| Operating System and Utilities | Office Productivity | Multimedia |
| Miscellaneous Software | Hardware | Healthy PC Rules |
OS and Utilities
Windows XP Professional with SP3 install
Lenux Ubuntu 8.04
OS Add-ons
Process Explorer (sysinternals)
Auto Start (sysinternals)
PuttyVista Style - Drive Icon (shows current capacity of each hard drive)
Restoration 3.2.13 Brian Kato (find deleted files!!)
Folder Guide 1.1 (shortcuts to the folders you want open)
RocketDock (Creates a Mac OS X software launch experience)
Irfanview (excellent free graphic viewer)
Renaming Files
XP Text File Replacement
Widgets
Google Gadgets
Yahoo Widgets
Startup Programs
Windows Defender antispyware application (select software explorer from drop-down)
Security Suite
Antivirus
Threatfire 3.5 Malware ( free but currently conflicts with AVG
Grisoft AVG (free)
Avast! Antivirus 4.8 Home Edition
Virustotal.com (upload suspect file up to 10MB and 35 different antivirus engines will check it)
Firewall
Norton Internet Security 2009 (Highly Rated)
Comodo Personal Firewall 2.0 ( free firewall)
PC Firewall (Spare Computer Firewall)
smoothwall (linux bases firewall)
Test Your Firewall
ShieldsUP! (website driven software tests ability to stealth ports) 2008-03
PC Flank ( performs surgical strikes that emulate attacks to verify that your firewall blocks)
Write requests to Hard Drive (like Vista's UAC)
DriveSentry (has whitelist of trusted apps - if not trusted then you make the decision on if something is written to the hard drive) 2008-02
Antispyware (only install one antispyware program or there may be conflict. Do additional spyware checking with online services)
Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 5.5
TrendMicro's online House-call (online scanning)
Spyware Guide's online X-Cleaner Micro Edition (online scanning)
Ewido Networks (Grisoft)
Rootkit and more
Panda Anti-Rootkit (free and very good)
HijackThis (do a system scan, save the log file and post it at the forum at either spywareinfo or tech support guy and someone will find the problem)
RootkitRevealer by Microsoft
IceSword (highly rated program)
Popup Blocker
Antispam
USB Boot Management
Wi-Fi Security
SpotLock (JiWire) is software that provides wireless security protection, wireless connection management, and a global hotspot finder
Device and Port Security (lock-down usb, firewire, cd pc card, serial,... etc.)
VPN
HotSpotVPN (creates a vpn which protects you from Public Wi-FI data theft)
Publicvpn.com ( creates a vpn which protects you from Public Wi-FI data theft) $6.95 per month
AnchorFree Hotspot Shield (creates a vpn which protects you from Public Wi-FI data theft) Free with ads. 2008-7
LogMeIn Hamachi (free and very easy to use)
PersonalVPN (secures wireless connections)
Digital Hotspotter HS20 (device to find hotspots)
IM Encryption
Encryption
File Compression
M.Dev Software ZipGenius 6 (Compression is slow but extraction is excellent) Free
Winzip 11.1 (is just okay. compression speed poor but extraction very good)
Stuff-it 11 (compression and extraction is very good)
Backup
ShadowProtect Desktop 3.1 (images drive and even restores to systems with different hardware!) 2008-04
EMC Retrospect Professional 7.6
SyncBackSE (best value, excellent software)
Ultimate Boot CD (Choose Drive Immage XML)
Symantec (used to be Veritas) Backup Exec (enterprise software)
NovaSTore Nova Backup 10 Professional
Genie Backup Manager Backup Pro 8.0 (6/2008)
Backup Online
SOS Online Backup ( $49.95 per yr for 15GB, Multi-machines per account, restore files, unlimited versions, Right-Click add) 7/2008
Mozy (automatically archives)
Moxy Remote Backup (free for 2GB, data is safely backed up at a secure, remote location. You can access from the web)
xDrive (Back up files - your music, photos and more - automatically. Conveniently access all your files from anywhere Share with friends)
Egnyte (web 2.0 interface, sharing, backup, collaberation)
IBackup for Windows (expensive, high-end service, highly rated, less user friendly but more robust)
Avvenu (allows online file access and can copy your folders stored on it's server for a small fee)
Gmail storage (free; create a filter in gmail for subject "GMAILFS" and check has attachments, skip inbox and archive)
Godaddy (backup folder resides as a drive folder so drag and drop and you've backup the file to godaddy)
Sync Cellphones
ShoZu (free service lets users publish photos from your phone) 2008-July
SugarSync
Dashwire (windows mobile only)
Sync Folders
Foldershare (it's free) allows you to create a private peer-to-peer network that will help you to synchronize files across multiple devices and access or share files with colleagues and friends on the internet. read how-to-rules on Outlook, Quickbooks, databases. Bottom line: never have the file open in more than one computer or a sync error may occur.
