Comments on: The Mark Pack – The Essentials On My Computer – Part One

By: How To Upgrade From XP To Windows 7 In 4 Easy Steps | Programming Blog

How To Upgrade From XP To Windows 7 In 4 Easy Steps | Programming Blog — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:35:57 +0000

[...] Install your favorite applications now. This would be a good time to get the latest versions if you have been postponing pending software updates. Looking for some software recommendations? Check out the Mark pack. [...]

By: Ranee Sum

Ranee Sum — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:00:33 +0000

I too like WinPatrol – especially for controlling startup programs and active tasks. But has it met its match in ALWIL Software’s avast! Antivirus ? WinPatrol is unable to kill avast’s active tasks, unable to disable avast’s startup program, and unable to delay the start of avast’s startup program.

By: Vinny

Vinny — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:11:53 +0000

For a media player I suggest KMPlayer

http://www.kmplayer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12142

It has all the functionality of Winamp but none of the bloatware. Try it out.

By: DBob

DBob — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:51:17 +0000

Firefox and Chrome and am carefully watching and waiting
for current and usable bookmarklets for chrome.

Keybreeze for launching, had problems with launchy.

Still use WMP 11, but will give winamp a try.

Enjoy winpatrol, ccleaner, eusing free registry cleaner,
auslogics registry defragger, smart defrag and advanced system care pro (which I got for free) – it does has some
nice utilities.

No one has mentioned sandboxie which, as the saying goes,
what happens in the sandbox – stays in the sandbox. I use
an older version, v 3.02, which seemed to be easier to
use than its immediate update. I’ve kept on using it.

One of the things I like about chrome is that the various
tabs or windows are supposed to be in individual sandboxes.
I’d appreciate any feedback on sandboxie, in general, and
chrome and its sandboxing.

I,fortunately,have been using grandcentral for phone forwarding and more.

MUO is eagerly awaited in my inbox, although I
also receive updates in google reader.

Happy New Year

By: roger wood

roger wood — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:18:30 +0000

Firefox is ok but I find some internet sites don’t work as well.Than on internet explorer.MLS ect.

By: cheese

cheese — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:15:32 +0000

As for your Firefox instability. I’d suggest a new profile.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:28:14 +0000

I have given linux a try many times, I have it installed on an external hard drive but I always give up in the end as I encounter problem after problem. (i.e. a driver not working)

With windows I have found it’s a lot simpler and you can always find an answer to your problem.

If Linux OS’s improved drastically I would defiantly consider swapping over.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:40:59 +0000

Great pack, I use all of these programs with the exception of Winamp constantly. It’s kind of pointless to argue the launchy vs enso vs executor, etc. etc. stuff it’s mostly a matter of taste and what works but I still am glad to see that you chose Launchy (my personal favorite).

This post didn’t really teach me anything new, but it’s still nice to have some of the better programs out there highlighted.

By: Alek Davis

Alek Davis — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:15:23 +0000

Winamp does not seem to support DVD playback. I'm not sure how you make it automatically play DVDs. A workaround is to use a plug-in, such as PowerPlay II, but it would still not enable DVD menus (subtitles, chapters, etc). So you still need a secondary video player (I would recommend KMPlayer).

By: The Mark Pack - The Essentials On My Computer - Part Two | MakeUseOf.com

The Mark Pack - The Essentials On My Computer - Part Two | MakeUseOf.com — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:01:16 +0000

[...] I gave you a sneak peek into my Mark Pack which is my collection of indispensible software apps that I always have [...]

By: Simon Slangen

Simon Slangen — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:00:14 +0000

Mishra,

You can use the FlashGot add-on, and use FDM with firefox 3

By: Simon Slangen

Simon Slangen — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:57:34 +0000

What he means to say is that, when you’re into free apps that much, he doesn’t understand why you use Windows (instead of Linux e.g.)

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:34:02 +0000

Ha! I was just waiting for someone called Mark Pack to come along! Welcome Mr Pack! Is this a Monty Python sketch?

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:32:55 +0000

Yeah I was tempted to add FileHippo to my list as I have started using it a lot but in the end, I chopped it off the list. I have found once or twice though how FileHippo says there is an update available so I go to the app’s website (I don’t trust the update link FileHippo provides) and the app’s website says there is no update available! Have you ever come across that situation before?

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:28:32 +0000

I don’t get what you’re trying to say. Why pay for something when you can get it for free? And what’s wrong with XP?

