Web Resources

These are some of the websites with the best tech resources:

Whirlpool Forum: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/
An Australian site with a wide variety of sub forums covering all things tech: Windows, Linux, Mac, iPhones, Android..... you name it! A site I visit daily, usually multiple times a day :)

Tom's Hardware http://www.tomshardware.com/
AnandTech http://www.anandtech.com/
Redmond Pie http://www.redmondpie.com/

Windows Setup

These are some of the programs you I install as soon as you get a new computer up and running. I came across Ninite (http://www.ninite.com) some months back and have found it very very useful in setting up new computers. You basically select all the apps you want to install and Ninite provides you with a file that runs all the installers one by one. A great time saver!

Applications TO AVOID at all cost:
Almost anything by ADOBE; Anything by Norton/Symantec This is obviously a personal choice but apart from Adobe Photoshop, most apps by these two are so bloated and taxing on the system that the lighter (and usually free) alternatives have a very good case for them.

Extract Now http://www.extractnow.com/extractnow.exe
This is a convenient utility that does all your unzipping needs. It’s a small application and negated the need for Winzip/WinRar

Avira http://www.free-av.com/
The current favourite free antivirus around.

FolderSize (Not compatible with Win 7)
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/foldersize/FolderSize-2.4.msi
Ever wondered where all your hard drive space has gone? In their infinite wisdom, Microsoft have deemed it un-necessary to show the size of folders in the Windows Explorer. This little app adds that functionality to Explorer.

Cutepdf http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp
Create pdf documents from any program (Word, Excel, Paint or Outlook etc.) by simply selecting the Cutepdf printer and printing to it.

VLC Media Player http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
One of the best media player around. Will play almost all media you throw at it. Retire Windows Media Player to the scrap heap.

Foxit Reader http://mirrors.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/3.x/3.0/enu/FoxitReader30_enu_Setup.exe
The alternative to Adobe Acrobat reader. Small and zippy!

LogMeIn https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp?hp=1
Would you like to control your computer from the office? Register for the Free Account and add your computers. Wherever you have access to a browser, you can connect and control your PC’s remotely.

WindowsLiveSync http://sync.live.com/
If you have more than 1 computer, this free app/service from Microsoft lets you have folders on multiple computers that are kept in sync. i.e whatever is added, modified or removed from one will be done on all the others. Additionally, you can also access the shared folder from any browser with your login details. PS: Do not try and share video or very large files. Even though they will work, this is ideally suited for stuff like documents, pictures and other smaller files.