FolderSync (great to sync with USB keys)
Scooter Software Beyond Compare (excellent power user sync)
BeinSync (sync you computers automatically, share with friends, backup files and access files anywhere)
Goodsync (try the free version)
Remote Access or Share Files
Microsoft's Remote Desktop Access (free and possibly already installed - make sure to download the latest version)
TightVNC 1.3.9 (free, see desktop of a remote machine and control it with your local mouse and keyboard)
Symantec pcAnywhere (Industry leading power user software, offers remote desktop, file transfer)
gotomypc (excellent product, access your computer from the internet)
LogMeIn ( Cheaper )
Avvenu (free, see online backup section for more info on Awenu)
MediaFire (free unlimited storage designed to host files to share with others. backup not guaranteed, so keep the original on your computer)
BeinSync (sync you computers automatically, share with friends, backup files and access files anywhere)
Drop.io (easiest way to share a file with others)
Forums
www.phbb.com
www.simplemachines.org
vBulletin
IP.Board
Web Meeeting
DimDim (free)
Chat Software
www.addonchat.com
www.parachat.com
www.x7chat.com
Disk Imaging or System Recovery Tools
ShadowProtect Desktop 3.1 (images your drive and allows that image to be used on another pc with different hardware!)
UBCD - burn ready ISO (over 100 utilities)
UBCD4Win - merges UBCD with BartPE. builder merges Bart's boot software with your XP install disc.
Data Recovery
Pandora Recovery 1.1.20 (free) NTFS only
Partitioning
Defragger
Registry Cleaner
XP Bloat to XP Lite
XPlite (removes the unwanted programs, services, modules and applets)
Migration
Download Manager
Screen Capture
Shopping Cart
AgoraCart (Free)
Password Manager
Roboform (for all browsers)
Trace Remover
Privacy Software
Privacy Browsing
Browser
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Firefox 3.0 and the following extension:
Brief
ColorfulTabs
DownloadHelper
Drag & Drop.io
Fast Dial
Febe (backup your firefox data)
Fireshot (take screeshot of the page, edit, save in (JPEG, Gif
Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer
Google Redesign(gmail)
Greasemonkey
IE View
Read it Later
Scrapbook
Surf Canyon - Search Engine Assistant to Google, Yahoo, and MSN
Wired-Marker
Fish Eye Tab
Tab Mix Plus
The following are Web Developer tools for Firefox
MeasureIT
Colorzilla
Document Map
Web Developer
Web Color NamesFirefox Bookmarks Synchronizer
Trillian Basic 3.1 (set up on hard drive, create settings, then transfer to usb key)
Folder Lock ($35) Excellent
Dead Bookmarks
Anonomous Browsing
Favorites/Bookmarks
Clip Partial or Full Web Pages
Windows File Manager
FTP
WebDrive (displays remote directories as just another folder in Windows Explorer)
Filezilla (Free)
Scheduler
XP’s or Vista's very own Scheduler
Virtual Machines
Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
VMWare Workstation 6.0 (loves Linux, least trouble with USB) Expensive
Virtual Software
Bufferzone Pro 2 (virtualizes system changes made by programs from suspect locations and can easily delete these changes)
