Software

Browsers and Passwords

Published Monday, February 18, 2013 | By Denver Fowler

I’m gonna go all techie on you for a bit here. Though it’s for your own good and online safety.

I just spent the last two weeks dealing with infected computers, compromised email accounts, as well as victims of online banking fraud. The first thing I noticed in every single case, is that people in general, take so little care of their own security. Mainly their weak passwords and the fact they never update their browsers. Two very simple things they could do that would likely have saved them all the headaches and panic attacks that is an infected computer or having their credit card or bank account compromised.

We all use our computers for everything from playing games, to paying bills and ordering services. Yet, a frightening number of folks don’t seem to think twice that their information is so readily available to others who are just looking for an easy opportunity to make a quick buck of off our negligence. I really mean it’s scary how simplistic folks make their passwords and how they never think to update their browsers to keep secure. While I do think that many of us who run our own websites can help with that. I actually do, if your browser is out of date, my website will actually tell you and suggest you update it. If you try to use a non-secure password when signing up for an account, my website won’t allow it. Now only if all website owners would do the same, it would help folks across the board.

Browsers

It almost amazes me when I ask anyone to “Open a Browser”, that they haven’t the foggiest clue what I’m talking about. A browser is the software package installed on your computer that allows you to see and interact with websites. That is pretty much all they do, but it’s very important to keep them up to date. It helps keep them secure from any known issues, as well as allow you to be able to fully enjoy the newer content websites have to offer. Without these updates, you may be just handing your information over to someone just looking to make a quick buck. Also, you could be frustrated in wondering why a website isn’t behaving the way you think it should. This would be because your old browser can’t handle the newer fancy code that makes the website you’re trying to view work properly. Many of today’s browsers check for updates automatically, if they find one, they normally will install it. It may or may not prompt you to restart your browser. It’s as simple is closing the browser and re-opening it. For more information on keeping your browser up to date can be found at these websites: WhatBrowser.org or Browser-Update.org (my favorite) and this video:

Passwords

This is so important and it’s so sad that folks don’t take a few minutes to create a half-decent password. What’s worse, is they use the same simple password for everything. This is saying a thief only needs to find the key under the front door mat to steal the house, the car, the family business and clean out all bank accounts. Making your password the name of a pet, friend or loved one is not a good idea. Neither is using important dates or phone numbers. They are too easily guessed.

It’s not actually hard at all to make a simple password a heck of a lot more secure by simply changing things like making it upper and lower case lettering. Also, change a vowel to a number and use a special character.

Example: password –> P@55W0rd

I changed the letter “o” to the number zero, the “a” to an @ symbol and the “s’s” to the number 55 and capitalized the P and W. While I would never recommend using the word password as your actual password, you should get the idea behind it.

Also, use a different password for different websites. You don’t have to commit them to memory, you can write them down. Just don’t store them in plain site is all.

Even this security expert in the video tells you this.

More information on making Secure Passwords by clicking HERE.

So in short, keep your browsers up to date and make your passwords secure (and keep your security software up to date as well), and you’ll only need me once in a while. I mean sure, I like making money off anyone who isn’t a friend or relative But for my friends and relatives (and my awesome site visitors), keep yourselves safe

Posted in News | Tagged Browser, Password, Security, Software

Life’s Little Victories…

Published Tuesday, January 29, 2013 | By Denver Fowler

Sometimes you just need to celebrate life’s little victories. I have one to celebrate today as I got an email confirming that I’m not crazy after all. At least, less like I’m going crazy. You know, that feeling you get when you know for a fact, that you’re right when everyone else says you are wrong….

Let me explain…

While I am an Evil Genius and all, I have a lot of tools at my disposal. There is however, a secret weapon I use to help me when I make these gorgeous websites. It’s not part of my freeware. So when I ran across a show stopping issue with it, I tried my best to make the community of users aware of this issue via their forums. As I had thought that the best place to bring it up. Hoping that the developers paid attention to their users concerns. However, I guess not all companies pay attention to their customer forums like other companies do (Hi Blizzard!).

