Since I'm asking about Windows software, I might as well ask a bit more. I know there are some programs that can vastly improve the experience of using Windows, such as using Foxit in place of Acrobat, and Opera (or FireFox, or.. pretty much anything) in place of IE. What others are there? Any programs that are on the "The Windows install isn't done until I download *this* to make it tolerable" list? Free preferred. Cross-platform is a bonus.

I hope to download these at home (where there is DSL) and burn a CD for my next visit to sistaur. Even with drive time, it'll likely be faster than downloading on the dialup connection.

Current Mood: curious

Last weekend I got sistaur's computer into a reasonably useful state, but in doing so removed an (outdated) anti-virus program or two. Since it is Windows (XP), I suppose there ought to be some sort of anti-malware program. The problem is, I have no idea about that. I haven't had to deal with keeping Windows secure for some time.

So I am looking for recommendations. The anti-{adware,spyware,virus,whatever} should not drag system performance down noticeably, and would ideally be free. Any recommendations?

Current Mood: curious

...but it can be made more tolerable than it is "out of the box."

Generally when I find I need some application for Windows, the first place I look is TinyApps which has links to programs that are for DOS or Window(95/98/NT/2k/XP) and small enough to fit on a floppy. Even if floppies are fading into history, it's a nice measurement. A small program doesn't take up much space, probably doesn't take up much memory, and has fewer places for bugs to hide. Also, small is beautiful - generally there isn't anything unnecessary, like ugly style-breaking default skins.

I had need of a stopwatch today. Looking at TinyApps (under Misc) I found a simple timer. There was also a simple calendar. Something I've gotten used to on Linux is being able to click on the clock and get a simple calendar that I can flip through the months. No scheduling or anything, it just shows me the days of the month(s). It sounds trivial, but it's one of those little things a person starts to just expect. So on Windows it's annoying when it's not there. I don't have it exactly as on Linux, but now there is a calendar icon next to the clock. And now XP is just that little bit more tolerable.

( Preserved comment(s) )

Current Mood: pleased

That message is one I expect to see if I made changes to some file and tried to exit the program without having saved the file. That's fine. I like that reminder. It's useful and has saved me headaches and re-work.

What I do not like is using Word, saving the file, printing it, and then being asked if I want to save changes. Huh? I made no changes. I printed the file. Printing is not editing. Or with Excel, I open a spreadsheet, look at it, make no changes - not even moving the highlighted cell or scrollbars! - and when I close the thing I get asked if I want to save changes. There were no changes. Why ask if I want to save changes when there aren't any?

Is it any wonder I prefer to use third party software whenever possible?

( Preserved comment(s) )
Current Mood: annoyed

It took (yet another) a Google search for "Windows Explorer Annoyances" that lead to a page about Windows Explorer harf on Windows Me but, finally, I have what *I* want. The trick? Command-line switches that XP's help seems not to mention.

How about them apples? Windows XP is what you get when you infect the stability of Windows 2000 with the poor user interface choices of Windows Me.

Target: C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /n,/e,C:\home\neubauer\

Now I have what I want rather than what some imbecile in Redmond believes I should have.

( Preserved comment(s) )

Current Mood: Still annoyed by this.

Windows XP sucks. That is all.

( Preserved comment(s) )

Current Mood: pissed off

Windows Explorer in XP, or whatever XP calls the file manager, is trying to be helpful. That means it is really being annoying. On the desktop is a shortcut for "Documents" that opens the file manager to a documents directory. This directory is, however, not the one I really want. I want C:\home\neubauer instead.

I figured I'd just change the shortcut and give it the properties I want. It almost worked. It will give me direct access to C:\home\neubauer\ BUT that's now seemingly a ghost of the real thing. I'm not really there in the directory tree where I can, if I want to, easily jump to another directory, like C:\usr\bin or some other that I want to get to fast from time to time.

Instead of doing what I want, the system is trying to guess what I need and getting it wrong. It wants to be helpful in the worst way. And it is that: helpful in the worst way. I don't want this incompetent help. I want it to get out of my way. The Win95 box's Windows Explorer comes up at C: and shows the whole directory tree. That is acceptable. At least I can navigate directly from there without having to go through the extra step of clicking a "Folders" button. Even Windows 2000 got it right. But XP just had to go improve things the Microsoft way. The result: it sucks.

I've put up with this silly XP behavior for a few weeks now and my patience is running out. Anyone know how, or even if, the XP file manager can be whacked into doing the right thing? I haven't looked into replacement file managers just yet, but it may come to that.

( Preserved comment(s) )

SOLUTION (30 March):

It took a Google search for "Windows Explorer Annoyances" that lead to a page about Windows Explorer harf on Windows Me but, finally, I have what *I* want. The trick? Command-line switches that XP's help seems not to mention.

How about them apples? Windows XP is what you get when you infect the stability of Windows 2000 with the poor user interface choices of Windows Me.

Target: C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /n,/e,C:\home\neubauer\

Now I have what I want rather than what some imbecile in Redmond thinks I need.

Current Mood: annoyed

( Operating systems )

Current Mood: satisfied

Currently running...

OS - Win2k

TeraTerm - ssh to thebrain for mail & news.
mIRC - WTnet: #Warnercafe, #Centaur, #unixgeek, the odd query window.
Windows Explorer - Some things are just done easier in a file manager.
TextPad - Tabbed text editing, with context highlighting and stuff.
Audacity - so I can go from tape (yes, tape) to mp3.
Opera - Web browsing, on my terms.
IrfanView - image viewing.

Bellkin Bulldog - UPS monitor
Week Scheduler - simple timer/reminder