Question for the tech geeks in the audience...

[ellenmillion]

So, you're trapped on a desert island you've just installed a nice, shiny, clean installation of Windows XP (Tablet Edition). You've deleted all the bloatware and convinced AOL that you REALLY don't need them. What programs would you not want to live without?

I have installed:

Google Chrome (so far, I'm liking it!)

Avast Anti-virus

Malwarebytes

I still need to install:

Windows Service Packs/10 million updates

Adobe CS3

AutoCAD LT

Open Office

Crimson Editor

I need recommendations for:

A decent IM program. A program that managed to combine Facebook, Twitter, IRC, AIM and Google would be simply lovely. Have they done that, yet? Is Trillian Astra the malware disaster the user reviews at CNet's Download.com make it out to be, or are those just complaints of people who weren't smart enough to un-check boxes?

An FTP program. I was using SmartFTP, and was pretty happy with it. I'm tempted to use it again, but if you've got better suggestions, I'm all ears.

A free or cheap mahjong program.

A free or cheap sudoku program.

(Or other free, fun, challenging puzzle/mind games that do not install blinking ads, bloatware, etc.)


***

The scrubbed computer is working splendidly, and no files were lost. I've been debating a reformat for a while now - though it's painful to have to reinstall programs and reconfigure everything, I had a lot of junk on this computer, and it's really, super nice to have a clean slate to work with. I had a laundry list of things I wanted to do (try Chrome, switch from AVG to Avast, clean off a whole lotta programs I never used and in some cases shouldn't still have...) and it's getting done, even if it's on a rather more rigorous and stressful timeline than I would have picked.

I owe many people many things, I'll apologize in advance for further delays - I've got a full day tomorrow and a pressing client project to work on Monday, plus 10 million windows updates to do...

Comments

[ankewehner.livejournal.com]

*goeas to read "malware" accusations of Trillian at download.cnet.com*

... Gosh, if you consider anything that "tries to install toolbars" malware, there's a lot you can't install. I don't remember the Trillian installation exactly, but I'm pretty sure it was just the usual "do you want to install X toolbar?" with pre-checked boxes, or else I would remember.
Astra does require you to create an account with Trillian. I do like it, because it synches your contacts if you use more than one computer.

I use Trillian Astra for IRC and AIM. It supports google, too, though I just discovered that...
And it supports Twitter and Facebook.
I've been using TweetDeck for those two, though. I think for a while Trillian had trouble *sending* Tweets, but it seems to work now.

I use FileZilla for FTP, but since I don't use SmartFTP, I can't offer a comparison.

Casual tech geek

[amanda-now.livejournal.com]

I like cuteFTP except on Vista it makes my computer freeze when I open it, it takes about 60 seconds to get control back. I'm too lazy to fix it lol but otherwise it's been my favorite of the few that I use.

I couldn't live without Adobe Creative Suite obviously since all of my work revolves around it. I also love my very very old copy of Winamp, and I also love VSO Image Resizer. I really like straight to the point, no frills, get-in-get-out-get-it-done programs. I think it's because I like to do a lot at once and like to keep memory usage down.

[renatus.livejournal.com]

I'm fond of Pidgin (http://www.pidgin.im/) for my multi-IM needs. It's not as slick-looking as Trillian, but it's fairly straightforward and highly functional and has various plug-ins and features to tailor it to your preferences. Also, it's free and open source, and it looks like the developers are pretty responsive to bug reports.

The only free games I am used to are browser games, and they aren't quite puzzle games, more rpgish/resource managementish with a limited number of turns per day.

[polarbee.livejournal.com]

I like Palringo for multi-IM use.

[sister-bluebird.livejournal.com]

I use Filezilla for FTP purposes: http://filezilla-project.org/. It's basic and what I switched to from cuteFTP ages back.

For multi-IM, I use Pidgin (formerly GAIM) like the above user, but I don't believe it handles Facebook and Twitter. There's also Empathy (http://live.gnome.org/Empathy), which does do Facebook chat, but no Twitter. Miranda (http://www.miranda-im.org/) reportedly handles all the protocols you list above, but I have never used it personally.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Miranda is all the awesomeness it's cracked up to be, and fresh strawberries besides. (great, now I want strawberries)

Currently, my Miranda install is running:
ICQ
MSN
YIM
Google Chat (2 accounts)
Facebook Chat

It used to run Skype and IRC as well, before I decided I didn't want those always on.

Great support for key shortcuts, and a plethora of plugins.

[jillbamfette.livejournal.com]

for chat, I recommend Pidgin: http://www.pidgin.im/ it handles everything else you mention and then some... except Facebook. BUT, there is a third party plugin to add Facebook chat: http://code.google.com/p/pidgin-facebookchat/ I haven't tried the Facebook thingy, but it's worth a shot. It's very light, resources wide, but also got lots of nice features.

There is a very comprehensive Mahjong program my mom loves called "Pretty Good Mahjong" (not very creative, I know) http://www.goodmj.com/ it's a bit more expensive than I thought, but it has a LOT of modes and arrangements etc. but it also has a 30 day trial so you can look for something free in the meantime in any case :p

I get most of my own games off of Steam though. do you mind getting Steam? cus if not, I can recommend some more cool puzzle games. Hell, just browse their 10 dollars and under section... http://store.steampowered.com/browse/under10 (not all puzzle games) or their puzzle/casual section for all prices: http://store.steampowered.com/genre/Casual/

ps. with Steam, yes, it has ads on by default and I know a lot of people don't like that, but it is very easy to turn the ads off, which a lot of people don't seem to realize. Just go to Steam->Settings->Interface and uncheck the 'notify me about upcoming/new releases' thing. It will then run quietly in your system tray. also, I don't know if you like Adventure games, but WOW, amazing deal: http://store.steampowered.com/app/31170/

[mathhobbit.livejournal.com]

I can't live without emacs and MiKTeX, but I'm a freak like that.

If the spider solitaire that comes with the installation doesn't do it for you, you might risk playing the flash game Chain Factor (I think it's "Drop 7" on the iPad). You can turn the sound off, but that doesn't stop it being pink. You can judge the risks of this sort of unsafe surfing better than I.

[kiri-moth.livejournal.com]

I've always liked LeechFTP. It's Freeware and very barebones and easy to use.

[ryokomusouka.livejournal.com]

Trillian's fine, even the freeware version (which I use). Just read the install screens and it won't install all that skrudge so many programs like to dump anymore.

[redokapi.livejournal.com]

I also like FileZilla for FTP. Other programs I can't live without are pretty specialized, so you can probably live just fine without them. :)

I hardly ever play games on the computer any more, but you could check out IndieGames, specifically their "Best of..." section. (I've not downloaded from them, but they're run by the same company that runs Gamasutra, which is a well-respected game development site.)

[curvature.livejournal.com]

I use WS_FTP Pro from these guys:
http://www.ipswitch.com/

It's good

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

New computers are fun! Best of luck with it.