Computer Monitoring
Monitor Color Adjuster
Diagnostic
Sandra Professional 2007 or XI
Wipe Files
Desktop Search
Google Desktop
MSN Search Toolbar with Window Desktop Search (places search boxes everywhere, can't save searches, has search history)
Yahoo Desktop Search (best filtering options, search box in task bar only, no search history, saves searches if desired)
Copernic Desktop Search (search box on task bar, folder windows, and in IE; search history)
P2P File Sharing
Bittorrent ( use client ABC or Shareaza instead)
Office Productivity
Office Suite
Microsoft Office 2003 or 2007
Office Suite Add-ons
CrossEyes 2.1 reveals MS Word formatting Code by www.levitjames.com
WordPipe 3.4 provides a search and replace across all files in a folder or folders www.crystalsoftware.com.au
Spreadsheet assistant www.add-ins.com
Cell color assistant www.add-ins.com
Shyam Pillai’s LiveWeb is a Powerpoint web page insert assistant. www.mvps.org/skp/liveweb.htm
Shyam PIllai's Secure Pack 3.0 for Powerpoint allows recipients to view but not change ( www.mvps.org/skp/liveweb.htm)
Shyam Pillai’s SecurePack prevents users from editing Powerpoint. http://www.mvps.org/skp/securepack/download.htm
PowerConverter converts a Powerpoint Presentation into a Macromedia Flash file. www.presentationpro.com
Excel ASAP Utilities 3.08 (free) (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace)
Excel Power Utility Pak 6 (http://j-walk.com/ss/pup/pup6)
Serious Magic's Ovation (for Powerpoint Presentation)
Email Client
Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007
Xobini (add-on greatly improves message management)
Microsoft Outlook Connector (sync your microsoft live account with Outlook)
*Outlook Attachment override (http://www.slovaktech.com)
rsvme (free questionnaire for your email; see tabulated results instantly)
Plaxo (your contact info that changes will automatically be updated with those who also belong to Plaxo)
yousendit (send up to 100 mb attachment file for FREE!)
Email Online
Yahoo Mail (bought Outpost)
AOL Mail
Email Large File Sending
SendThisFile
YouSendIt
Email program switch
ePreserver (best program when switching from AOL mail to elsewhere
RSS & ATOM
Newzcrawler (desktop)
Abilon 2.5.3 b196 (very nice)
Blog Lines (great best web based reader)
NewsGator Inbox (for use with Outlook)
Sage (Firefoxw plugin)
Blogging
Word Press 2.5.1
Revolution (Customizable themes that work with Word Press) 2008-07
Faxing (Internet)
CRM
Zoho (free, quite nice)
whosoff (online staff holiday, sick day or vacation calendar.)
Website Calendars
Trumba (provides families and other groups with calendars and subcalendars, can sync w/Outlook)
Yahoo Calendar does not provide subcalendars
Airset (Family/Business Calendar) sync's with Outlook and Palm's Hotsync. Shares calendars. Can also create lists
Website Creation and Web Presence
Satellite Images of your Neighborhood
Card Scanner
CardScanExecutive 8.0 (sadly, it uses proprietary image software that does not allow the image to be saved as a jpeg or any other type)
Iris Card Pro (can be saved to jpeg... etc.)
