Windows Application Recommendations

New Computer Install? Free Applications!? Yes!

I personally use Ubuntu, which is a distribution of Linux, which if I've lost you just think of it as another alternative to Windows or Mac. With Ubuntu you can't use your Windows applications but that is okay since there is an alternative program that works in Ubuntu about the same and is almost always free. Enough of that because I don't mean to sell you on Ubuntu, but I am a fan of it.

This list is most intended for people that have a fresh install of Windows, which means just Windows is installed no other programs. If you have a computer from Dell, HP, etc... then you have some programs installed by default and in this case just go through the list and see what you need.
For the below list download and install any of the following, if you want more information just click on the link and it will give you a more descriptive description fort each.
           Note: for most of the links you just need to click the "Download Latest Version" link in the upper right with a green icon next to it


SpywareBlaster: Is a security program to help with Malware and such. I'd use this in addition the other security programs I have listed below.


SpyBot Search & Destroy: The newest version turns on by default a lot of automated scanning that I find both annoying and destructive to my system performance. I'd only install this if you can figure out how to turn off the live protection or if you now have a problem and need a program to try and remove it and by problem I mean if you have any programs popping up telling you to buy something or if your computer seems slower than usual after installing a program or going to a shady website.


Windows Defender: This is installed by default if your version of Windows is greater than Windows XP. If you're unsure your version it will not hurt to download and try installing because it will let you know if you already have it.


Comodo Internet Security: This is a free AntiVirus solution bundled with a FireWall and other Internet security features. If you already have an AntiVirus program install and want to use this because say your subscription expired I'd uninstall the other AntiVirus first. You don't want to have more than one AntiVirus program installed at once because they will most likely conflict with each other.


FileZilla: I debated adding this one into the list, but I find when I send people to FTP sites this is just an awesome tool. This is a little advanced for most users but it is a great FTP tool and all around file transfer program. Also a must to transfer files to an old modded XBox.


K-Lite Codec Pack: This is to watch a wide range of file formats. Now this is only for those that want to watch a video file that they've downloaded or someone has given them. This won't help with streaming videos. When installing pick the full version "with lots of stuff", you'll see the options when installing.


Skype: If you've seen my Android App List then you know what this is. This is a video chatting, Instant Message, and voice calling service. It will only cost you money to call from your computer to cellphones or landlines, but from computer to computer it is completely free. Optional, but to stay in touch, my screen name is "Nasairk"


Pidgin: This is like Skype except it only does Instant Messaging, but while Skype does IM like a Honda Civic gets you to work Pidgen lets you IM like an Atom car will peel back your face. Basically Pidgen will let you combine all of your IM services like Gchat, Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, MSN, etc... into one program for a one stop approach to IMing.


Foxit Reader: Allows you to open PDF files from the Internet or ones that you've downloaded. Adobe has their own PDF reader but I like this one better.


OpenOffice.org: If you hate spending money on Microsoft Office, or if you can't then this is your program!!!  This will all you to open any Microsoft Office document like those from Word, Excel, or Powerpoint. You can also create documents as well, but note if you want others to open your documents and they aren't using OpenOffice and instead say Microsoft Office you'll need to change the version you're saving it as when you click File > Save As as in the program, then select


Picasa: Is a great picture manager from Google. It helps you by using facial recognition on your own photographs to find people and tag photos so you can find great photographs of friends and family. Don't worry about security because everything is local and not being sold to advertisers like on FaceBook or Google+


7-Zip: Allows you to open some compressed file formats when downloading things from the internet, or if people send you files that are compressed to save space. I try to send pictures to people this way so I can send more in an email.


ImgBurn: I don't know a lot of people making CDs or DVDs but this is a burning software solution to just that.


Firefox: My favorite Internet browser. I have tried Internet Explorer and Chrome. I like Chrome and it even has most of the Addon (extensions) I like but the performance difference is about the same between the two. Chrome is a little faster to open, but I don't trust an Internet browser designed by a search engine/ad company to keep my browsing information safe, but I could be just paranoid.

After you've install FireFox you'll want the below Addon:
Adblock Plus: This is an Addon for FireFox that blocks ads on websites, like the advertising on YouTube. Once you've clicked the link from within FireFox click the "Add to FireFox"


Flash Player: With this you'll be able to view Flash on webpages. For example YouTube.com uses flash. When you Click on the Flash Player link you'll get a few different options/versions to install to from this page. The version you'll need is most likely: "Flash Player (Non-IE)" & "Flash Player  (IE)" these will give you Flash for Windows Internet Explorer and for FireFox (if you have that installed) the other two are for the respective Internet browsers but are the 64 bit versions. If you have a newer computer try downloading those first. If you don't have 64 bit Windows they won't install and you'll need to download the others.