I ended up wasting several days of my time trying to argue that I had found a very serious problem and that it should be addressed. Instead I was met with self proclaimed experts who clearly thought I was off my trolley, as it were. Instead of them following my carefully laid out explanation, or trying to reproduce the issue themselves… They merely made suggestions that I must have overlooked something obvious or that my WordPress installation was somehow incorrect.

I’d like to think that after 5 years of using WordPress, I’m somewhat of an expert of what I can do with it, how to install it and how to operate it to nearly it’s full extent of use. I don’t go advertising myself as such, as I don’t want to start taking a billion questions about it. I make it look pretty and I use it, but I don’t want to be tech support for it. I save my tech skills for computers. It’s where I excel in life.

As it turns out, this company apparently only focuses only on customer support tickets. So carefully playing the side of the customer, I was sure to cross my t’s and dot my i’s and made sure that I had every detail they needed right up front (god I wish customers would do that for me, instead of making me beg them to read the WHOLE ERROR MESSAGE!!!! … er sorry got sidetracked…). Anyway… and with just a few days passing, I received the following email response today:

Hi Denver,

Sorry for the delay in responding.
Thanks for reporting this issue.
We were able to reproduce it and it’s currently investigating by our developers.
The fix should be included in the next update of our software.
We apologize for this temporary inconvenience.

So neener neener neener to all those useless self experts that troll forums trying to make themselves sound important! Of course, I still have to wait for the next release to find out if they actually fixed it, but since they confirmed I did find a problem, I am at least for now hopeful that I did a good thing.

Posted in News | Tagged Blog, Rant, Software, Support

I concur, Windows 8 Sucks!

Published Friday, June 22, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

I couldn’t have said it any better myself. But Michael @ Michael’s Techbox said it as elegantly as it comes. Windows 8 sucks more now in the Customer Preview even more than it did as the Developer Preview which I reviewed a few months ago. (My Developer Preview Review)

Just to give you an idea, all the ranting and raving I did over Mac before I owned one, and even my final frustration with Mac is nothing at all compared to what Windows 8 has in store for the general populous of internet loving citizens the world over. Having played with the Customer Preview myself the past few weeks… In my opinion, it may very well be the final push needed for Mac to take over top dog in the desktop market with Linux still in 3rd place, but gaining ground quickly thereafter. It’s enough to make a grown, seasoned tech cry for mercy and question his/her very existence.

Lets take a look at what both Michael and I agree on:

The biggest thing is Metro. No one without a touch screen is going to bother to upgrade to Windows 8. The few who might do it not thinking, will quickly revert or learn new curse words. Or touch their screen a little too hard in frustration. Metro in the Developer Preview was something you could bypass and regain your start menu and use Windows just fine. It looked good and ran very well. It seemed like Metro was just a program that was simply “hooked” into the OS just as a replacement to the start menu. The Customer Preview, Metro is now heavily integrated into the OS and just shutting the PC down is a multi-step process in agony.

If Microsoft insists on everyone buying new hardware, this is hardly the time to mandate that. The economy while not completely tanked, isn’t in a position to run and buy new gear. That alone won’t work in their favor.

If they insist on making the Desktop a Tablet, they need to ease users into it the way Mac is doing. Mac has a wonderful desktop, but you can get to your applications with a tablet movement on the mousepad or touchpad which can be attached to the computer. Rather than making all their users run out and buy touchscreens at a much higher price point. When they did that in Lion, it was a bit of a culture shock, but within a couple of weeks it was no problem. Having Windows 8 CP the past few weeks. I have even less love for it than ever. It’s not a learning curve. It’s forget all you know and learn again. Knowing customers love of “upgrades” and learning new things, on average, this is going to be more unwelcome for them as it is for the folks like me who have to help them.

If Microsoft wants to make a tablet OS, then fine. I’m all for it. Use it on tablets and phones. Just like Mac does.

I can see once my Windows 7 is finally ready to die, I may very well become a Mac weenie all over again. At least their stuff talks to all other devices with Mac OSes of one sort or other. Although I still think Mac has a ways to go, they may have one hell of a foot up on the desktop market very shortly.