Collaboration
Microsoft's Groove workspace
OCR
ScanSoft OmniPage Pro 15
Readiris Pro 11
Abbyy FineReader 9.0 Professional
Adobe Acrobat 9.0 Pro
Foxit Reader (quick and free way to read PDF)
PDFCreator (free creator)
PrimoPDF (free)
CenoPDF
Personal Finance
Quicken 2008 or Money 2007
Business Finance
Quickbooks Premier 2007
Diagram Software
Microsoft Visio 2007
Instant Messaging or Video Messaging or Video Conferencing
SightSpeed (Best video quality)
Pidgin (connect to all IM accounts)
Cerulean Studios Trillian Pro 3.1
Meebo (web based IM using Ajax)
MULTIMEDIA
Publishing
Adobe Captivate 2 (Professional simulation and interactive demonstrations for online or compact discs that can be used for Sales, Marketing, & Product demonstrations)
Web Design
Adobe Dreamweaver or Adobe Creative Suite 3
Microsoft Expression Web
Website Add-ons
HitTail (collects info about search phrases that lead to your website; just add the hittail javascript code to each of your websites)
Photo Raw Format
Adobe DNG Converter (free)
Photo Album
Lightroom 2.0 by Adobe
Picasa Free Google software
Photo Printing
Snapfish (Superior print quality)
Photo Sharing
Phanfare (everyone who went on the trip can contribute; social photosite)
Flickr (good for serious photographers)
Tabblo (WSJ says that the site will change the way you share)
Photofiddle (excellent site that turns your photos into art)
Photo Blog
Picasa Google software with Hello (free)
Desktop Publishing
Adobe Illustrator CS 3 (creative suite)
Adobe Photoshop CS 3
* Plugin Digital SHo Professional 1.1
*Resize Pro by fredmiranda
*Color Efex Pro 2.0
Adobe Indesign CS 3
Corel Painter X (best natural media paint program)
Panaorama Factory 3.3 (Excellent!)
Audio & Video Productivity
TV Tuner
SageTV Media Center 5.0
DVD Player
Cyberlink PowerDVD Deluxe
DVD Slide Show
ProShow Gold 3.0 (golden standard for wedding, portrait and studio photographers)
Music Collection, Jukebox and Player
Helium Music 2007
DoubleTwist - iTunes (DRM stripper and converter to mp3)
Windows Media Player 11
Let WMP play quicktime and real time (http://www.free-codecs.com/)
Movie Collection
Moviemanager 2.02 (free) works with IMDB website
Audio Editor
Sony Creative Software Sound Forge 9
Steinberg Wavelab (used for multi-track environment)
Adobe Audition 2 (used to be Cool Edit Pro)
Audio
STEP 1: INSTALL EAC AND FLAG
Exact Audio Copy (EAC) will detect and attempt to auto-configure any optical drives on your system during setup. Check those you wish to use and click Next. Use the “I prefer to have accurate results” option and click Next.Choose the option “I don’t trust these values ...,” drop a clean audio CD in the drive, and click Next. It’s crucial that the drive you rip from has an ‘accurate stream,” meaning it does not produce “jitter” (if the drive can’t accurately seek a specific sector on the disc, ripped tracks will have audible distortion).
Remove the checkmark next to “Install and configure LAME. . .” and click Next. Enter an email address and click Next. Choose the Expert option at the final prompt and click Finish. Exit EAC.
Install FLAC, ignoring the Winamp and Nero messages. Leave checkmarks next to all the default options and click Install.
STEP 2: INSTALL ACCLJRATERIP
Install AccurateRip and then copy the file accuraterip.dII from C:\program files\llustrate\dbpoweram to C:\program files\ exact audio copy. Put a CD in the drive and re-launch EAC. Click the Configure button and then click OK. Select all tracks and click EAC’s Action menu. Choose Copy Selected Tracks from the drop-down menu; use the uncompressed option.
AccurateRip will compare your results to a database of rips by others and report a confidence level. “Confidence 30,” for example, means your rip is identical to that of 30 other people, so there’s a high probability it’s accurate. Click OK.STEP 3: CONFIGURE EAC
Click the EAC menu and choose EAC Options. Click the General tab. Leave these options at their defaults but place a checkmark next to “On unknown CDs” and select the option “Automatically access online freedb database.” Click the Tools tab and place checkmarks next to everything except “Create ‘.m3u’ playlist ...,” ”Do not open external...,” and “Activate beginner mode.”Click the Filename tab and enter the values %A\%C\%N - %T into Naming Scheme to create a nested directory structure that follows the Artist Name\Album Title\Track Number - Track Title scheme. Check “Use various artist naming scheme” and enter the values Various Artists\%C\%N - %A %T so compilation albums are stored in a “Various Artists” folder broken up by album. Click OK.
