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Optimus Support: Recommended Software
We are often asked what software we recommend. None of these
products are required to maintain your site hosted by Optimus Media, they are only
software Ron recommends.
Anti-Virus Software
It's a must to have some type of anti-virus software to protect
your computer. While there are many great products we like these the best:
- AVG
Anti-Virus (Free for Home Use)
Very good product. Why it is free is anyone's guess. Most likely they
want your email address for marketing purposes or they are planning
on charging after they get a big enough subscriber base. Whatever the
reason, I have found it's a reliable and effective product.
- ClamAV (free for everyone)
This product was designed for Linux users but is quickly gaining ground among windows users as well.
Firewall
A must for cable, DSL and permanent connections to the net. A firewall
keeps people/programs from gaining access to your computer without your
knowledge.
- Zone Alarm (Free)
There is a pro version and a free version. The free version is more
than adequate for home/personal use.
Web Design
If you are going to design your own site, we recommend the following
products:
- Dreamweaver
An outstanding program for those who want to create professional looking
web sites.
- NVU (Free)
Great Free alternative to Frontpage.
- Notepad (already on your system)
Really want to know understand html? Then I recommend you start at the beginning with a good HTML tutorial or book.
FTP
If your web design software doesn't have an FTP client built
in, and even when it does, it's a good idea to have a reliable FTP program.
- Smart FTP
One of the web's best FTP programs. The graphical interface
was designed with the novice FTP user in mind, but there are advanced
features for power users as well. It's easy to set up profiles so you
can easily toggle between commonly visited FTP sites.
- Filezilla
A great open source (free) FTP utility. It's become my primary FTP Client.
Graphic Design
If you use a lot of graphics on your site. These are great programs.
- Fireworks
Get it with the Dreamweaver/Fireworks Suite, or the Macromedia Studio.
Be sure and use it's optimization feature to keep your graphics loading
quickly.
- Adobe Photoshop
The standard -- but pricey. Both Fireworks and Photoshop are now owned by Adobe and therefore expect firefox to phase out.
- Gimp
The leading photoshop clone. This one is free, so give it a try.
Flash
Great smooth and professional animations with these Flash programs.
- Macromedia Flash
For serious flash creations, only the original will do.
- Swish
Most users can get by with just swish. It's a cheap way to get quality
flash animation on your site without spending a large amount of money.
Audio/Video
If you are putting audio or video to your site, you will want
to check out these products:
- Windows
Media Technologies
Both experienced web developers and novice streaming media authors
can easily create streaming files, giving end-users instant media playback
instead of requiring them to wait for files to download.
- Audacity
An excellent audio editing package, Audacity works with over a dozen
different audio formats including AU, WAV and PCM, and has extensive
editing capabilities.
Internet Filtering
Protect your family from porn and other unwelcome web sites
- K9 Web Protection (Free)
This has some limitations but if cost is the reason you don't have a filter, then you are now without excuse. I still say POS (parent over shoulder) is the best Internet Filter you can get (get involved). We use K9 to protect against accidental exposure for those times we are there.
- BSafe Online
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