Buzz Out Loud Lounge: What would you install on a new WinXP PC?
What would you install on a new WinXP PC?
by gogomama - 8/13/07 1:20 PMOk, so my soon to be sister-in-law needed a computer built and she gave me cash to order everything and put it together. I have it assembled, winXP is installed, and it's all patched up. My question to the buzz community is: what free programs would you install on a machine for a non-techie? So far I've added Firefox (with flash plugin) and AdAware as well as put the install executable for pidgin on the desktop.
Surely there's some other good free software I'm just not thinking of she might like. I don't have to install all of them, just having the install files there and giving her the choice would be fine I think. It already has Microsoft Office, so no need for OpenOffice.
(NT) Ccleaner?
by alex_smurf - 8/13/07 1:38 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaWorld of Warcraft
by demonjrules - 8/13/07 2:21 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaThat should keep her busy enough to even notice all of the software you put on
(NT) OpenOffice.org
by benanzo - 8/13/07 2:43 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomama(NT) oops...oh well, get rid of MS Office and instal OpenOffice
by benanzo - 8/13/07 2:44 PM In reply to: (NT) OpenOffice.org by benanzosome other suggestions
by mountainfrog - 8/13/07 7:09 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaQuicktime Alternative (to watch quicktime movies)
Real Alternative (to watch/play real media)
Foxit Reader (view PDF)
Firefox Plugin Adblock Plus (or similar to block ads on web pages)
AVG AntiVirus (free version, though it may overlap some with adaware)
Winzip or WinRAR (not necessarily free and may not be needed since WinXP has built-in zip extraction)
a few more
by mountainfrog - 8/13/07 7:46 PM In reply to: some other suggestions by mountainfrogJuice (for rss podcast)
VLC (video/DVD player,imho better than windows media and it comes with lots of codecs)
I am sure there are others..but I cant think of any now. hth.
Advanced WindowsCare Personal
by indy1333 - 8/14/07 10:42 AM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaa good, free, easy-to-use computer maintenance program.
available on download.com
Good Anti Virus
by ssavoy0329 - 8/14/07 12:03 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaI would choose Avast Antivirus over AVG. The interface is a little bit easier to use and I have had an overall better experience. Another must I think is CCleaner. This will clean up any left over internet files built up over the days, weeks, or months (or for some people), years.
Other thing..
by ssavoy0329 - 8/15/07 3:40 PM In reply to: Good Anti Virus by ssavoy0329Don't fill it up with too much stuff though. I would say just pick one or two antivirus software, one photo organizer, one desktop search. Don't fill it up with too many programs to start with. Get OpenOffice and make a document giving tips and recommendations for her to keep her computer up-to-speed, and throw in some links she might want to look in to.
That's pretty much the plan
by gogomama - 8/15/07 4:21 PM In reply to: Other thing.. by ssavoy0329Aside from MS Office (sorry OpenOffice fans, she has it and wants it installed), Firefox, and AdAware I don't plan on installing anything. I was just going to leave a folder on her desktop of install files and a text doc explaining what each program is, and then giving her the option of what to install. No need to gunk up the registry with a bunch of programs she might not ever use.
I do want to say thanks everyone for the suggestions. They've been a big help.
(NT) Ubuntu
by Nicholas Buenk - 8/14/07 6:51 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaA few more
by Ron-Mexico - 8/14/07 8:46 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaPicasa - Still the best for photo organizing and even for basic photo editing needs. Very nice interface.
K-Lite Codec Pack - should cover most video formats a person would ever encounter.
Copernic or Yahoo Desktop Search - To each his own, but I personally like these over Google Desktop.
Mozilla Thunderbird
by PudgyOne - 8/15/07 9:14 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamafor the email program.
Don't use Outlook Express.
Rick
Short List
by Renegade Knight - 8/17/07 12:29 PM In reply to: What would you install on a new WinXP PC? by gogomamaFirefox
ZoneAlarm.
A free antivirus program (check download.com's list of popular apps).
Openoffice.org (unless they needed something else).
Thunderbird for email.
Adobe Reader.
Adware & Spybot Search and Destroy.
CCleaner & A Defrag program (again check download.com...)
That's the short list to cover the basics on any computer. Add from there according to specific needs.
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