Computer tips
Hi again!
Since I've stated not long ago that it's better to put off buying a new computer for now, here are tips to make the most out of your current computer instead! :D
1. Speeding up you computer
2. Computer security: Avast, AVG and others
3. Browsers: Opera, Firefox and Firefox plugins
4. Image programs: Gimp and Inkscape
Speeding up your computer
Just read this great article I've found. :)
Just one extra tip for me: if like with my laptop, your computer is slow-as-hell with defragmenting, then try to find out how to start it in "Safe mode." Safe mode disables most of the computer's softwares and hardwares. You won't be able to do anything in Safe Mode, but I find Defragmenting works much more quickly this way.
Computer security
If you use Norton... get rid of it. All reviews I've come across basically state the same thing: that it's been going downhill since 2003, and that it slows your computer down considerably.
Instead, here are free alternatives that get very high marks:
- Avast Antivirus - the one I use
- AVG Antivirus - the one one of my friends use :)
Here are a few other good free programs to check out:
- CCleaner is apparently a good program to clean up your computer of junk and malicious adware. I've downloaded this one. Run it once a week or the likes.
- Spybot Search and Destroy targets bots on your computer.
Maybe the rest of you use something else. I'm open to recs! :D
Browsers
If you haven't switched to Firefox or Opera yet... please do it. Even the teachers at the university I went to actually told us to do this first thing, for security reasons.
Firefox and Opera both blocked popups and had tabs long before ie even thought of them. Unlike ie, it doesn't let suspicious programs filter through. Basically, ie is part of the Windows system, and is what the system uses to get updates... which makes it a prime target for system-affecting attacks, as well. At the very least, using these alternative browsers over ie is a good security measure.
Which one to chose? Firefox or Opera? The one you've probably heard of is Firefox. It is said to have the smoothest "finish," and you can always add more functions through add-ons.
On the other hand, Opera has more default features, and is apparently faster. It's a matter of preference.
You might also want to drop the attack-prone Outlook for Firebird.
If you go with Firefox, then be sure to check up the add-ons. You can also access them through the bottom of the default Google home page shipped with Firefox. Here are a few I'd recommend:
Downloading
- Download Status Bar - I personally dislike Firefox's download pop-up window. This plugin present all the downloads as status bars at the bottom of your browser instead.
- Flashgot - a free download accelerator manager. Note: it is a Manager, not a download accelerator in itself. You have to download accelerator programs seperately, but flashget provides a handy common interface. To see what download manager programs you can use with this, go to the flashgot home page.
Note: Download accelerators usually work by sending multiple calls to a download site, cutting up the target file into pieces and downloading each at the same time. As such, they're usually used by broadband users wishing to download faster from slow sites: the sites treat each "piece" as though it were from a separate user.
However, I recommend download accelerators even if you don't have broadband: unlike most default settings in browsers, they allow you to resume broken downloads, which is nice for those pesky downloads that keep breaking off when you reach 80% (tip: with download managers, if download freezes, pause the download then resume again). I'm pretty sure that even the server on the other side benefits from not having to send me the same file over and over as the download keeps getting interrupted. I remember getting downloads interrupted then having to start over at 30%, then 70%, then 80%, then over 90% respectively. It was ridiculous. =\
- Fast Video Downloader - You know those Youtube clips? You can actually download and save them (in case they get deleted later on). There are two separate downloaders for this, I personally have both installed. I used to use other add-ons, but this is a new one I've recently found, and doesn't have the weaknesses of the other two.
Note: The download and your viewing a clip online are separate processes, so if you're not in a hurry to see the clip, close the window once download has started. You'll also need to install the flv player to view the clips. :)
Images
- Image zoom - install this, and you can right click -> zoom in and out of a picture. Handy for those oversized pictures. :)
- Zoomfox - I've only come across this one recently. What it does is open the image in a Separate tab, and you can very easily zoom in and out of the picture from there.
- Save image in folder - This is for those of you who like to save a lot of images for one reason or another. You can right click and assign the folder you want the picture to download to. It saves you the hassle of "save in" while still allowing you to chose different folders.
- Imageshack toolbar - this is for those who like to Upload many images at the same time, for forum use for example.
Miscellaneous
- Adblock plus - Firefox blocks pop-ups, but if you want to block the (in my opinion less intrusive) inbedded ads on top of that, you can install this add-on.
- gtranslate - allows you to do right click -> translate on bit of text you highlight.
- Foxy tunes - allows you to control music you listen to from within the browser.