Click the EAC menu again and choose Drive Options and Extraction Method. Make sure Secure Mode is selected, with a check-mark next to “Drive has Accurate Stream feature.” Click the Drive tab and check “Spin up drive before extraction.” Leave everything else at default and click OK.
Click the EAC menu once more, choose Compression Options and External Compression. Check “Use external program for compression.” In the drop-down menu “Parameter passing scheme,” select “User Defined Encoder.” Type .flac in the “Use file extension” box.Click Browse, locate the FLAC executable (flac.exe), select it, and click OK. Enter these characters into “Additional command line options”: -6 -V -T “artist=%a” -T “title=%t” -T “album=%g” -T “date%y” -T “tracknumber%fl” -T “genre=%m” -T comment=”%e” -T “comment=EAC (Secure Mode)” %s. Bitrate doesn’t matter, but check “Delete WAV after compression” and “Check for external compression return code.”
STEP 4: COMMENCE ARCHIVING
Place the audio CD you wish to archive in the drive. Click the Action menu and choose “Test and Copy Selected Tracks” using the Compressed option this time. This will perform a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) to verify the integrity of your rip. It’s another paranoid step, but we think it’s warranted when producing critical backups. An OK will appear in EAC’s CRC column if the rip was executed successfully. Repeat until you’ve backed up your entire library.
Video Editor and More
Adobe Premier Elements3.0 (home user)
Digital Juice (royalty-free professional animations, stock footage, music, layered graphics, clip art, and templates)
SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 4.5 (extensive music libraries for all your video needs)
Video Presentations
Convert Powerpoint to streaming video, an AVI file or Flash Presentation (http://www.techsmith.com/default.asp)
Video Miscellaneous
Canopus Imaginate (excellent for panning across a still image, transforming photographs and other still images into movies. )
Video Copying and Converters
Super from erightsoft (free Audio and video converter-to encode and decode in any format) and player
Intervideo DVD Copy 5 use with css decryption AnyDVD by Slysoft (copy to a CD-R in a variety of formats & features most output formats)
AutoGK DVD Ripper and converter(free)
1 Click DVD Copy (excellent; does episodic; follow their link to use with css decryption software)
DVDX Platinum (does not burn to CDs and it will not let you copy episodic DVDs such as Entourage)
DVD Cloner 4 (excellent, but slow on updates and fixes, but full of features and includes built in deCSS)
convertX™PX-M402U (converts video into DivX, MPEG-4, MPEG-1/Video CD and MPEG-2/DVD formats)
Media Creation/Burning
Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite 9 (Easier to use)
Nero 7.5 or 8.0 (Power User)
Streaming Audio Capture
Replay Music 2.0
Ringtone Maker (make sure tone is less than 40 seconds)
Streaming Video Capture
enter video URL to keepvid.com which converts it to FLV file, convert to avi or mov or mp4 by vixy.net/flv_converter
MP3 Web Streaming
Slim Devices Slim Server 5.0
Open port 3483 tcp name: Slim Server Control
Open port 3483 udp name: SlimDiscovery
Open port 9000 tcp name: SlimServer Web
Camera Correction
DxO Optics Pro 2.0 (applies mathematical algorithms to images shot with specific camera/lens)
Miscellaneous
Website Traffic Analizer (Analytics)
VisiStat.5.0 (easy)
NextSTAT (easy)
ClickTrack (easy)
Webtrends (complex)
Omniture (complex)
WebSideStory(complex)
Google Analytics (not to easy and not to powerful or customizable)
Poker
Ebay Bidder
Ebay Item Search
Home Design
Home Design Architectural Design 18 or if money is no object pickup the high end versions
Chief Architect's Better Home and Gardens (easy to use)
Surveys
VOIP
VIRTUAL PBX
Online Auction MGMT
KeyLogger
Perfect Keylogger Software
Geektech
run prompt: sfc /scannow (fixes registry files: keep your xp disc handy)
Network Security (nmap.org and Nessu.org, Windows network scanning tool is Foundstone's superscan, GFI Lan-guard
Network Magic
Revo Uninstaller (much better than the lame XP version)
Spiceworks (asset managment, software licenses, monitor employee network usage..)