Especially if Microsoft doesn’t give us a way to shut Metro off so that upgraders and power users can have a PC they can still enjoy. While the rest of the world just gives up and goes to Android and Mac tablets. MS loyalists can just suck it and live in their pretend world that Windows 8 will be a revolution. I’ve never been that loyal to MS. Just enough to say I am a PC. Though… Looks like that might change.

Posted in News | Tagged Apple, Microsoft, OS X, Software, Windows 8

My LG Optimus Elite

Published Sunday, May 27, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

Circumstances of an unfortunate situation has led me to get a new smart phone. My old LG Optimus V, while rooted and able to do my most needed functions, kept me at odds for lack of space every time my apps updated. I don’t know why and have been unable to find information on how to keep my apps under control. Each time my apps updated, I’d quickly lose space on my phone. In a week too two weeks, my phone would go from 45MB space free to under 20MB. I would reset my phone, reload all the apps by going through my handy list on the bottom of my freeware page. Only to repeat it within a week or so. As anyone can imagine, this is endlessly frustrating.

Thankfully, Best Buy happened to have one of the latest phones from my carrier Virgin Mobile on sale from $149 to $129. Cheaper than when I bought my Optimus V. (sadly it got lowered in price 2 days later) Of course, I ended up losing my phone having root. Though the only reason for me to root my Optimus V was so that I could get rid of the endless bloatware that came with that phone. So it’s not a deal breaker by any means. I also learned a hard lesson. I am a user of Quick Settings as it was handy, and FoxFi to turn my little phone into a wireless hotspot. I didn’t know that Quick Settings also had hotspot capabilities. However (comma), little did I know that using apps with hotspot capabilities would essentially destroy my new phone and disable it’s 3G capabilities. I imagine that this is not an intended issue, but more or less an incompatibility. So within a day, I had an error 67 popping up every minute or so. Making my new Optimus Elite unusable. Again, not a necessary feature. Knowing how dealing with mobile support techs is far more painful than the folks at Best Buy, I opted to return my faulty phone for an exchange.

Now that I have the replacement, this phone is much faster, and has enormous amounts of space to use. I simply moved my SD card from my old phone to my new one and now I’ve got space to burn. I’m sure that I can go a very long time now before having to reset anything. Other nifty bonuses include Flash support so I can use it surfing the net instead of using specific apps. I’ve only had the phone a few days, but so far I’m very pleased with it. Sadly, I still live in Redneck land, so my service is lacking but since I plan to relocate as soon as possible, there is no need to change services. Besides I love my no contract way of life

Plus I can finally play my Earth and Legend. If I used it on my old phone, it would be pretty much the only app I could have on it. Thankfully those days are now over. So far so good

Now, if only I can find a replacement app for Quick Settings as using the default settings system for Android 2.3.7 is a real clunky option. However, I don’t want it to have any kind of wifi hotspot capabilities for fear of dorking up my current phone. Suggestions are welcome in the comments here, facebook, google plus or you can email me.

Posted in News | Tagged Android, Smart Phone, Software

I am a PC!

Published Thursday, January 12, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

In this post, I’m going beyond all the things I’ve already covered repeatedly in my previous posts about Macs vs PCs. Such as for $1800 it should come with something more than the goofy iMovie, Garage Band and iPhoto. Like they could’ve tossed in some rip off of Office or their Pages crap at least to make it productive. Not going to go into how I get more for less with a PC, or how much easier it is to find good freeware and open source software. This post is going to be about the things I’ve had to deal with in the past six months that piss me off about Macs. In so much as I’ve concluded that I will only keep my Mac around for reference and education, but I won’t be using it for day to day use. This way I can actually get something accomplished.

File Associations

When Windows doesn’t know what to do with a file you’ve downloaded, however you know that it can be opened by a program you have installed; you can associate the file by it’s extension. You simply right click it and choose “open” or “open with”. Then browse to the appropriate program, put a check mark in “always use this program to open this kind of file”. Bam, all files with that extension will open with the program in question in the future.

My example is a Shockwave Flash file ending in *.swf. Normally I simply tell Windows to open the file with Firefox. One time deal and I’m done.