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:26:12 +0000

But I don’t want to restrict calls to only people in my contact list as I use Skype as my business and personal phone number! Cutting everyone else out of my Skype list will stop my family from contacting me via Skype and stop potential business clients from contacting me.

By: Mark Pack

Mark Pack — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:29:08 +0000

Glad to know I’m so useful to you

By: PeterD

PeterD — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:48:20 +0000

My browser of choice is opera, open office for my office, evolution for emails, pidgin for chat, these are my pack.

By: venkat

venkat — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:34:09 +0000

@Mark I use Firefox
foobar2000
and advanced system care

By: Ashutosh Mishra

Ashutosh Mishra — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:45:37 +0000

Nice list Mark.

Here’s my pack -

Firefox : Well everyone uses it!

Digsby + Skype : I love the email capabilities of Digsby, though I’ve to use Meebo for conferences. Skype is always there for PC-to-PC calls, file transfers etc.

Windows Vista Search : The search bar in Vista Start menu does most of the stuff that Launchy can, and I’m happy with it.

Download Accelerator Plus : We don’t have a great broadband connection here, so a download manager is dead necessary to keep the downloads coming constantly at top speed (~120kBps). I actually prefer Free Download Manager, but it doesn’t support Firefox 3 yet.

Songbird + VLC : Dunno why, but I’ve never had a good time with Winamp.

Revo + Advanced SystemCare : My computer is junk free.

And here are some of the other essentials :

Office 2007 Professional
InfraRecorder
μTorrent
Windows Live Writer + Photo Gallery
UpdateChecker (FileHippo)
AVG anti-virus
ScreenHunter
Paint.NET
Dropbox

By: The Mark Pack - The Essentials On My Computer - Part One … « provaaa

The Mark Pack - The Essentials On My Computer - Part One … « provaaa — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:51:54 +0000

[...] See original here: The Mark Pack – The Essentials On My Computer – Part One … [...]

By: Doug Fullerton

Doug Fullerton — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:47:12 +0000

I prefer Find and Run Robot to Launchy and Executor.

By: g

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:28:41 +0000

google
firefox
fireftp
rocketdock
foobar2000 for audio
GOM for video
and MUO of course!

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:56:18 +0000

Executor beats Launchy hands down.

By: JBu92

JBu92 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:49:03 +0000

(@ Ryan as well) I’ve got to point out (and chastise you for) the fact that you’re using Windows. The most important thing to me about my computer is that I only paid for the hardware. Granted, the software listed here is all freeware, but still, given that you two are clearly still on XP, you know the costs of operating systems these days, so why bother?
Also:
Gnome-DO, Firefox, Screenlets,Songbird

By: James

James — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:21:20 +0000

I get absolutely no spam through Skype. Just go to Privacy Settings on the Tools > Options menu and choose to limit incoming calls/video/IM to people in your contact list. Easy and it works

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:58:55 +0000

1. Google Chrome
– Only just started using it as my main browser, use to use firefox, but started to like Chrome with it’s features
2. Media Monkey
– I am a music addict so it’s the best hands down at organising and managing large library of music.
3. Digsby
– Started using it way back and then didn’t like it but after a second go I am addicted, I have everything in one place Twitter, Facebook, Gmail notifier, msn etc. Great =D
4. CCleaner
– Crap cleaner, enough said.
5. Revo Uninstaller
– Get rid of the crap left behind from uninstalling the useless programs.
6. uTorrent
– If only more programs was this light on resources!

Other programs that I use but are not so essential:
Outlook, Photoshop, AutoGK and Dvd Decrypter for ripping DVD’s, PeerGuardian2, GuitarPro

Oh and the most useful out of everything:
The windows install disk. When everything else fails or your system gets dirty time to start fresh

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:45:22 +0000

Just double-click on a video file (or start a DVD) and Winamp will automatically open a video screen.

It should automatically come with all the right codecs but if not, you can download and install codecs from the internet.

By: Alek Davis

Alek Davis — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:40:51 +0000

I used to use FileZilla, but recently switched to FireFTP Firefox add-on, and have been happy with it thus far. I did not realize you can watch videos in WinAmp. How do you make it show videos? Does it come with the necessary codecs (DivX, etc)?

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:52:06 +0000

Patrick! You’re a lifesaver! I was completely unaware that this option was even there! Thank you!