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KevinYong
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 64
Location: California
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 Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:07 am Post subject: Fresh start with a new computer |
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Hi guys.
My old XP machine is starting to burn out, so I've managed to save up to get a shiney new replacement with 64-bit Windows Vista to run all the bells and whistles with the new Adobe Creative Suite 4.
My problem? My technology knowledge is very narrowly focused. I'm great with specialized desktop publishing software because I use it all day at my job, but I'm very much a novice when it comes to hardware or operating systems.
All that to say... does anyone have any suggestions on useful programs for a new computer? Automatic backup software? Hard drive partitioning? CD burning software? Browser plugins? Password managers? Antivirus? Flashy things that go "beep"? 
Aside from my desktop publishing tools, I'm feeling overwhelmed trying to decide between all these different software options. Any advice?
-- Kevin |
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Gerry Lee
Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:11 am Post subject: Congratulations! |
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Dear Kevin,
I just wanted to say 'Congratulations' on your new computer:) I hardly know anything about computers myself, so I can't make any suggestions you haven't already thought of. But it's great you upgraded:)
God bless you,
Gerry |
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KevinYong
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 64
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: Congratulations! |
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| Gerry Lee wrote: | | I just wanted to say 'Congratulations' on your new computer:) |
Thanks! My older machine was good, but it's old enough that it's literally starting to burn out -- the processor overheats and shuts down on hot days, the cooling fans sound like a sputtering jet engine, etc. Time for something new and (hopefully) improved.
Lord willing, I'll be able to get the new machine and software updates all set up and installed over this holiday weekend.
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Apostle13
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 50
Location: Greenville,TX
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| Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome and congrats Kevin. I know less than you about comps so i've got nuthin'. But maybe you could just hire a tech guy or go to a tech forum....and it just occured to me as i was typing this that you no doubt have this problem solved by now........so.....................nevermind.
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KevinYong
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 64
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| Apostle13 wrote: | | Awesome and congrats Kevin. I know less than you about comps so i've got nuthin'. But maybe you could just hire a tech guy or go to a tech forum....and it just occured to me as i was typing this that you no doubt have this problem solved by now........so.....................nevermind. |
Thanks for the well wishes, even without having any extra advice.
I got everything set up over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, although it's been a slow process since then transferring all my data over from the old machine to the new machine.
Actually, I take that back. It's not the transfer that's slow. It's figuring out WHAT to transfer that is taking time. I have a few years worth of old documents, emails, project notes, etc. that I really don't need cluttering up my new hard drive. So I've been spending extra time on weekends sifting through all the megabytes of backups to decide what to transfer over to the new machine, and what can be just burned to backup disc and filed away.
Here's hoping I can finish the last of the transfer/setup/tech-voodoo over the Christmas holidays, and start the year fresh with everything set up and ready to go.
-- Kevin |
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KevinYong
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 64
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Fresh start with a new computer |
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| KevinYong wrote: |
All that to say... does anyone have any suggestions on useful programs for a new computer? Automatic backup software? Hard drive partitioning? CD burning software? Browser plugins? Password managers? Antivirus? Flashy things that go "beep"? |
Oh, I suppose I should give a progress report on this. If anyone's interested, here's what I've ended up using on my new machine:
* Anti-virus: "AVG 8" (it's free for home use)
* Anti-spyware: "Windows Defender" (it's free from Microsoft)
* Password management: "KeePass" (it's a drag-and-drop encrypted password database. And it's free. Notice a pattern here?) Although I'm still tempted to get the $30 password manager "RoboForm" if only because it works as a super-simple browser plugin.
* Web browser: "Firefox 3" with "AdBlock" and "NoScript" security plugins. (All free.)
* Email: the new "Windows Live Mail" suite from Microsoft. (It's the new and improved replacement for the older Outlook Express email tool. And, again, it's free.)
* Word processing: "Microsoft Works", which is the weaker, stripped down version of Microsoft Office. (But hey, it came preinstalled for free.) If Works isn't enough for what I need, there's also the online office tools from "Zoho.com" (I prefer the Zoho suite of free online tools to the similar versions offered by Google docs).
* Disc burning: "Roxio Easy CD Creator" (Again, it came preinstalled on my new Dell. Might not have been my first choice otherwise, but I'm not going to bother arguing with free merchandise.)
* Graphics: Adobe's Creative Suite 4 (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat), plus Corel's Painter X, plus a graphics tablet. (Yikes, these were definitely NOT free. This bundle is what I had to save up for all year.)
Stuff I'm still looking for:
* Backup: I'm thinking of investing in some disc partitioning/imaging software and an external hard drive to keep backups of all my work. Either that, or one of those companies that allows you to back up your files online. But that will cost money, so I'll have to wait a few months before I invest any more in this hardware.
* Font management: I do a lot of graphics work and have a HUGE library of fonts I use. Since it's inconvenient to have 5000+ fonts loaded at once, I've always used a font manager program to automatically turn them off and on as needed for any given project. Unfortunately, I can't find any professional font managers that can run on Vista 64-bit edition, and the freebie versions available online don't have all the features I need. That's the trade-off I had to make -- the latest and greatest bells and whistles of Photoshop CS4 will only work with Vista64, so that means I will have to make do with managing my fonts manually. (At least until an updated version of Extensis Suitcase is finally released.)
Anyway, sorry if I bored everyone with technical details. I just wanted to give a progress report about my ongoing computer saga in case anyone was shopping for similar programs (and in the similar "free" price range.)
-- Kevin |
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