On the Mac, it had a similar function. It even had the check box to say remember this setting. However, apparently Mac goes by file name in general. So when I open one file such as “mymovie.swf” it does what I tell it to do and open in Firefox. However, when I try “myothermovie.swf”, Mac goes stupid and doesn’t know to open it with Firefox. I go back to the first file and it opens fine. Thus telling me, I have to associate each and every file individually. What a pain in the ass.

Just install Windows to play games

This is what I get told, when I complain about the lack of games for Mac. If I wanted to spend another $100 to install Windows just so I can play games… Hey, I got an idea, why not just buy a Windows based gaming laptop and it will not only come with decent productive software, but it can play games too! NO extra cost needed! Plus, I’ll get all those nifty keys I love so much! Like Insert, a proper Delete Key, Backspace, Home and End. And when I get the whim to play said games, I won’t need to reboot. Gee, that works out swell!

Dashboards and Widgets

The dashboard. Just how useless is this thing? So, if I want desktop widgets (or gadgets), I can only have them in this dashboard area. Kind of negates the usefulness of being able to “glance” at the weather. Instead I have to go or “swipe” my way to the dashboard to look at it. The calculator widget. So to the special dashboard to play with the calculator. It’s just as fast to look through the apps menu, or dock it to the dock bar. What Apple’s developers couldn’t figure out how to put them on the desktop like every other OS does? Windows… Linux… I’ve got a swipe motion for the dashboard, it’s my middle finger!

Uninstalling Software does not remove settings

This I’ve found can cause some issues if you want to remove a software by simply removing the app from the applications folder. If you don’t show hidden files and go into the Library and rip out the applications settings, you may find yourself hurting when trying to reinstall the application. I’ve only run into this a couple of times, but still what a hellacious pain the ass that is. Guess there’s something to say about having an uninstaller for every program now isn’t there.

Crap Files

Macs love their crap files. You can’t see them, they are hidden. But if you want to zip up some files and shift them to your windows machine, you get a boatload of stupid files you didn’t see before. Some zip programs for Mac can clean this up for you, but what the hell is all this mess for? I’ve seen “thumbs.db” and “desktop.ini” on Windows, but not a huge mess of “._name of file.whatever”. Plus these things can take a good sized chunk of space up too. On a USB thumb drive, I found as much as 120mb of this nonsense. Space I really needed as the thumb drive is nearly full as it is. No matter how many times you remove them, just popping it in the Mac they all come back like a bad rash.

Cycling through open windows

Maybe there’s a trick I have yet to learn, but this confounds me too. On Windows, if I have my email, my editor, my photo editor and several copies of my browser open, I can cycle through each open window by using ALT+TAB. For me, it’s loads faster than “swiping”. On the Mac, I can do similar with using OPTION+TAB. However if I have several copies of the same program running (like the browser), it only goes the top most window for it and then on to the next program rather than opening up the next window of the browser. If I want to change windows in the browser, I have to click on “window” and the sub-title of that window to get it to come forward.

There are other things that annoy me about the mac, mostly trivial. It’s like a camel carrying straw though. Sure each piece of straw is light and small, but pile enough of them on, and eventually you’ll reach “the straw that broke the camel’s back“.

… The worst part is, I’ve had this damned Mac for over 6 months now, and I’m still paying it off. Good thing I’ve chalked it up to an educational item, or I’d really be pissed off. Wonder if they have a good resale value. Then I could get a new Windows laptop and enough left over to make a decent size deposit in my savings account! Owning a Mac is a lot like a relationship I’ve had. Looks pretty, costs a lot, and if you want it to be productive, you’ll have to spend even more. Then it clutters up your storage with useless crap. Also, others seem to have more fun with it than you do.

Macs are what they are, and fit who feels comfortable with them. Providing they have the pocketbook to afford it. Plus all the extras they’ll need to buy. For me, I am now and always have been a PC.

p.s. Linux lovers, I’ve tried that too, you can go through all my Mac posts, and replace the words Mac, OS X and Apple with Linux and have just about the exact same experience minus the cost. Personally, I think Linspire had something going for ease of use and loads of software with super simple installations, but it apparently wasn’t enough as they got swallowed up and made to go away. In any case, not going there again either.

