It’s All About You!

When it comes to computers, theres nothing more important than customization. Manufacturers tend to ship computers with basic configurations, that are made to agree with everyone. However, these configurations lack familiarity. People should have a computer that fits their lifestyle. This can be accomplished in many different ways, but today I will be focusing on software.

This is a short list of free programs to get you started. Tell me what you think.

1. Firefox: Nothing new here—if you don’t have it, get it. It is by far the most secure browser I have ever used and provides its users with a vast library of add-ons. Anything you can think of—it probably can do.
2. Winamp: Most media players like iTunes lack customization. Winamp eliminates this issue by providing a vast collection of user submitted plugins. As this is a community effort, the database is constantly being updated as new technologies are released. Worried about your iPod? Don’t be, the newest release of Winamp integrates perfectly with all portable media players. Ever have a hard drive fail on you—causing you to lose all your precious music? No need to worry, if its on your player, Winamp allows you to copy it right to your computer.
3. 7zip: Forget WinZip and WinRAR, this program handles everything when it comes to file compression.
4. VLC Player: Ever had a problem playing a video file? Then this is the program for you. Don’t worry about downloading the right codecs, this program will take care of everything for you. It will even play ISO files.
5. Thunderbird: Outlook is a great program if you have the money, but it lacks that personal touch. Thunderbird is a free alternative, that is fully customizable. Like Firefox and Winamp, Thunderbird is based on a community effort. The more people that get involved, the better it becomes.