6 Programs to Install On a New PC (and 4 to remove)
We all know that buying a PC from any major PC manufacturer means having to deal with a bunch of crappy programs that are installed by default. In this article we're going to look at my 10 favorite programs to install on a new PC.
1) Mozilla Firefox (Web Browser)
www.firefox.com
I can't even imagine surfing the internet with Firefox. This browser has become a favorite of mine over the years due to it's better security, slick uasability, and it's ability to add plugins. Although the Internet Explorer has added some sweet features over the last few years (tabbed browsing anyone?), it's still not where firefox is at.
Uninstall: Internet Explorer - Well maybe not uninstall, but you can stop using this now.
2) ESET NOD32 (Anti-Virus)
www.eset.com
I've been trying out the free 30 days trial, and so far I've been very impressed. If you're still using Norton, or McAfee stop wasting your money and make the switch. This anti-virus has a tiny footprint (just 34MB), and is wicked tough on viruses.
Uninstall: Norton AV or McAfee AV - They're a waste of computer power
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite tools for removing malware from computers. It always seems to get the stuff that most of the other malware removal tools can't remove. I really haven't had to use this yet, but I keep it around just in case.
Dropbox is a nice little program to backup important files, or even better recover them after you've reloaded windows. I like to keep a couple of programs I use quite a bit on the server, plus a couple of drivers that I usually have a tough time finding. Up to 2GB is free, and for just a few dollars they'll bump you to a 50GB account.
I love this program. Wait... I'll say it louder - I LOVE THIS PROGRAM! It's light weight, opens quickly, and doesn't crap up my computer with extra junk I don't need, want, or use. FoxIT is also capable of opening multiple pages within tabs. It's amazing. You'll like this.
Uninstall: Adobe Reader - Dear Adobe: Stop It. I'm tired of all the updates. Are you rewriting Reader one line at a time?
Open Office is one of the best open source programs I have come across. The interface is sleek, and clean. It's easy to use even if you're an old school MS Office junkie. The suite includes replacements for Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word, and Access, just to name a few. One of my favorite features included is the ability to save to PDF.
Uninstall: Microsoft Office Trial - I'd keep the full version if you've already paid for it, but ditch the trial version for Open Office. You'll feel smarter for NOT spending $239.00.
Have you got more programs that you'd uninstall or replace? Let me know what you think!
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