Now to try out that Windows 8 Developers Preview. See what all the fuss is about there. I’m not getting my hopes up for it, but I can always just learn it and revert back to Windows 7.

Posted in News | Tagged Computers, Games, OS X, Software, Windows 7, Windows 8

apps… Apps! APPS!!!

Published Thursday, October 6, 2011 | By Denver Fowler

Holy Mackerel! Everywhere I turn it’s apps… Apps! APPS!!! Talk about a run away train! You’ve got apps for your Smart Phone, apps for your Tablet or iPad, you’ve got apps for your PC and Mac, you’ve even got apps for your toolbars! Now, I opened up Google Chrome for the first time in days and I get attacked with “Get apps for your browser!”! Are you flipping kidding me? I need apps in my browser? It’s not good enough to have toolbars and addons, now I need apps? So I want to start my OS, get logged onto the internet and then start apps in my browser? It’s like having an OS inside my OS because for some reason I need to run programs inside of programs that are run from programs.

Then there’s this ever growing issue of you can use some of your favorite apps on your Smart Phone, but not your PC. You can use some apps on your Tablet and your PC but not on your Phone. You can use some apps on your Phone, iPod and Tablet but not your Mac. Or your PC, Mac and Phone but not your iPad. Or some other idiotic combination or other.

My head hurts.

Or this app can do this, but another does that for the previous. Like I see there is apps for Netflix for example that one plays Netflix, another organizes it and others let you do other things with Netflix. What the hell is that about?

Having so many different platforms and devices and this madness to have apps installed on all of them is mind wrenching. Makes me wonder how the everyday Joe that calls me who can’t tell me what version of Windows or Mac they use, gets by…

Posted in News | Tagged Apple, Internet, PC, Rant, Smart Phone, Software, Tablet

Got my OS X Lion Free!

Published Wednesday, July 20, 2011 | By Denver Fowler

Just out of dumb luck actually. I had no idea when I bought my MacBook Pro, that they had a new OS coming out for it in 6 more weeks. Six weeks have come and gone. I’ve learned loads about OS X and why folks like it so much (or hate it depending on what side of the fence your views stand).

In all my research, I happened across a link that said I might be able to upgrade to OS X Lion for free. When I first read it, I thought since I work for a computer parts distribution company, I had to apply for the upgrade via the company. Though since they are not an authorized Apple dealer, that wasn’t going to happen. After re-reading it a few times, I realized I may be in luck as I registered it on the day I got it, which was 6/8/11. I figured it couldn’t hurt to try when the time comes.

The time came today, and to my amazement, it was super simple to fill out a quick form and voilà! I got to download OS X Lion absolutely free! Just saved $29. Though as I always rib others for, I could’ve saved $1800 had I not bought it in the first place. Though then, I’d still be a Mac Hater, instead of someone who is very much impressed with it.

Of course, being a digital download, I wanted to make a hard copy backup of it for “in case” future issues. Quickly found a nice step by step guide. Sadly, what they didn’t tell anyone, is that you must do this before installing Lion… So I learned what not to do the hard way.

The install itself was super simple. Reading the EULA took an eternity, but “oh so worth it”, so as I don’t go agreeing to having my lips sewn to someone another person’s asshole.

Click for Larger Images

Sadly though, when all was said and done, it looked pretty. I could ping, do name lookups and everything. But no matter how I tried, I couldn’t get Safari or Firefox to surf the net. SO.. here’s my chance to re-download (and back up the Lion Download this time before installing it) and try again. Hey, so far the trip has been smooth. First hiccup during an OS major upgrade. Stuff happens.

Posted in News | Tagged Apple, Free, OS X Lion, Software

First 30 Days with my Mac

Published Thursday, July 7, 2011 | By Denver Fowler

Well, I finally went and did it. It’s actually a very big step for me. I’m actually out in public right now, writing up the draft of what will be my overview of owning a Mac for 30 days. ^{(7/4 & 7/5)} I’m at the local Starbucks by Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. The social recluse is starting to go out into public. Let’s see if I can start making this a regular thing.

Go ahead Tyler. Snicker all you like.

