Design as a computing lifestyle

Foreward

Having used computers for some time now, and understanding many aspects such as: interface, ease of use, resource needs, etc., I've developed a certain configuration of Windows that I would like to share. Since so much of computer use is centered around Internet browsing, a large portion of this post covers browser customization. I hope you enjoy this gathering of facts. Comments are very welcome.

OS

Windows 7

Why I like it » Excellent: OS Installer, Dock, Taskbar, System Tray, Start Menu, Computer and Disk Management System, RAID building and management, Resource Monitor, Display Management, Defragment, Easy Network Sharing, Automatically installs most drivers,


Antivirus

Avast 5 [link]

Why I like it » It is free for a year when you register and you can register again every year. You now register in-program, and the interface to do so is very smooth and non-offensive. Updates are automatic. Silent and Gaming Mode is bliss. Rightclick >Scan Folder/Drive. I've never been infected when using Avast.


AntiSpyware

Spybot [link]
Why I like it » It is free, The main benefit is browser immunization from known spyware servers. I always download updates, run a scan, and immunize the system when reinstalling the OS

Browsers

Chrome [link]
+ Adblock

FireFox [link]

Adblock Plus + Easylist
» It removes advertisements. Do you like advertisements?

autoHideStatusbar
» Just as the name says, it automagically hides the FireFox Statusbar, freeing up a bit more screen realestate. Favorite Feature: Enable/Disable button in bottom right corner of status bar

BarTab
» I am notorious for having 10 - 30 tabs open at any time and this add-on was the solution to a big problem. This extension prevents a newly opened tab from loading until it is the active tab. Favorite Feature: When restarting FireFox after having closed multiple tabs the last time FireFox was shutdown, FireFox loads amazingly quickly because BarTab prevents all but one tab from loading. I didn't know how much I needed this until the first time that happened!

Better Gmail 2
» It just makes Gmail Better.

Better GReader
» The same, but for Google Reader. Where this add-on really shines is the "minimal" skin. When using this skin, W hides the top infobar and P will preview the current feed item (basically it opens the link in the feed item's window. Very, very handy.)

Download Statusbar
» It replaces the Download window with a bar that appears when a new download begins. This interface design is far superior. Click to launch/open, rightclick to open containing folder. It disappears when recent downloads are cleared from the bar, giving back some of that precious real estate.

Extended Statusbar
» This is your Statusbar on crack. It shows current transmission speeds, current request time, how many images, hover link address, etc.

Faviconize Tab
» Much like how Windows 7 removed the title of the application from the taskbar, this does the same for the title of the web page but from FireFox's tab bar. I love favicionizing the tabs I have open all the time (Gmail, Reader Twitter, Facebook, etc.) Favorite Feature: When the tab is restored after FireFox is closed and reopened, the tab stays favicionized

Hide Caption Titlebar Plus (Smart)
» This is the update to Hide Caption which removes the Windows Titlebar from FireFox (much like how Chrome looks). This addon is all about reclaiming screen real estate.

Java Console
» Because you probably need Java.


LogMeIn Remote Access Plugin
» Because I log in to remote computers a lot.

Note in Reader Button (custom using Link Button Maker)
» I love the ability to share an image to Google Reader using a bookmarklet, and I added that to the convenience of a toolbar button. This, among many other add-ons allows me to use only two total tool bars, including the tabs bar. How: Copy the link that the Note in Reader bookmarklet uses and use that when creating your custom link button

Omnibar
» Chrome-esque combined URL and Search Bar with an amazing auto suggest feature. Favorite Feature: When accessed, it shows a descending list of the most visited websites for quick access. It supplements as a bookmarks bar!

PermaTabs Mod
» I am finding myself using this less and less, but it is very helpful. It adds a rightclick > PermaTabs option that modifies a tab so that another page can not be loaded over it, so that the tab is permanently on one page. Helpful for Gmail and Reader.

