Windows Settings
Required
- ZoneAlarm - firewall
- TweakUI - for adjusting those hard to find Windows settings
- Command Prompt Here - DOS Prompt from current folder
- Sizer - Set window size
- TrayIt - Minimizes applications to system tray so they can stay open.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- OpenOffice.org - document, spreedsheet, and presentation
- StaskSwitchXP - advanced task management utility by adding visual styles to the dialogand also enhances it by displaying thumbnail preview of the application that will be switched to
- Google Talk - so you all can talk to me (chadsmiley)
- Media Monkey - Media player
- AVG Free - anti-virus software
- FastStone - download with or without installer!!
- Capture - Flexible and intuitive screen-capture utility
- Photo Resizer - Image converter / resizer
- Image Viewer - Image browser -really cool if you have two monitors
- Wink - Tutorial and Presentation creation software
- Firefox (custom options, include developer tools)
- Cobian Backup - simple with many options for backing up files. I even use it to backup my thumb drive and memory cards
Evaluating
- Wax - video compositing and special effects software
- Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall - so far, it has been OK. Catches more because it determines how applications are launched, example: Firefox launched from the start menu than being launched from Lotus Notes.
Notusing
- Comodo Firewall - caught things that I could not say always allow
Backup Solution
I am looking for a backup solution for a couple of (small) companies. I am currently looking at either finding a web based solution or creating my own solution at home. Yes, the better solution would be to have an outside company handle the backup, but they do not want to have big monthly expenses. I currently use Cobian Backup which has everything that I need and is simple to use.
Does anyone have any recommendations?
Windows Settings
I have been doing some documenting of what my current Windows PC has for settings and here is what I have so far. I plan on creating a couple more like this so if you don't see them just remind me.
Some Software to Consider
I have been working with Wink to make some screencasts, this is the best freeware that I have been able to find. LaunchBarCommander took some time getting use to but I could be a time saver. Just like any program from DonationCoder there are many options to meet everyone's needs. If you are looking to have some fun with someone consider Dr. Windows.
HotKeys by qliner
Kevin wrote about his Favorite Windows Shortcut Keys my favorite is the Win-L. I have added a few more using hotkeys by qliner . One of the really nice features is you can see the keyboard and the icon associated with it, you might get sick of holding down the Windows key though!

The other very nice feature is the run as, it is a little different than Windows Run As because it as a default user. The other benefit is easy of running explorer.exe using the Run As, which is not possible with Windows.
The volume control is kind of nice also.

Line Break Class
Simple class to get the necessary characters to create a line break. The line break is needed for prompts, input, and others. There is not much to explain once you see the available methods:
Public Sub new ( ) As String Public Function getLineBreakSession ( Session As NotesSession ) As String Public Function getLineBreak ( ) As String Public Function getWindows ( ) As String Public Function getMacintosh ( ) As String Public Function getUnix ( ) As String Public Function getLinux ( ) As String
The first code block is the traditional LotusScript coding where you will need to create an instance of LineBreak in order to use it. The second follows the concept of simulating an abstract concept. This allows LineBreak.getLineBreak() to be called from anywhere at any time as long as the class is included.