Qcheck (check your network speed; much more informative than using ping and it's free)
New Computer Shovelware removal!!! PC Decrapifier
LCD Dead Pixel search and possibly fixes stuck pixels http://udpix.free.fr
Site Tracking (visistat) only $14.95 per month!!!!!
memory test (www.memtest86.com)
www.Bootdisk.com or BartPE (http://www.nu2.nu)
Lost password for Windows Server use ERD Commander (http://www.winternals.com/products/index.asp)
Website Visitors( www.visitorville.com)
WinKeyFinder - Find, Recover, Change your Windows XP/Office Product Key) (http://www.winkeyfinder.com/downloads.htm)
Password Recovery
97 - XP, money (www.elcomsoft.com)
Microsoft Keyboard fix on F-Lock ( http://www.mvps.org/jtsang/flock.html )
Build sipstream OS install disc (upgrade your XP sp1 to XP2 with hotfixes or you can upgrade your XP2 to include hotfixes) Time Saver!!!
Use nliteos 1.3 (free) when adding sp2 to sp1. also use to burn your ISO or disc
Use Ryanvm (free) integrator with Ryanvm's windows XP post-sp2 update to add all the hotfix patches. go back to nliteos to do your burn or ISO.
Bootvis (www.microsoft.com) speeds up your boot process
Control Case Noise and fan speed (www.almico.com/speedfan.php) and how to configure.
CSIstick (copies everything on a cell phone to a usb flash drive)
Hardware
Misc
Nyko Desktop Multihub (4 usb, firewire, ps2, jacks, s-video output)
Mouse or Tablet
Logitech G5 mouse
Logitech MX Revolution
USB bar-code reader
Intelliscanner (wireless)
find on ebay - Modified CueCat
DVD/CD Copy with LightScribe
Aleratec 1:4 DVD/cd Copy Cruiser (copies up to 4 simultaneously and burns the image or text).
NAS
Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ or ReadyNAS Duo
Hammer Storage MyShare II (best value with great results)
Buffalo linkstation Pro (by far the fastest Nas for consumer-level units)
Mirra Personal Server M-250 (backs up and restores from multiple pcs)
Linksys EtherFast Network Attached Storage EFG 250 (offers gigabit and parallel port)
Multimedia Streaming
Remote Control
Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote
Logitech Harmony 520 (cheaper)
Remote Camera
Wilife lukwerks surveillance starter kit (excellent software with strong cameras)
3Jtech
Icode Systems i-catcher Sentry 2
D-Link Securicam DCS-5300G (Wi-Fi)
D-Link DCS-3420 - ability to see in low light
Video Camera or Camera
FlyCamCamOne2 (very tiny)
Flip Mino (very small, good quality)
Monitor Stand
Ergotron Deskstand 100 (mount two LCDs in portrait or landscape mode)
Multi-Monitor Software
Display Fusion (allows wallpaper to span multiple displays)
UltaMon (tons of options, allows for your screensaver to work on multiple monitors
Router
LInksys Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router
Router Firmware (updates firmware beyond product's own version)
DD-WRT
Tomato
HDMI Switch
Oppo HM-31 Advanced 3x1 HDMi Switch (works with Logitech Harmony)
Photo Frames
Pandigital (large screens with many features!)
