T101.3c - Computer Software |
The digital world has dramatically changed all aspects of commerce. While there are some businesses that are only slightly affected by digital technology, like the old fashioned donut shop at the local strip mall, many others are dramatically affected. If you are going to utilize computers and technology in your business, it is often hard to decide what to use and how far to go.
The "Computer Software" I am referring to here is separate from your operating system and its various built in tools and utilities. Computer Software, also referred to more specifically as Computer Software Applications or Computer Software Programs, is installed on your computer and it does 'stuff' or allows you to do stuff and store data on your computer.
As you will see below, all of this adds to tech trauma and tech stress. Adopting a more cloud based orientation dramatically decreases the stress.
The following list details items that should be the first things loaded (or configured) onto any new computer.
The "Computer Software" I am referring to here is separate from your operating system and its various built in tools and utilities. Computer Software, also referred to more specifically as Computer Software Applications or Computer Software Programs, is installed on your computer and it does 'stuff' or allows you to do stuff and store data on your computer.
As you will see below, all of this adds to tech trauma and tech stress. Adopting a more cloud based orientation dramatically decreases the stress.
The following list details items that should be the first things loaded (or configured) onto any new computer.
- Required Software (at a minimum)
- Other Software
- Protection
- Remote Access Client (if needed)
1) Required Software (at a Minimum)
This is old school stuff. If you have transitioned to Google Cloud tools and/or a Chromebook, many of this is no longer relevant.
- Office Suite Software ** -- Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation Software, Email/Contacts (like ms outlook) and maybe database software (like ms Access)
- PDF Reader**-- Adobe Reader, Foxit Reader, other... (Macs come with Adobe reader installed, PC's always come with something default that never does the simple job well) UPDATE: The chrome browser is also a pdf reader now too, so that is another options which eliminates separate software for this.
- Web Browser(s) -- (covered in more detail in the next section)
- Your Business specific or personal software, discussed in more detail in the next section
Tech Trauma and Tech Stress -- All of this along with your user specific software below had to be reloaded with each no computer or after each computer crash...
2) Other Software
This is some of the software I use, have used, or have used on the behalf of others. Obviously this is an endless list depending on industry and interests. UPDATE 7/2019 -- Some of these are now available in cloud solutions or cloud alternatives.
Tech Trauma and Tech Stress -- All of this along with the required software had to be reloaded with each no computer or after each computer crash...
- 2-D Drafting and Design -- AutoCAD, Autosketch, CADLink (for cnc),
- Accounting Software -- Quickbooks (now available as cloud solutions as well)
- Audio Recording -- Audacity
- CNC Controller -- Torchmate Control Software
- Construction Estimating -- Exactimate
- Database -- MySQL, SQLServer, MsAccess
- FTP -- Filezilla
- Personal Financial Software -- Quicken (now available as cloud solutions as well)
- PDF Editor -- Adobe Acrobat, Foxit Phantom PDF
- Photo manipulation Software -- Photoelf and Snag it
- Screen Capture -- Snipping tool and Snag It
- Screen Recording -- BB Flashback Pro
- Text Editors -- PFE 32, Notepad++, MS Front Page
- Utility -- Search for large files -- Tree Size -- Tool for viewing directories by storage size
- Utility -- File Renaming -- Better File Rename, Bulk Rename Utility
- Utility -- Find files -- Agent Ransack
- Voice Recognition -- Dragon
Tech Trauma and Tech Stress -- All of this along with the required software had to be reloaded with each no computer or after each computer crash...
3) Protection
Viruses can NOT be gotten from a website visit. They can only be gotten by opening/running a file meant to do something. Often times things were embedded or buried in ms word and excel files or fake versions of those. Sometimes they were packed into free and paid software offerings. Viruses ranged from really annoying, to crippling to fully destructive. Those of us who used computers starting in the mid 1990s likely all have one to a dozen stories of trying to recover from a virus. Those times were simply awful. It was like trying to safely navigate in an orgy where everyone had an STD. Viruses are stll a problem but much less than before globally. All the major email processors are running scans on software taking a burden off individual users. But individual users can still get them by downloaded infected software and opengin/running it, so it's still ideal to be using some kind of protection.
Malware is less annoying . Malware typically refers to annoying things that are contracted from websites via browsers. Hijacked home pages and redirection on search results are the types of things malware does.
Malware is less annoying . Malware typically refers to annoying things that are contracted from websites via browsers. Hijacked home pages and redirection on search results are the types of things malware does.
- Malware Protection -- Malware Bytes, SpyBot (not running real time, intermittent scans only or as needed)
- Virus Protection PC -- Microsoft Security Essentials. This does not have to be loaded. It comes with Microsoft OS and started coming with it in the late 2000's I think. It seems microsoft realized their name was getting battered when 3rd party virus folks couldn't keep up and let's face it, their systems would have been affected by bad stuff too. Need to run this in real time. (running real time)
- Virus Protection Mac -- Macs were always far more immune to virus issues. One reason is because they were found less in big business, and a lot of the viral work was designed to target and destroy big business stuff. Another, from what I'm told is because Macs, running on Unix, were simply far more locked down with less exploitation ops. Many people who own a Mac have never had a virus. I don't know if they have a seperate software for that or if the protection is just built into the OS.
Tech Trauma and Tech Stress -- This category and the tasks related are huge sources of tech stress and tech trauma
4) Remote Access Client
Remote access provides the ability to log into your computer while it is online but unattended. There has been a real evilution and devolution in the vendors for this.
LogMeIn was the market leader. The offered free use to many people and then a premium service for others.
After their offering matured with the help of feedback from millions of users, and after they bought up or shut down all the competition, they removed their free offering from the marketplace, and put a $99 annual price tag on it. That tag is now $299 and rising and basically what was commonplace for many of us to use in the 2000's for free is now not common to those following behind.
When LogMeIn flogged its user base a German company with a solution called Team Viewer tried to fill the space. Same functionality but tech that was way behind LogMeIn. The instructions were way confusing compared to log me in and too many client options and challenging interface.
The mid 2010s made what was simple the decade prior more complex for sure.
Few realize Google had a free offering floating around in Beta form. They didn't publicize it and they still don't really. http://remotedesktop.google.com Now you know a secret! This provides a remote unattended log in capability but is used more often by most to log in to someone elses attended computer to provide assistance.
This was a well held secret in plain view for many years.
Tech Trauma and Tech Stress -- Needing access to a machine that for info and/or needing access to help others while the software vendors were constantly jockey for more money was hugely stressful
LogMeIn was the market leader. The offered free use to many people and then a premium service for others.
After their offering matured with the help of feedback from millions of users, and after they bought up or shut down all the competition, they removed their free offering from the marketplace, and put a $99 annual price tag on it. That tag is now $299 and rising and basically what was commonplace for many of us to use in the 2000's for free is now not common to those following behind.
When LogMeIn flogged its user base a German company with a solution called Team Viewer tried to fill the space. Same functionality but tech that was way behind LogMeIn. The instructions were way confusing compared to log me in and too many client options and challenging interface.
The mid 2010s made what was simple the decade prior more complex for sure.
Few realize Google had a free offering floating around in Beta form. They didn't publicize it and they still don't really. http://remotedesktop.google.com Now you know a secret! This provides a remote unattended log in capability but is used more often by most to log in to someone elses attended computer to provide assistance.
This was a well held secret in plain view for many years.
Tech Trauma and Tech Stress -- Needing access to a machine that for info and/or needing access to help others while the software vendors were constantly jockey for more money was hugely stressful