Evan Youngblood

Web Browser:

Firefox (Free)

Email Client:

Thunderbird (Free)

Presentation Software:

Keynote ($79, iWork Suite)

Word Processor & Spreadsheet:

OpenOffice.org (Free)

Instant Messenger:

Adium (Free) – Compatible with MSN, Yahoo, AIM

OS Add-On:

Default Folder X ($34.95) – Add functionality to make saving and opening files a breeze

RSS Reader:

NetNewsWire (Free) – Integrates with iPhone/iPod Touch to sync your news feeds

FTP Client:

Filezilla (Free)

Text Editor:

TextWrangler (Free)

AdBlock Plus download page
There are people who will argue with me on this, but I believe users have the right to turn off annoying flash-based ads on web sites. No mainstream company can make a product that turns off ads, but an individual team can, enter AdBlock Plus.

AdBlock Plus is my number 1 pick for a Firefox extension. I never see an ad on the Internet. That’s right, even at sites like msnbc.com or MySpace — I have NO ads on my screen. All thanks to AdBlock Plus.

AdBlock Plus includes the ability to subscribe to blocking lists, and you can add your own filters to get the ads that it doesn’t automatically block. If AdBlock ever blocks something you want, just click the ABP icon in the toolbar to disable the filters temporarily, or permanently on the web site you’re on. I can’t stress enough how much I love this extension. I accidentally opened a link in IE a day or two ago to a web site I visit on a regular basis and was greeted with a screen-over flash ad throwing snowballs at me. YUCK! Open the same page in Firefox and no ads, none.

Following Microsoft’s CES keynote, I downloaded the new beta of Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista. Vista, which is facing possibly the worst public relations disaster in the history of software, has been out for two years, and is sold on a majority of new PCs today; however, most businesses still prefer XP, as several key software developers still recommend it over the newer Vista. People have cried of Vista’s similarity to Windows Me, the third encarnation of Windows 98, released in 2000 as a bridge between Windows 98 and Windows XP, which was released in 2001. (continue reading…)

New PCs these days come with alot of crap. It’s in your better interest to remove anything and everything you don’t need. You’ll end up with a faster PC and probably safer in the long run.

First, check out the PC Decrapifier, a program specifically designed for this very task

After that, review your Add/Remove Programs list for anything you don’t plan on using — including the pesky trial version of Office 2007 that seems to be popping up on all my new PCs.

If you have a handy tip for new PC setups, let me know!