New Machine = a chance to set it up right

I use the 2007 Suite. I made the shift from WordPerfect last year.

I have used Eudora in the past but use Outlook now - I don't know what other software would work so well with my Blackberry.
 
Tek7 said:
I use Microsoft 2007 and like it, but I'd recommend staying away from Microsoft Office betas on a "main" computer. MS tends to install a fair amount of cruft with Office, though it seems they're not as bad about it as they used to be (at least, not in Office 2007).

Unless you need Outlook or Microsoft Office-specific features, I'd recommend OpenOffice.org.
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I expect Office 2010 to be great. My theory is that for each Microsoft product family, every other product is purposefully crippled. MS knows they won't lose their entire audience in one product generation, especially since people can just wait to upgrade if they choose to. Having a terrible product makes the next product seem that much better.

Example, Windows (I'm leaving out business OSs):
Win95 - revolutionary
Win98 - BSOD city
Win98 SE - Stable, loved by many
Win ME - Do I even need to comment?
Win XP - Yay!
Vista - Again, need I say more?
Win 7 - Everyone loves it

Sure, Windows 7 is a great operating system...but a stable, nice OS with a fancier interface is what Vista was supposed to be.

Office 2007 is terrible for a myriad of reasons, so I expect 2010 will be great.
 
I don't get usually say this about MS products very much, but I do really love the Office 2010 beta. Mostly because it is fast. Like, really fast. As in, there is little to no wait time between telling it to load up and it being ready to use. Vast difference in comparison with the '07 version.
 
I didn't mean to suggest that Office 2010 won't be better than Office 2007. I simply advise against installing limited-time betas for products that will eventually cost money to use the release version unless you expect, with reasonable certainty, that will be able (financially) and willing to use the release product.

If you've decided that you're going to buy and use Office 2010 at release, then, by all means, use the beta.

If you're on the fence, I'd recommend using a freeware alternative or continuing to use Office 2007 until an official release.

Microsoft has likely improved the uninstall process for Office in recent versions, but I know the uninstall process used to be a mess.
 
Abba San said:
1) What is uTorrent? What does it do? Why would I need it?
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First it's μTorrent, (mu the Greek equivalent of m, also the SI prefix for micro)

It's a BitTorrent P2P file sharing program, good if you need to download large, common files.
 
ah - I probably won't need that then.

By the way it is a mu on the icon but a u in the name (at least on ninite.com) and in its website, uTorrent.com.

Again, thanks - I don't want to load anything superfluous. More ideas, please - this is my first new computer in nearly six years and IT IS COMING TOMORROW!
 
Abba San said:
ah - I probably won't need that then.

By the way it is a mu on the icon but a u in the name (at least on ninite.com) and in its website, uTorrent.com.

Again, thanks - I don't want to load anything superfluous. More ideas, please - this is my first new computer in nearly six years and IT IS COMING TOMORROW!
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The name of the program when it is running is (mu)torrent, and the wikipedia page is MTorrent, M being a capital mu, it's a minimalistic version, so I'm pretty sure it's pronounced micro-torrent.
 
Abba San said:
Xion - thanks for the edit where you added your recommendations - that is helpful and I do have a few questions:

1) What is uTorrent? What does it do? Why would I need it?

2) Do you have a preference between Pidgin and Digsby? I'll do anything to keep from downloading Yahoo.

3) Have you tried 7-Zip and TerraCopy against Windows 7's tools? I was hoping that Windows 7 did a better job than Vista.

4) What does K-Lite do? Why would I need it?

5) Are you like Tek - MS Essentials is doing the trick for you? I generally steer away from MS options. I have been using Malwarebyte and Avira for a year or so and been pretty pleased.

6) How does ImgBurn interact with iTunes? That is most of the disc burning that I do.

7) What do you think of KeePass? Or do you have something better for password managing?

That's enough for now - I guess.

They have upped the delivery time for my new machine to TOMORROW!

Still - any advice is appreciated. Anyone - feel free to answer these same questions.
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1.) N/A

2.) Digsby...

3.) They kick the crap outta 7's tools...

4.) Gives you all the codecs you will need, ever for any video or music playing...

5.) Essentials has been proven to detect more threats than any other free Anti-Virus out there...and by using FF and No-Script you will most likely not get any malware...

6.) ImgBurn is faster and better than almost any other burning options out there...never used it with iTunes so not sure...

7.) I prefer LASTpass...
 
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IT ARRIVED!

Actually it was not loaded with a bunch of junk. I'm going to uninstall the McAfee but I'll probably leave the Roxio - just in case. Those are the only two unwanted items. Now the downloads begin.

Thanks for the advice, everyone.
 
Just out of curiosity what are you installing?

And, I recommend backing up those installs and drivers to a separate disk.. it just makes the future more convenient.
 
I use:

MS Office
Google Chrome
WordSearch Bible
Guild Wars

those are the big four that I use all the time - almost every day

MalwareByte and Avira - (although I do hear good things about MS Essentials - and someone had mentioned a program called Comodo for antivirus, etc.)
RegCure
WinDirStat
iTunes
Photoshop

I don't use now but probably will try based on what people have said in this thread

Defraggler
Digsby
7-Zip
ImgBurn
CCleaner
TeraCopy

Then there is the transfer of my data files

That is most of it - so far. If you have more suggestions - now is the time. Thanks.
 
Xion - thank you for the ninite site - that made everything so much easier. What a find that is.
 
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