I am asked quite often what programs I would set up on a new computer. I usually answer these email inquiries individually. However, today I thought I would start a series of articles regarding the apps I get quizzed on most often.
This is in reference to applications I like better than those supplied with Windows computers. They are not necessarily the best programs to accomplish their assigned tasks but the ones I like best. You may certainly go to DoubleClicks.info or email me and share your opinions. Also, these are all free…you know me.
When you get a new computer go straight to Ninite.com. Ninite offers almost 90 applications that you can add to Windows in one visit. You click check box next to the program you want to install and when finished download the resulting executable file. Run it and all of the programs you chose will be installed to your computer. It will take a while depending on how many you choose but it is quicker than going to each site, downloading a file and then installing each individually. Most of the programs I will talk about here may be found at Ninite. It has always worked flawlessly for me.
Next on my list is a browser since both of the versions of MSIE (Edge included as one) are OK browsers but not the best. I choose Google Chrome for my favorite and run it as my default browser (google.com/chrome). My second vote would be for Firefox. (firefox.com)
Now the biggie?! Do I recommend Microsoft Office? If so which version and if not what office application do I use? Tough question as I use Microsoft Office 2016 on my main computer. It is an excellent office suite. However, when that license expires, and another charge is levied by MS for its continuation (i.e., cloud versions) or whatever else may financially "get" me, I will switch. I will happily switch to Libre Office (libreoffice.org) which is an Open Source application. (translation = free)
Libre Office is equal to the MS Office Suite is most respects for the largest majority of users. The main difference between the two is that LO uses a menu driven system like MS Office did up until version 2007 where it switched to the Ribbon. By-the-way, after almost 10 years of using the Ribbon in Office I still think the menu system was better. But back to Libre Office as a great replacement for the best known office suite. For a very detailed comparison between LO and MO go here.
The last one for this week is what PDF viewer do I favor? The most well-known is Adobe Acrobat (get.adobe.com/reader); however, you basically may only view PDF files using that application. If you need to create or edit them, you need to pay for the application. Guess what? Libre Office, as well as Microsoft Office, can view, edit and create PDF files. So if you have one of them you have no need for another application that does less.
Next we will look at some utilities, a great video player, video chat and more!
