Software
Over the years, I've found that I get a fair number of requests for software recommendations. These range from "How can I [insert task here]?" to "I hate [insert application here], is there an alternative?". Like anyone else who has been around computers for a long time, I've developed my own biases - ahem, preferences - but I like to think that they're well-founded biases. They're not formed from ignorance or prejudice. I've tried a lot - a lot - of software over the years in an effort to do this, that or the other. I've liked some of what I've tried. I've not liked a lot of what I've tried.
You won't see any anti-Microsoft rants here. Microsoft is no different from any other prolific software vendor. They've released some good stuff - SQL Server, the Office suite and even Internet Explorer come to mind. They've released some crap. Think FrontPage, Windows ME and Internet Explorer. Wait, you say, IE is listed twice. Once in the good column and once in the bad. So it is. There's a reason for that.
In the old days, before there were standards, Microsoft decided not to wait. They pushed the envelope of what a browser could do and offered a richer experience for users and developers alike. Through version 4.x and, arguably, into version 5.x IE lead the way and really was better than any browser alternative. And then, inexplicably to this simple man, Microsoft got lazy. Or complacent. Or cocky. They just stopped. Standards exploded as a driving force, Mozilla and Opera stepped up and...innovated. Uh oh. From the "good" list to the "bad" list in the time it took to draft a standard.
What I think folks will get the most benefit from is the utilities and lesser known applications that have become an important part of my life behind the keyboard. These are the small applications that typically perform very specialized functions and do them very, very well.
This won't be a complete list of everything I have installed, but the tools that really scoot my chair back will be glowingly represented.
OS X
As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've only been a so-called Mac fanboy for a few months now. I'm still uncovering cool stuff. Seems like every day there's something I see, do or learn that makes my eyes light up and elicits an involuntary "Ooooooo". Nonetheless, I've still settled into a few biases. I'd be interested in the thoughts of others with respect to my choices. Current preferences can change if a better alternative is offered. I'm nothing if not potential for growth.
Windows
For years I was a Windows guy. Now I'm not. That's not so much because Microsoft disappointed me as much as it is because Apple impressed me. I think XP was actually quite a good OS. I was reasonably happy with it (although I could do without the endless updates). I still use Windows at the office and, on rare occasion, at home.