Anyway, so it’s been 30 days since I first opened the white box and saw the machine I’m using right this moment. So what do I think? I can say my opinion of Mac’s has changed drastically. However, I’m not going to be the misled sheep that you so often find connected to one of these things. I’m also not the goof who will run around boasting I’m safer and better than everyone else. There are some limitations I have yet to overcome with this Mac. And yet, there is a world of good things to say as well. So I’m right now I think I am a level headed medium of computer ownership. It sincerely depends on what you want, versus what you need and can afford. Though mostly what you will do with the computer that makes the absolute difference. Though I can tell you that next time I sit to write a blog from a coffee shop, I’ll choose a more comfortable chair. This wooden one has already made my bum fall asleep from the lack of comfort.

Design

The MacBook Pro is certainly designed to be elegant and yet super functional. Having worked in a Machine Shop for a couple of years and working with CNC machines, I can sincerely appreciate the dedication and time they put into making the Unibody. Though it’s far from being one piece in my opinion since the “body” should be all parts encompassing the inside parts. Though it surely cuts down on amount of parts and does give the laptop a huge amount of panache. It’s sleek and sexy and certainly says “Look at me”. And since I’m not very pretty, at least my Mac will turn some heads.

Software

Again, the included software left a whole lot to be desired. When you spend $1800 for a computer, you’d like to see more productivity software included and not so much social networking. That should be left to the iPad and iPod Touch or the sub $1000 computers and lap tops. Thankfully being a resourceful person and über-geek-extraordinaire, I was able to quickly overcome most of the obstacles. So I can have an office suite, coding and programming tools as well as some games to successfully waste time when I have it. Which lately, is a lot (and I’m on vacation ). I did have to purchase a decent Zip Program (File Compression) which I managed to catch at 50% off in the “App Store” for $9.99 and still need to pay for the Pixelmator (Photo Editing Program). I’m currently using in demo mode. While it’s not as nicely laid out or free like Paint.net (which is all I need on a PC), it is only $29.95 which is infinitely cheaper than Photoshop by Adobe. Which is currently going for a stomach wrenching $699. How do folks get duped into paying that much for software? If I were to pay for it, I had better get a life servant/lover out of that deal. I tried to use a Paint.net clone for Macs, Pinta, but it has miles to go before it can be considered a decent clone. Thankfully both of the programs I need to buy are worlds cheaper than their Windows PC counterparts. Odd huh? You’d think having to pay a lot of money for an American designed, assembled and supported machine, the software would also be astronomical. Thankfully it’s not. At least not the majority of it.

Security

Well as I stated before, that has been a myth for years as documented by this fine website. Recent events have proven just how “not so” it is. Honestly, people should think about it. If such a thing were true, all the worlds governments simply need to switch to Macs and we can live in safe peace forever.

Seriously though. They claim to have safe guards in place, but why was my firewall turned off by default? Any known exploit would easily be used the moment an unsuspecting user connected directly to the net with their cable modem. You’d be surprised how many folks do not use routers. They have firewalls (turned on) by default. Cable Modem + No Firewall = Bad

These “safe guards” are only good if the customer ensures to check for patches for their OS daily. If an exploit comes along and they aren’t patched. The end user is going to be unhappy to say the least. Besides, “safe guards” still don’t account for lack of common sense to protect one self from Phishing, Identity Theft and Viruses. You still need security software. Just to prove it, I tested my Mac using the Beta of Avast! for Macs. Just to see if the little bugger worked. Avast as always, has never let me down and I’m still safe to say my Mac is still safe and sound even though I went looking for trouble.

Other Thoughts

As for using it, I’m more than comfortable using the Mac. I feel very confident I can start giving technical support and helping people make good choices for their Macs. And that was the goal for me. I’m 80% ready to go in that field. I’ll be 100% in no time. Maybe even get myself qualified as a “Genius“. I do frequently tout myself to be one for PC’s, why not officially for Macs too! We’ll have to see if my self training pays off first I guess.

I still struggle with the whole “command” “control” key thing and I sincerely miss my HOME, INSERT and END keys. I’m sure my fingers will adjust in time.

It’s certainly a beautiful machine. It is very impressive in design, video and play some mean 3D video games. I’m very glad I made the decision to buy it.

