| Welcome to my 10 Useful Programs for Your PC | | | | you are told which files are safe to remove. In any |
| 2008 article! Here I discuss 10 programs which are | | | | case, if something goes wrong after deletion you can |
| useful for your Windows computer. This article applies | | | | always rewind back. This program allows you to clean |
| to both Windows XP and Windows Vista. These | | | | your system's registry regularly and keep your |
| programs clean up your computer, make your | | | | computer running soundly. |
| downloads go faster, help you save disk space, allow | | | | Category Privacy Software |
| you to experience faster web-surfing, allow you to | | | | Available for Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista |
| download YouTube videos as well as many other | | | | Mozilla Firefox |
| features. These programs are either free or I suggest | | | | It is well known that most online browser exploits |
| using the "free version" of a program which also has a | | | | target Internet Explorer, so why not use another |
| paid option (however, this year, there is one exception | | | | browser? This program is the main internet browser I |
| to "my rule"). The reason for this is because I dislike | | | | use. Mozilla Firefox is a fast, full-featured Web |
| paying for programs and I prefer to encourage free | | | | browser that makes browsing more efficient than |
| distribution of products. | | | | ever before. As more users continue to abandon |
| This year, I'm writing my 2008 selection of programs. | | | | Internet Explorer, Mozilla's popular Firefox gains a large |
| You will see many changes in my program | | | | chunk of the browsing community. It is already on its |
| suggestions. I keep some products essential in my | | | | 3rd version, which improves dramatically on sleekness, |
| everyday "arsenal" from last year's article. | | | | among other things. The built-in pop-up blocker is still |
| To find software, simply type these terms into Google, | | | | extremely effective, and Firefox's reputation for tight |
| for example, search "Smart Defrag" or "Google | | | | security is still well deserved. Brian Bergstein |
| Chrome". | | | | recommends users to get the performance |
| Smart Defrag | | | | enhancement called "Flashblock", which "blocks Flash |
| One of the remedies often recommended for a | | | | video from running on Web sites you have open but |
| sluggish system is to defragment the hard drive. | | | | are not currently viewing". Anyone who's tired of IE will |
| Defragmentation involves reorganising file clusters on | | | | find more than one reason to like this free alternative. |
| your computer so that your computer can find them | | | | Another reason to have this browser: Internet Explorer |
| faster. It is well known that Windows' own | | | | recently had a massive security flaw, allowing hackers |
| defragmentation tools are quite slow. Smart Defrag | | | | to take control of your computer (it was on the news |
| stands out from the crowd because it has a special | | | | if you saw it). |
| "niche". It "boasts an automated defragger that | | | | Category Browser |
| continually defrags the files that you use the most" | | | | Available for Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 |
| (Download.com). It also does not use a lot of RAM, so | | | | Server/Vista |
| even older computers can handle it. All in all, Smart | | | | FileZilla |
| Defrag is one of the excellent freeware | | | | FileZilla is an excellent freeware FTP program which I |
| performance-enhancing programs on the web. | | | | use to upload pages and other files onto this website |
| Category System Utilities | | | | and well as my other sites. It is one of the most |
| Available for Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista | | | | bug-free programs I have ever seen. Simply put your |
| 2008 Server | | | | website's FTP details into it, including a username and |
| Google Chrome | | | | password, and it will log you into your FTP server. |
| Google Chrome is a new web browser released by | | | | Then you can drag and drop your new or edited files |
| Google in September of 2008. Google Chrome | | | | and it will appear instantly on the web. It also allows |
| "combines a minimal design with sophisticated | | | | users to transfer multiple files simultaneously. FileZilla |
| technology to make the Web faster, safer, and easier" | | | | has a "site manager" which saves multiple FTP |
| (Google). It has an interesting feature of running | | | | servers, usernames and passwords for quick access. |
| separate processes for each browser tab, so that if | | | | FileZilla is clearly "one of the best FTP tools around" |
| one browser tab crashes, the whole browser does | | | | (Download.com). |
| not crash. This feature, although taking up more | | | | Category FTP Software |
| memory, is one difference Google Chrome has over | | | | Available for Windows 2000/XP/Vista |
| other browsers. Google Chrome is also "is blazingly | | | | PrimoPDF |
| fast and is easily the quickest browser available" | | | | PrimoPDF is a free Word-to-PDF converter. Unlike |
| (Download.com). All in all, despite the lack of plug-ins, if | | | | many another Word-to-PDF converters, it does not |