Personas
» Because it looks pretty.

Tiny Menu
» The whole Menu Bar, in a button. Why not? Favorite Feature: the ability to move the Menu to the Navigation Bar and turn off the Menu Bar

Toolbar Buttons [link]
» All sorts of really handy dandy toolbar buttons



Media

Boxee [link]
» This is your new best friend. Boxee is the best media center interface I've used. It has a fluid and beautiful 10-foot interface, automagically populates cover art for TV shows, Movies, and Music. It has an app module, pulls in shared Facebook and Twitter media, Favorite Feature: Boxee iPhone Remote app: free

VLC [link]
» The only thing it doesn't play is cards. Sporting a mininal yet feature-rich interface, VLC will play nearly any media file you throw at it. You'll be happy to see little orange cones everywhere.

iTunes [link]
» Because it syncs with my iPhone and I haven't found a better audio app that: manages and organizes the audio files well, converts audio, had a very fast search, clean interface, easy home-sharing. Biggest con: resource hog

Picasa [link]
» The best photo and image management software I've found. Importing, editing, uploading, and sending are all well executed. Posting to Blogger and uploading to Picasa Web Albums is simple. Favorite Feature: Plugin adding picasa2flickr button [link] to send the selected photos to Flickr Uploadr. Photo names and tags are populated (note: you must have the Flickr Uploadr installed [link])

uTorrent Falcon [link]
» A simple, ultra-lightweight torrent client. Favorite Feature: the Falcon update offer a zero-config remote management option

InfraRecorder
» When you need to burn a CD or DVD, this lightweight, full-featured app does the trick

TweakPrograms

AirMouse [link]
» The server to an iPhone app that utilizes the iPhone as a wireless remote multi-touchpad with virtual keyboard. Favorite Feature of iPhone app: program-specific screens and a taskbar/applications-specific screen

Synergy [link]
» If you have multiple computers next to each other (like a desktop and a notebook), this server/client software lets you use one pair of input devices for multiple systems, across Windows/OS X/Linux. It is tricky to configure, but follow the directions and you'll be golden. Favorite Feature: it works in conjunction with AirMouse

KatMouse [link]
» This tiny program adds an OS X/Unix/Linux feature to Windows--it allows you to scroll on what ever window or area the mouse is hovering over. Super duper handy. It removes a lot of unnecessary clicking. I disable the middle-click feature that is on by default.

LogMeIn [link]
» When you need to access remote computers, this is the way to do it. Favorite Feature: iPhone App (it works amazingly well over 3G on a 3G)

CCleaner Slim [link]
» Everything you love about CCleaner, but stripped of the Yahoo toolbar installer when installing. CCleaner removes: temporary files, Internet cache, history, and cookies, empties the recycle bin, and more. Favorite Feature: Tools > Startup to manager programs that auto-start when the computer starts.

FlickrWallpaper Rotator [link]
» Because Flickr has an unlimited amount of amazing photos for wallpapers.
Note: requires .NET 2.0 or later

PowerISO [link]
» Excellent for burning, ripping, and mounting disc images. Favorite Feature: integrates to explorer rightclick menu

WinRAR [link]
» Excellent Compression/Decompression software that integrates well to the explorer rightclick menu. Favorite Feature: rightclick > Extract to [ xxx ]

OS, Media and Backup

OS: SSD or 10k RPM Hard Drive (RAID 0 &/or SATA 6.0Gbps if possible)
» Move the Page File on different partition at middle or end of disk

Media Drive: RAID 0 Array (RAID 5 & SATA 6.0Gbps if possible)
» Vast, fast storage. Fault tolerant if RAID 5

Backup: External HD (eSATA/USB 3.0/FireWire800 if possible)
» Sync Software: Allway Sync [link]
-» This is the best, free Backup and Sync program I've found. It does everything you want it to do, trust me. Favorite Feature: Windows Task Scheduler integration

return of the beard