Of course, depending on what you like to do online, you're always free to search for more add-ons. ^^
4. Graphics programs!
Me, I'm a geek wannabe, so when possible, I go for open-source alternatives instead of pirated programs. It also doesn't hurt that open source programs do nearly everything you could ask of them (and then some), while consuming less computer resource (yay for slow computers!).
The first program is The Gimp of course, an extensive open source program that's basically a free alternative to Photoshop. :) I used to do just about everything image-related on it: photo corrections, photo manipulation, line cleaning and coloring. Other people actually use it for professional image-related tasks.
Note: Gimp is still mostly a photo manipulation program, so its interface is less geared to painting as one would like. You can still do it of course, and some people do a fine job with it, but it's not Gimp's main development goal.
This point brought me to Inkscape, an awesome vector program that I'm currently absolutely in love with. It's a free alternative to Adobe Illustrator, and updates with brand new features every half year or so. I personally was floored when I saw what it was capable of recently compared to when I first tried it out several years ago. :) Here's the result of an experiment I did with it recently.
Inkscape does have a learning curve, but once you get used to it it is the Smoothest interface experience I've ever had with an advanced image program. It's awesome. You just have to spend a few hours learning the interface (ah well, no pain no gain). My recommendation is to read the manuals provided, find tutorials such as this awesome one, and basically experiment with it until you figure it out.
I also plan to do my own Inkscape tutorial in the coming months. Hopefully it will help you overcome the initial learning curve a bit easier. :)
By now, you have:
- Gimp - a photo manipulation program that can also be used for painting
- Inkscape - a vector illustration program
- and you'd like a Painter program now, right? One that uses natural brushes and stuff? Krita will become that eventually.
Krita is another open source program whose interface is more geered towards painting than Gimp, and who has plans on incorporating "natural brushes" soon enough (as soon as the upcoming Google Summer of Code). Its ultimate aim: to compete against Corel Painter.
Unfortunately though, Krita is Linux-only for now, part of Koffice suite. They do plan to have a Windows build by version 2.0 though, yay! :) The down side: I have No idea when That's supposed to be. XP
I hope you've enjoyed this particular post, and found something useful in it for you. Happy computing, and I'm open to hearing recs of your own. :)
Since I've stated not long ago that it's better to put off buying a new computer for now, here are tips to make the most out of your current computer instead! :D
1. Speeding up you computer
2. Computer security: Avast, AVG and others
3. Browsers: Opera, Firefox and Firefox plugins
4. Image programs: Gimp and Inkscape
Speeding up your computer
Just read this great article I've found. :)
Just one extra tip for me: if like with my laptop, your computer is slow-as-hell with defragmenting, then try to find out how to start it in "Safe mode." Safe mode disables most of the computer's softwares and hardwares. You won't be able to do anything in Safe Mode, but I find Defragmenting works much more quickly this way.
Computer security
If you use Norton... get rid of it. All reviews I've come across basically state the same thing: that it's been going downhill since 2003, and that it slows your computer down considerably.
Instead, here are free alternatives that get very high marks:
- Avast Antivirus - the one I use
- AVG Antivirus - the one one of my friends use :)
Here are a few other good free programs to check out:
- CCleaner is apparently a good program to clean up your computer of junk and malicious adware. I've downloaded this one. Run it once a week or the likes.
- Spybot Search and Destroy targets bots on your computer.
Maybe the rest of you use something else. I'm open to recs! :D
Browsers
If you haven't switched to Firefox or Opera yet... please do it. Even the teachers at the university I went to actually told us to do this first thing, for security reasons.
Firefox and Opera both blocked popups and had tabs long before ie even thought of them. Unlike ie, it doesn't let suspicious programs filter through. Basically, ie is part of the Windows system, and is what the system uses to get updates... which makes it a prime target for system-affecting attacks, as well. At the very least, using these alternative browsers over ie is a good security measure.
Which one to chose? Firefox or Opera? The one you've probably heard of is Firefox. It is said to have the smoothest "finish," and you can always add more functions through add-ons.
On the other hand, Opera has more default features, and is apparently faster. It's a matter of preference.
You might also want to drop the attack-prone Outlook for Firebird.
If you go with Firefox, then be sure to check up the add-ons. You can also access them through the bottom of the default Google home page shipped with Firefox. Here are a few I'd recommend:
Downloading
- Download Status Bar - I personally dislike Firefox's download pop-up window. This plugin present all the downloads as status bars at the bottom of your browser instead.