Kodak (using Wi-Fi, device will download pictures from the Kodak Website where you upload your photos)
Audio Hub
Sonos Zoneplayer ZP100
Headphones
Grado GS1000 (Supra Aural) The best and costliest
Sennheiser PXC 450 Noisegard (excellent noise cancellation)
Ultimate EArs triple.fi 10 Pro (in-canal)
Zen Aurvana (great sound but possible heavy bass)
Sennheiser PMx-100 (supra-aural) (great sound for a great price)
Bose QuietComfort 3 (Quieting: 20 db, Frequency response: mid sag & high dive, Comfort: excellent)
Etymotic ER-6i Isolator (in-canal)
Keyboard
Bella Professional Series 3.0 keyboard (stick-on labels and jog wheel for professional video editing)
Metadot Das Keyboard (usb, no labels at all!, weighted keys!)
Unicomp purchased IBM's technology which offered the best tactile feedback
Gyration's Wireless Remote keyboard and Remote control for Media Center TV (top rated)
USB Keys (those with U3 platform can run programs from within the key; hold shift key when inserting key to suppress the key's Autodrive feature)
Corsair Flash Voyager 8GB (fastest at large files and slow on kilo files)
Kingston Datatraveler Secure 4GB (fastest for small files)
Sandisk Cruzer Titanium 2gb (very fast with great U3 software)
SanDisk Cruzer Countour (very fast, u3)
PortableApps Suite Standard (lots of great software)
COMPACT FLASH OR SD
Extreme IV CF
Ultra II SD
Power Supply Antec NeoPower 480 (www.antec-inc.com)
Audio - Portable Speakers
Lipsch iGroove HG (beautiful with excellent sound)
Bose SoundDock Digital Music System for Ipods only
Optical Disc Repair
Hard Drive Repair and Recovery
Ontrack (800-872-2599) $100 to diagnose and recovery costs between $400 to $2000
MP3 Speakers
Mac Software
ProofMaster Poscript RIP Software for Epson..etc
CPU Fan
CoolIT Freezone Elite (expensive but the best)
Zalman CNPS 8000 - excellent low profile cooler
Cooler Master Hyper 6+
Cooler Master Hyper 48
Best Recordable DVD Media
Fujifilm followed by Memorex
Best Hard Drives or Optical Drives
Plextor's Px716-A Optical drive (workhorse)
Western Digital VelociRaptor
IP Based Telephone Solution
Shoretel (20+ users)
Avaya
AltiGen's IP 710 Phone
IP PBX D-Link IP Telephony DVX-1000
Wi-Fi
Use Wi-Fi protected Setup (WPS) or at least WPA2)
WiTopia.net's Secure My Wi Fi Service (better than WPs or WPA2) because it uses RADIUS service (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) $99 per year
Meraki (Mesh network!!!! same technology used in citiwide Wi-Fi networks)
Fon Routers with multiple SSID for Wi-Fi sharing (Use 1 SSID for your private network and another SSID to share with the world
Hawking Hi-Gain USB wireless-G Dish adapter (directional dish antenna to increase wireless distance)
Portable Batteries
Home Lighting
Z-Wave Intermatic
Z-Wave Controlthink
Home Monitoring and Surveillance
Eaton's Home Heartbeat
iControl Network's iControl
Logitech's WiLife (power line networking, web video)
Conventional Cat5 surveillance system
On-Line UPS Battery Backup
Soundproof Ideas
www.acoustipc sells dual-layered foam sheets for the inside panels of your case
Use linerless rubber splicer tape (Home Depot) use a US dime coin to trace the circle and use as a washer for you hard drive connect to your bay. Removes the vibration!
Media Formats
MP3 for lossy, FLAC for lossless and MPEG-4 for Video(H.264 or AAC+)
HEALTHY PC RULES
Constant
- virus updated
- spyware updated
Daily
- Auto backup (incremental)
Weekly
- full virus scan
- full spyware scan
- Window washer (clear cache, trash ...etc.)
- defrag
- full backup
Monthly
- Update drivers
- Check hard drives (chkdsk)
Semi-Annual
- Clean Filters, fans, remove dust from case, ... etc.
- Update Bios
- Update Software
- LCD Dead pixel software check
- Test Battery Backup
Ebay Scams
Report to Ebay, Better Business Bureau, National Consumers League, PayPal (if used ), US Postal Service (if used)