Adobe Air: This is similar to Flash and if you use a lot of the Internet you probably should just install it now.


Silverlight: This is Microsoft's version of Flash if you will, but you'll need it on a few websites but not as many as websites as Flash uses.


Update, side note...if you want to take the time: http://portableapps.com/ is a great way to run apps from a thumb-drive or any removable hard drive, or it can be used the way I do, which is to run apps locally on your computer but to have an update manager and private environment for them for better security and privacy. It takes a little extra setup. The site has some good walk-throughs, otherwise all of my above instructions should be all you need.

Please let me know if I've missed any must haves or other comments you might have. Also note that I didn't include software that helps people get files illegally or files that I found useful or difficult for inexperienced users.

Update

Just an update about my travels so far.

I'm behind on my blog posts and am trying to catch up before the details leave my brain but it is difficult to find the time when all I really want to do is keep moving and seeing people, places, and things...so nouns.

I have left Taiwan but plan on five more posts for Taiwan plus a tutorial of sorts on my time there. I'm now in the Philippines and enjoying the improved weather. If you've been following the blog at all and noticed a change in the picture sizes (those embedded in the posts) and wondered why I started using smaller sizes, then today you get your answer... I've been using a smaller size for a few reasons. I find the smaller size loads faster on slower Internet connections like some I've experienced over seas, on mobile devices it displays the photos better, and lastly I've been trying to share more photos and don't want to massively long posts due to the photos, unless people want that?

Below are a few maps I made with Google to document what I've been doing. The first map are places I've been. I've only placed markers for cities I've spent some time exploring and not just passing through.



View Where I've Been So Far in a larger map

This second map is places I still hope to travel to.


View Places to go in a larger map

The Night Time is The Right Time

If you didn't know, my title is a ode to an Adam Sandler comedy CD, where in he has an ongoing skit about a cult and by the end they are chanting “The night time is the right time”...you're welcome.

As promised I'll cover some night markets, Public Transportation things you might want to see, some receipts, and some other odds and ends. My final post on Taiwan will be a better and more detailed post on the Public Transportation and such.

First here are a few shots from around the city...

          

          

          

    

    

Some public transit photos...in no real order...

                          

          

          

                        

                                    

          

                                        

Some things I just found odd/funny...

    

    

    

    

              

Here are the receipts I was talking about. Also, at the convenience stores (7 Eleven, Family Mart, etc...) you'll get the below stickers, which after you collect enough you can exchange fore discounts or things. I'm not spending enough at these types of stores or planning on being in Taiwan long enough so I just had fun sticking the stickers random places. The 7 Eleven is a good friend to me though, you can do a ton of things at the 7. Food, Liquor, Mail, ATM, WiFi (not free), Fax, Copy Machine, pay phone bills, etc...

                          

          

Some places I ate and enjoyed...

There aren't a lot of places that you can get Hispanic or Latin food at and “Tacos 2 Go!” was a good location. The photograph in the lower left is of a coffee shop called Cafe Barista and a great choice for decent coffee/tea and WiFi. The lower right photo is of a Japanese restaurant that I don't know how to translate to English. The food is good at the Japanese place but unfortunately their English is lacking so if you're not familiar with Japanese food you might have a hard time.

          

          

Had to visit the Guatemala embassy, but it was closed :( but I got this creepy photo of myself :)
Also, found they have Salsa in Taiwan...

             

Last but not least, the Night Market is something to experience while in Taiwan. I went to a few Night Markets while in Taipei. You can find just about anything at the night market. It reminds me of a giant 7 Eleven for that reason. You will get a lot of fried foods options, clothes, cellular phone accessories, and mixed into the melee are all of the other random odds and ends, such as: wigs, makeup, movies, electronics, etc... The atmosphere of most street markets is about the same. Most will have random people on scooters trying to make their way down the busy streets and every now and then you get the person in a car thinking they can do it too! People aren't mean, but they will get right behind you and will go around you if you stop but it feels almost like everyone is pushing everyone else forward in the heavy traffic locations.

The style of each market was about the same but the layout and size varied greatly, but most seem to have a temple somewhere in the mix. The largest one in Taipei was Shiling (or something like that) and it was massive! You can get overwhelmed if you either don't do well with large crowds, close quarters, or in Taipei's case narrow streets with high walls. I found my only complaint was that I got tired of moving at a snails pace in the busy parts, which seemed to be almost the entire market in Shiling. The other markets were a little smaller and less busy, which would bring me to the recommendation that you go to the largest market for the experience and spend most of your time at the less crowded markets.

          

          

In my next post I accomplished a few “firsts” for me, which include camping internationally, staying in a hostel, staying in a hotel in Taiwan, and asking locals if I can take their picture. ...stay tuned!