I do need to pay it off yet and still need to come up with another $350 to get the extended AppleCare Protection Plan. For a machine like this, it would be well worth the purchase as it’s built to last, both internally and externally.

So ah… Any website design or WordPress theme work would be welcome to help me pay for all this

Posted in News | Tagged Apple, OS X, Security, Software, Technology

CCleaner comes to Mac!

Published Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | By Denver Fowler

It’s so nice to see the software products I know and trust for my PC’s are coming to OS X Macs. Yes, I’m becoming quite the fanboy of something I so often complained about. I guess it’s because I never really gave Mac a chance. I still do not find Macs to be better than PC’s. Sorry but I just don’t. I do find them to be a nice alternative for some folks and I think this will be a life long relationship. Me and my Mac that is. It’s a very nice piece of hardware.

So I use CCleaner like 5 times a day. If I find myself on a questionable website, I can rest mostly assured that I can trash the temp data quickly and cleanly with CCleaner. I like to keep my machine clean of trash files that build up over time. Granted, Macs do not have a registry to deal with, but on my Windows machines it’s a god send to be able to clean up useless registry entries from all the software I download, try and then realize I don’t like the downloaded software and uninstall it. Never fails, it leaves crap behind that CCleaner (formerly known as Crap Cleaner – hence the C), quickly and cleanly swipes it out of the machine. Then a nice quick defrag from either Piriforms Defraggler (or the one I use by Auslogics) and my machines stay running smooth as silk.

Now that hey have it for Macs, I can keep my new baby running clean and smooth I’m tellin ya folks, Macs are gaining ground quick, time to invest in some of that stock!! I would if I could!!

Click Here to get CCleaner for your Mac or Here for your PC!

Posted in News | Tagged OS X, Software

Time to go 64!

Published Monday, January 4, 2010 | By Denver Fowler

I’m all about technology and computers. My budget doesn’t always allow me to get the latest and greatest of toys. I was late on the DVD revolution and I’m still not going to Blu-ray just yet.

Due to an unfortunate schmelting accident (no my privates are not gold), my main desktop PC was suffering a painful death. A.k.a. my VIA raid controller started to die, and was causing wonderful syncing effects and lockups. After hours of testing and not having any fun over the New Years holiday, it was time to perform surgery to my digital baby.

This included a new motherboard (as buying a new controller wasn’t cost effective and would only buy a couple of months before the whole mobo died), new processor (sadly not as fast GHz wise, but certainly more efficient) and a nicer case to put them into as my old one has front-side usb issues (and was disconnected). Also since my RC1 of Windows 7 was going to expire in March, I decided to get a copy of Windows 7 Pro x64.

Yes, I finally jumped on the x64 bandwagon. Hell Linux and Mac have been doing it for years, and Microsoft has been doing it since April 25, 2005. It is high time I did too! Though this means I kept my original Video Card, Memory, Hard Drives, DVD-RW Drive and even my 80Plus Power Supply. So not much has changed. I even went from 3.0GHz to 2.6GHz due to cost restrictions.

Low and behold to my wondrous eyes, my performance shot through the roof in comparison to the PC of old. My Windows Experience Index went from a 4.8 to 5.5. Sure, not top of the line, but the best is yet to come. I played my Runes of Magic and in instances where I’d have to lower my graphics just to get 15 FPS (Frames per second), I was now able to do with the graphics cranked to full and not drop below 24 FPS (normal is 30 FPS) and averaged 45 FPS most everywhere else. All my other games were in the hundreds which was extremely nice. So.. a slower processor, but using x64 Windows I was able to almost double all my performance? How is that possible? Wow, does that happen in every program?

Well.. It’s going to be a while before I can find out, as most of the software I use is even more behind the times than I am. Most still don’t support x64 architecture. (yes, I’m writing this as if I didn’t already know about x64, bare with me but I actually consider my readers who aren’t uber-geeks like me) So what gives? Why don’t all software makers support x64? It’s certainly the way to go. I’m a fan that’s for sure. I’ve updated my freeware list to show links to x64 freeware that I now use.

Though I plead for all software makers to get on the ball and in game with x64!!

Posted in News | Tagged Microsoft, Software, Windows, x64