Line Break
Option Declare '/** ' * Determines what line break to use base on the platform. ' * ' * @author Chad Schelfhout ( http:///www.chadsmiley.com) ' * @since 1.0.0 ' */ Class LineBreak Private pSession As notesSession '/** ' * Constructor ' */ Public Sub new ( ) Set pSession = New NotesSession End Sub '/** ' * Get the type of line break based off the current session ' */ Public Function getLineBreakSession( Session As NotesSession )As String Set pSession = Session getLineBreakSession = getLineBreak() End Function '/** ' * determines the current line break based off the current platform ' */ Public Function getLineBreak() As String If pSession Is Nothing Then Set pSession = New NotesSession() End If Select Case pSession.Platform() Case "Windows/32": getLineBreak = getWindows() Case "Macintosh": getLineBreak = getMacintosh() Case "Unix": getLineBreak = getUnix() Case "Linux": getLineBreak = getLinux() End Select End Function '/** ' * Returns the Windows line break ' */ Public Function getWindows() As String getWindows = Chr$(13) & Chr$(10) End Function '/** ' * Returns the Mac line break ' */ Public Function getMacintosh() As String getMacintosh = Chr$(13) End Function '/** ' * Returns the Unix line break ' */ Public Function getUnix() As String getUnix = Chr$(10) End Function '/** ' * Returns the Linx line break ' */ Public Function getLinux() As String getLinux = Chr$(10) End Function End Class
Line Break simulate abstract class
Option Declare '/** ' * Global variable to simulate an abstract class that is why it is named ' * the same as the class. ' */ Dim LineBreak As LineBreak '/** ' * Determines what line break to use base on the platform. ' * ' * @author Chad Schelfhout ( http:///www.chadsmiley.com) ' * @since 1.0.0 ' */ Class LineBreak Private pSession As notesSession '/** ' * Constructor ' */ Public Sub new ( ) Set pSession = New NotesSession End Sub '/** ' * Get the type of line break based off the current session ' */ Public Function getLineBreakSession( Session As NotesSession )As String Set pSession = Session getLineBreakSession = getLineBreak() End Function '/** ' * determines the current line break based off the current platform ' */ Public Function getLineBreak() As String If pSession Is Nothing Then Set pSession = New NotesSession() End If Select Case pSession.Platform() Case "Windows/32": getLineBreak = getWindows() Case "Macintosh": getLineBreak = getMacintosh() Case "Unix": getLineBreak = getUnix() Case "Linux": getLineBreak = getLinux() End Select End Function '/** ' * Returns the Windows line break ' */ Public Function getWindows() As String getWindows = Chr$(13) & Chr$(10) End Function '/** ' * Returns the Mac line break ' */ Public Function getMacintosh() As String getMacintosh = Chr$(13) End Function '/** ' * Returns the Unix line break ' */ Public Function getUnix() As String getUnix = Chr$(10) End Function '/** ' * Returns the Linx line break ' */ Public Function getLinux() As String getLinux = Chr$(10) End Function End Class '/** ' * Instanciate the global variable that will act like an abstract class ' */ Sub Initialize Set LineBreak = New LineBreak() End Sub
SnT Thursday – Tray It!
This is one of small but useful tools that I have been using for some time.
It is particularly useful for background tasks you typically keep running on your PC all day long like your favorite E-mail client, Real Player, etc.
Try It! has improved since my last post, it has a much nicer UI. Even though it is only in beta , it has been very stable for me and worth the risk. Here is the new improved list of applications running
I have circled the features that I have set. I am always up for single clicking instead of that double stuff, except for Lotus Notes double right click!
.
For some applications like Microsoft Active Sync or Google Talk there is already a system try icon, so selecting the option not to show in the system tray just makes sense. 
iTunes sync with SD memory card
No, I do not have an iPod, but I would like to sync my music from iTunes to my memory card to play on my ViewSonic . I was using Windows Media Player for a while but did not like how it would sync the songs. It would sync the first songs in the list and never reach any songs at the end. I am looking for a tool that I would be able to specify recycle percentage like 10% or 20% of the songs each time I sync. Is there anything available that can do this?
Ages and versions
Should software version be more like ages? Tim commented on the way I wrote my kids ages. This might be like what Microsoft did with Windows 95 and 98.
Should software be described by how old it is not by the release or version. That would make windows 20, 25 if you want to start when it was conceived but since human ages don't start until birth it would be 20. Here is Windows family tree Has anyone ever seen a Notes family tree?
Who ever came up with alpha and beta, and why is there not never agamma version? I just might have to have a gamma release for my next application.
Thanks, Tim for the idea.