntu.

Oh – DOnt forget Picasa from Google for photo organization – for Wiondows or Linux!

]]> By: Mike http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59739 Mike Wed, 06 Sep 2006 23:21:48 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59739 get Ubuntu Linux - free and easy to use. So easy to use even my kids are using it. They basically just surf the internet and don't install games so thats a plus. No pop ups, spy or malware and no virus! get Ubuntu Linux – free and easy to use. So easy to use even my kids are using it.

They basically just surf the internet and don’t install games so thats a plus. No pop ups, spy or malware and no virus!

]]> By: Jan http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59728 Jan Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:56:16 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59728 You just summarized the "Google Pack" (http://pack.google.com - which makes updating the software easier). Add to this: Google Calendar, Writely and spreadsheets and you are almost free of sw installations (except for antivirus and anti addware) You just summarized the “Google Pack” (http://pack.google.com – which makes updating the software easier). Add to this: Google Calendar, Writely and spreadsheets and you are almost free of sw installations (except for antivirus and anti addware)

]]> By: Chris http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59724 Chris Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:45:43 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59724 I hated AVG Free Anti-Virus. It had a bad habit of falsely identifying various Windows apps as viruses. One time it attacked Solitaire and deleted it. Switched to avast! Free Home Edition. Requires (free) email registration once a year but other than that it works perfectly. It also provides protection against infected email attachments, web-based viruses, and instant messaging viruses. It also auto-updates its virus definitions if it senses an internet connection, so it is truly hands off. (Don't know if AVG can do that; it didn't the last time I tried it.) I hated AVG Free Anti-Virus. It had a bad habit of falsely identifying various Windows apps as viruses. One time it attacked Solitaire and deleted it.

Switched to avast! Free Home Edition. Requires (free) email registration once a year but other than that it works perfectly. It also provides protection against infected email attachments, web-based viruses, and instant messaging viruses. It also auto-updates its virus definitions if it senses an internet connection, so it is truly hands off. (Don’t know if AVG can do that; it didn’t the last time I tried it.)

]]> By: Sun http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59712 Sun Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:29:10 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59712 Flexo: I belived I did. However, when I logged in my Gmail account and checked the POP option, it always showed that POP is enabled for all mail that has arrived since xx:xx, where xx:xx was the time I logged in, even though I set up the he POP service, for example, yesterday. Since every time I logged in, the time was current time, no email was ever available when I tried to access Gmail account with Thunderbird. Flexo:

I belived I did. However, when I logged in my Gmail account and checked the POP option, it always showed that POP is enabled for all mail that has arrived since xx:xx, where xx:xx was the time I logged in, even though I set up the he POP service, for example, yesterday. Since every time I logged in, the time was current time, no email was ever available when I tried to access Gmail account with Thunderbird.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59708 Flexo Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:10:50 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59708 Sun: I haven't seen it, but make sure your Gmail POP service is configured to leave messages on the server. FF: I'll have to check out Microsoft Defender. It's still in "beta," so while I may put it on my computer, I won't put it on anyone else's. Sun: I haven’t seen it, but make sure your Gmail POP service is configured to leave messages on the server.

FF: I’ll have to check out Microsoft Defender. It’s still in “beta,” so while I may put it on my computer, I won’t put it on anyone else’s.

]]> By: Financial Freedumb http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59706 Financial Freedumb Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:02:47 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59706 Great choices! I gotta recommend MS Defender instead of Ad-Aware though... Great choices!

I gotta recommend MS Defender instead of Ad-Aware though…

]]> By: Sun http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-59703 Sun Wed, 06 Sep 2006 17:57:24 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/06/free-software-to-make-your-computer-run-faster/#comment-59703 I also use Thunderbird to access my email accounts. However, I noticed one issue with accessing Gmail through Thunderbird (maybe some other email clients as well). It seems that I can only connect my Gmail account with one Thuderbird. When I tried to set up two last year (one at home and one at work), Gmail's POP option stopped working and I never got any new email with Thunderbird until I removed one. I am not sure if you have seen this before. I also use Thunderbird to access my email accounts. However, I noticed one issue with accessing Gmail through Thunderbird (maybe some other email clients as well). It seems that I can only connect my Gmail account with one Thuderbird. When I tried to set up two last year (one at home and one at work), Gmail’s POP option stopped working and I never got any new email with Thunderbird until I removed one. I am not sure if you have seen this before.

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