10-02-2005 10:39									#1
	First Steps Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

I just got my new Dell PC. It was quite exciting, since I've never owned a PC before, I've only used Apple computers. I should be setting up internet shortly. What should I do now? What should I download?

	10-02-2005 10:43									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

1) Make sure you have anti-virus installed
2) Use Mozilla Firefox (http://www.getfirefox.com)
3) Use a client like Thunderbird for email (http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/ )
4) Use Microsoft anti-spyware: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/sec...re/default.mspx

	10-02-2005 10:46									#3
	Tired of ads?

5) realize your PC is hoplessly bugged, that all your credit card numbers have already been stolen, and that youve already had to restart three times because windows crashed.

	10-02-2005 10:50									#4
	Remove this text

I've been quite lucky so far. The setup went fine, no blue screen of death, everything is quite quiet, and I have no dead pixels on my 20" LCD. I have Media Center Edition, which I also love. My specs:

Media Center Edition
Dual Drive DVD-RWs
20" LCD 1600x1200
3.4 GHz P4 Processor
ATI Radeon X850 XT
160 GB Hard Drive, 7200 RPM, 8 MB Cache
5.1 Surround Sound Speakers, with a Subwoofer

Everything looks great.

	10-02-2005 19:59									#5
	Remove this text

You need a Firewall before you connect to the Internet, or your computer will be owned before you know it.

	10-02-2005 20:23									#6
	Put an end to popups!

Since you're starting fresh anyway, get a Linux distro.

	10-02-2005 20:25									#7
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

Yes, I recommend Slackware. You'll love it.

	10-02-2005 20:29									#8
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Gentoo

	10-02-2005 20:34									#9
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by Asher Yes, I recommend Slackware. You'll love it.

Ouch - not even a wink with that?

	10-02-2005 20:39									#10
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Real men roll their own distros.

	10-02-2005 20:41									#11
	Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by Asher 4) Use Microsoft anti-spyware: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/sec...re/default.mspx

Why this, rather than Spybot or Adaware? Also, as MSN always tries to download a spyware on my PC when I'm using IE, I'm not sure MS's the most objective vendor.

	10-02-2005 20:41									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by Asher 1) Make sure you have anti-virus installed 2) Use Mozilla Firefox (http://www.getfirefox.com) 3) Use a client like Thunderbird for email (http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/ ) 4) Use Microsoft anti-spyware: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/sec...re/default.mspx

If you run XP Pro does that mean any wireless security concerns you might have are sufficiently addressed?

I just bought a used IBM Thinkpad R31 off of Ebay for $475. It has XP Pro and an 802.11b card and I am ready to find a hotspot to use to get onto the internet...

	10-02-2005 20:42									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger You need a Firewall before you connect to the Internet, or your computer will be owned before you know it.

WinXP has a firewall. Not a great one, but it will protect you long enough to go download Zone Alarm.

	10-02-2005 20:43									#14
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by bfg9000 If you run XP Pro does that mean any wireless security concerns you might have are sufficiently addressed?

Absolutely not.

	10-02-2005 20:44									#15
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara Absolutely not.

Thanks that helps !

	10-02-2005 20:47									#16
	Re: First Steps Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by Lord Nuclear I just got my new Dell PC. It was quite exciting, since I've never owned a PC before, I've only used Apple computers. I should be setting up internet shortly. What should I do now? What should I download?

Downlaod emule and never pay for music, movies, or computer programs ever again.

	10-02-2005 20:48									#17
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara Why this, rather than Spybot or Adaware? Also, as MSN always tries to download a spyware on my PC when I'm using IE, I'm not sure MS's the most objective vendor.

It has far better real-time protection, and catches things Spybot and Adware both miss.

It's actually a product called Giant -- MS bought the company and rebranded it. Prior to this, Giant was a paid service, not free.

	10-02-2005 20:49									#18
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger You need a Firewall before you connect to the Internet, or your computer will be owned before you know it.

Just run Microsoft update and a nice firewall will be installed for you by Microsoft.

	10-02-2005 20:51									#19
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara Why this, rather than Spybot or Adaware? Also, as MSN always tries to download a spyware on my PC when I'm using IE, I'm not sure MS's the most objective vendor.

I have all three but MS's Antispyware really does work best. They bought the best antispyware program and just renamed it MS Spyware. It finds all sorts of stuff the other two had missed.

	10-02-2005 20:55									#20
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

With regards to anti-spyware software, more is better. In my experience, no one program covers you as well as 2 or 3.

Minor Hijack:
Asher - I am curious what archiver you use. I have a new machine to setup and was going to use my trusty old version of PowerArchiver 6.11 (before they corrupted it), but I am sure there's some new kids out there - what's the best, free, simple archiver these days?

	10-02-2005 20:57									#21
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

I actually use PowerArchiver 2004, but it's supposedly not free.

	10-02-2005 21:08									#22
	Re: First Steps Inflate your Upload Space

As far as spyware goes, what dejon said: MS Spyware, Adaware, Spywareblaster, Spybot S&D -- you can't have too many of those...

quote: Originally posted by Lord Nuclear What should I do now?

Buy a few games and revel in the knowledge that you can actually play games now

	10-02-2005 21:31									#23
	Support Apolyton

I have also bought Mcafee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam, which I read was better than Nortan Anti-Virus.

	10-02-2005 21:36									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Asher I actually use PowerArchiver 2004, but it's supposedly not free.

Why am I not surprised?

A little hunting revealed the opensource 7-Zip project - any experience with it? The rest of the competition seems to have adopted their compression algorithm - that says something.

	10-02-2005 21:38									#25
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

7-zip is an awesome algorithm.

I don't care much for the interface and program.

PowerArchiver 2004 supports 7-zip as well.

	10-02-2005 22:07									#26
	Increase Your PM Length

quote: Originally posted by Asher It has far better real-time protection, and catches things Spybot and Adware both miss. It's actually a product called Giant -- MS bought the company and rebranded it. Prior to this, Giant was a paid service, not free.

And from what I've read, neither will be MS's. Once they get out of the Beta stage, it will be a paid service too.

	10-02-2005 22:08									#27
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Since this is legal in Canada, I can talk about it. What program should I use to download music?

	10-02-2005 22:10									#28
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Emule is my favorate though WinMX isn't bad for the common stuff.

	10-02-2005 22:13									#29
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Emule for large files
WinMX for smaller ones or popular big ones. (the advantage being you can preview them as opposed to Emule)

	10-02-2005 22:34									#30
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Oerdin Just run Microsoft update and a nice firewall will be installed for you by Microsoft.

You get owned before you finish doing that.