- Flashgot - a free download accelerator manager. Note: it is a Manager, not a download accelerator in itself. You have to download accelerator programs seperately, but flashget provides a handy common interface. To see what download manager programs you can use with this, go to the flashgot home page.
Note: Download accelerators usually work by sending multiple calls to a download site, cutting up the target file into pieces and downloading each at the same time. As such, they're usually used by broadband users wishing to download faster from slow sites: the sites treat each "piece" as though it were from a separate user.
However, I recommend download accelerators even if you don't have broadband: unlike most default settings in browsers, they allow you to resume broken downloads, which is nice for those pesky downloads that keep breaking off when you reach 80% (tip: with download managers, if download freezes, pause the download then resume again). I'm pretty sure that even the server on the other side benefits from not having to send me the same file over and over as the download keeps getting interrupted. I remember getting downloads interrupted then having to start over at 30%, then 70%, then 80%, then over 90% respectively. It was ridiculous. =\
- Fast Video Downloader - You know those Youtube clips? You can actually download and save them (in case they get deleted later on). There are two separate downloaders for this, I personally have both installed. I used to use other add-ons, but this is a new one I've recently found, and doesn't have the weaknesses of the other two.
Note: The download and your viewing a clip online are separate processes, so if you're not in a hurry to see the clip, close the window once download has started. You'll also need to install the flv player to view the clips. :)
Images
- Image zoom - install this, and you can right click -> zoom in and out of a picture. Handy for those oversized pictures. :)
- Zoomfox - I've only come across this one recently. What it does is open the image in a Separate tab, and you can very easily zoom in and out of the picture from there.
- Save image in folder - This is for those of you who like to save a lot of images for one reason or another. You can right click and assign the folder you want the picture to download to. It saves you the hassle of "save in" while still allowing you to chose different folders.
- Imageshack toolbar - this is for those who like to Upload many images at the same time, for forum use for example.
Miscellaneous
- Adblock plus - Firefox blocks pop-ups, but if you want to block the (in my opinion less intrusive) inbedded ads on top of that, you can install this add-on.
- gtranslate - allows you to do right click -> translate on bit of text you highlight.
- Foxy tunes - allows you to control music you listen to from within the browser.
Of course, depending on what you like to do online, you're always free to search for more add-ons. ^^
4. Graphics programs!
Me, I'm a geek wannabe, so when possible, I go for open-source alternatives instead of pirated programs. It also doesn't hurt that open source programs do nearly everything you could ask of them (and then some), while consuming less computer resource (yay for slow computers!).
The first program is The Gimp of course, an extensive open source program that's basically a free alternative to Photoshop. :) I used to do just about everything image-related on it: photo corrections, photo manipulation, line cleaning and coloring. Other people actually use it for professional image-related tasks.
Note: Gimp is still mostly a photo manipulation program, so its interface is less geared to painting as one would like. You can still do it of course, and some people do a fine job with it, but it's not Gimp's main development goal.
This point brought me to Inkscape, an awesome vector program that I'm currently absolutely in love with. It's a free alternative to Adobe Illustrator, and updates with brand new features every half year or so. I personally was floored when I saw what it was capable of recently compared to when I first tried it out several years ago. :) Here's the result of an experiment I did with it recently.
Inkscape does have a learning curve, but once you get used to it it is the Smoothest interface experience I've ever had with an advanced image program. It's awesome. You just have to spend a few hours learning the interface (ah well, no pain no gain). My recommendation is to read the manuals provided, find tutorials such as this awesome one, and basically experiment with it until you figure it out.
I also plan to do my own Inkscape tutorial in the coming months. Hopefully it will help you overcome the initial learning curve a bit easier. :)
By now, you have:
- Gimp - a photo manipulation program that can also be used for painting
- Inkscape - a vector illustration program
- and you'd like a Painter program now, right? One that uses natural brushes and stuff? Krita will become that eventually.
Krita is another open source program whose interface is more geered towards painting than Gimp, and who has plans on incorporating "natural brushes" soon enough (as soon as the upcoming Google Summer of Code). Its ultimate aim: to compete against Corel Painter.
Unfortunately though, Krita is Linux-only for now, part of Koffice suite. They do plan to have a Windows build by version 2.0 though, yay! :) The down side: I have No idea when That's supposed to be. XP
I hope you've enjoyed this particular post, and found something useful in it for you. Happy computing, and I'm open to hearing recs of your own. :)