| you're looking for the latest in technology, you should | | | | leave a watermark. A watermark is a small company |
| try this browser. | | | | logo which is put, for example, on the bottom right of a |
| Category Browser | | | | page (sometimes every single page you convert from |
| Available for Windows XP/Vista | | | | Word). If a person wants to sell a text ebook, simply |
| YouTube Downloader | | | | right your ebook on Microsoft Word and then use |
| YouTube Downloader allows users to download | | | | PrimoPDF to convert it into PDF format, which is |
| YouTube videos directly off YouTube and convert | | | | readable with the freeware Adobe Reader (formerly |
| them into video files (.wmv), mp3 files or several other | | | | Acrobat Reader). The advantage of having something |
| formats. The process is very simple, just go to the | | | | in PDF format is that a consumer cannot edit the text, |
| video you want to download, copy the web address | | | | and cannot simply delete your name and put their own. |
| from the address bar and paste it into the downloader. | | | | You will notice that many ebooks nowadays are sold |
| YouTube Downloader will then download the video for | | | | in PDF format - it is a simple way to keep your ebook |
| you in .flv format. Then you can use YouTube | | | | secure. |
| Downloader to convert the video to your desired | | | | Category Document Management Software |
| format. I suggest "high quality" .wmv for videos or if | | | | Available for Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista |
| you do not want images, "high quality" mp3 files for | | | | Download Accelerator Plus |
| music. Please note that this tool will not work for all | | | | Download Accelerator Plus is a program which |
| YouTube videos as some of them have special | | | | speeds up your downloads. When you download a file, |
| copyrights. According to Download.com, YouTube | | | | it will increase your download speed and will |
| Downloader "is one of the lightest editors around, but | | | | automatically try to find faster mirrors. The Free |
| the simplistic interface belies its functionality and it | | | | version has very few limitations and is quite useful. |
| performs exactly as advertised". | | | | According to the description, this program can |
| Category Download Managers | | | | accelerate downloads up to 300%. I have experienced |
| Available for Windows 2000/XP/Vista | | | | my fastest download speed ever using this program |
| TuneUp Utilities 2009 (trial program) | | | | to download some chess videos. This program is one |
| I was recommended this program by a helpful | | | | of the most popular on |
| computer expert on a computer help forum. This | | | | Category Download Managers |
| program seems to work wonderfully in optimising your | | | | Available for Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista |
| PC, you can see how much work the computer | | | | CCleaner |
| programmers put into this nifty program. TuneUp | | | | CCleaner is a useful privacy tool. The program does a |
| Utilities has a range of useful programs like a registry | | | | range of things to make your computer work |
| cleaner, a defragmenter, a speed optimiser, a file | | | | smoother and faster. According to Wikipedia, |
| shredder, deleted file recovery and lots more. The | | | | CCleaner is a freeware system optimiser and registry |
| program is "a powerful, well-designed utility that | | | | cleaner. CCleaner scrapes your computer quite |
| accesses the entire Windows maintenance tool set | | | | comprehensively, cleaning up temporary files, download |
| and more in a fast, organized, and easy-to-use series | | | | history, cookies, auto-complete form history, index.dat, |
| of connected modules" (Download.com). The program | | | | URL history, temporary files, recent documents, |
| even includes a "1-Click Maintenance" function, which | | | | Recycle Bin, log files and more. A warning that users |
| does all the necessary work (e.g. defragmenting) | | | | should be careful what they remove, in case they |
| essential for good computer health. There is also a | | | | don't get it back! Nevertheless, CCleaner comes with a |
| system-analysing utility which "is worth the program | | | | "comprehensive backup feature". I'm impressed with |
| price alone" (Download.com). | | | | this privacy program, it removed about 100 MB of junk |
| Category System Utilities | | | | from my computer. |
| Available for Windows 2000/XP/Vista | | | | Category Privacy Software |
| TweakNow RegCleaner Standard | | | | Available for Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 |
| The heart and soul of any operating system is its | | | | Server/Vista |
| registry. Sometimes this registry can become | | | | You may have noticed that I didn't discuss programs |
| overcrowded with useless or obsolete files. This can | | | | like Adobe Acrobat Reader or the Java Runtime |
| slow down your computer considerably. But thankfully, | | | | Environment. This is because you will normally be |
| TweakNow RegCleaner Standard is here to help! The | | | | encouraged automatically by your computer to |
| interface is very simple to navigate and for beginners, | | | | download these programs. |