Murphy's Law: How Do You Download?
PrintIs there a special, unwritten set of rules for downloading freeware? I’d like to think there are—for me, at least. For even though I’m “that guy” at Maximum PC, perhaps the only (former) editor to actually come close to pushing past one’s monthly Comcast bandwidth limits, I still have to keep my trips through freeware land in some kind of perspective. And you should too.
So what, gentle sir or madam, compels you to grab a particular piece of software? That’s the crux of what I’ll be tackling in this week’s column—the first in a long time, mind you, thanks to an unruly show schedule on my part (I missed you too). But I digress. In my non-writing time, I’ve been doing a bunch of downloading, analyzing, and tweaking on the various devices I own, and I’ve noticed that all of my extended file-hunting sessions always have a few themes in common.
First off, the surest way to get me to check out a piece of software is to convince one of my friends or colleagues that it is awesome. The Power of the Recommendation, as it was. But let’s clarify an important point—following me on Twitter or finding me on Facebook (where I use the pseudonym, “Nathan Edwards”) doesn’t mean that we’re about to go prancing down to the beach hand-in-hand on the weekends. That ain’t friendship, nor does it constitute an automatic-download for said recommended app.
It’s one of the chief reasons why I find services like AppBrain (for Android devices) and Pandora (a thousand times, yes) so useful. A trusted source that knows your likes and dislike fairly well is worth a thousand great reviews. My friends don’t just suggest applications and programs that are, themselves, awesome; more importantly, these people (or Web services) often find those few programs clustered away in corners of the Internet that I might not otherwise notice in my own extensive searching. Or, to put it another way, trusted recommendations often expose me to unique bits and bytes that I would have never found myself.
Now, recommendations in hand, do I just go about downloading every single program or application my friends use? No! Nor should you! Were it up to me, I’d find a way to automatically launch my desktop in its fresh-off-of-a-virgin-installation state every single day. You know, that beautiful, crisp look of an operating system that has yet to be violated by application overload. I hate having a ton of semi-used apps on my system.
So how, then, does one separate the digital wheat from the chaff? It’s all about the presentation. This isn’t the rule to end all rules, but my interest in an application tends to wane if its official homepage is either non-existent (strike one), looks like it was coded on Geocities in 1998 (strike two), or features text that’s pretty much unintelligible (like this paragraph; strike three). I figure that a quality application at least has developers that are willing to go that extra mile—add that last bit of spice to the soup—to deliver basic information and screenshots that spell out exactly why I should go about sticking said program on my desktop system.
After all, if I can’t trust a person to put together at least the most simple of landing pages for an application, then what’s to say that said app’s user interface isn’t going suffer the same lazy treatment? Its features, not-quite-so bug tested? Its help file or tutorials akin to a third grader’s end-of-year essay?
And that’s about it. You could argue that this column is nothing but common sense, but if that was the case, than sites like Download.com—or their many, many equivalents—would cease to exist. For I do scope out the giant cattle call directories of applications from time to time just to see what’s in the popular eye. And it’s a terrifying process. People really do download the most worthless, poorly constructed applications, “just cause.”
So there you have it. Listen to your (sensible) peers or trust reviewers and blogs that know what they’re doing, and trust your gut when it comes to the crappy-or-awesome presentation of an application. You’ll spare yourself extended trips to the Revo Uninstaller window. Simple steps for software success, but important ones to put on a Post-It note next to your PC! You know, I bet there’s an app for that…
David Murphy, a former Maximum PC editor, has nothing witty to say in today's tiny biography. Nor does he really use Twitter that much, so trying to befriend him on there will be of little use! So. Um. How are things on your end? Go freeware!
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skyknight
September 22, 2010 at 5:55pm
i like to try it all, just to see if there's a better way to do things which makes keeping my pc working perfectly a pain... but once i find an app that does exactly what i want exactly how i want i won't bother. fortunately those are few and far between so the search continues.....
TheGaffer
September 22, 2010 at 5:09pm
It doesn't appear to me that Deep Freeze is freeware.
I'll have to try SteadyState again. I think I had it on here once and uninstalled it. I could use a program that will keep my computer fresh after a new install.
Keep up the good work Murph! I really enjoy your freeware column and have found some useful programs in those reviews.
TheGaffer
September 22, 2010 at 5:09pm
It doesn't appear to me that Deep Freeze is freeware.
I'll have to try SteadyState again. I think I had it on here once and uninstalled it. I could use a program that will keep my computer fresh after a new install.
Keep up the good work Murph! I really enjoy your freeware column and have found some useful programs in those reviews.
cantonman
September 22, 2010 at 10:40am
My first rule is to have a genuine need. And usually a repetitive need. I try to keep my pc free of unecessary programs that are just "cool." Also, if I already have a paid program or another previously-downloaded program that I'm used to that will do the job, I won't download another just to have a different way to accomplish the same thing.
Next, I like to try to find a freeware solution before looking to paid apps. I also prefer small, stand-alone programs that run without altering the registry or creating shortcuts everywhere and installing unwanted toolbars, etc.
You mentioned Download.com which is my second choice. My first search is on sourceforge.net. For Download, I like to sort results by "Editor's Rating" and if the "User Rating" is close, it's a good place to start.
Of course, no program is guaranteed to be what I need despite ratings or recommendations. I'm willing to try anything (safe) and don't mind uninstalling inadequate programs.
We all have our own preferences and way of working. I think a trial-and-error method is unavoidable when speaking of the sort of freeware/shareware solutions I believe you're targeting-despite however awesome a friend thinks a program is. Good pc "hygiene," if you will, makes installation and thorough uninstallation necessary despite the hassle. It's worth it to solve a problem economically and quickly.
cantonman
September 22, 2010 at 10:38am
My first rule is to have a genuine need. And usually a repetitive need. I try to keep my pc free of unecessary programs that are just "cool." Also, if I already have a paid program or another previously-downloaded program that I'm used to that will do the job, I won't download another just to have a different way to accomplish the same thing.
Next, I like to try to find a freeware solution before looking to paid apps. I also prefer small, stand-alone programs that run without altering the registry or creating shortcuts everywhere and installing unwanted toolbars, etc.
You mentioned Download.com which is my second choice. My first search is on sourceforge.net. For Download, I like to sort results by "Editor's Rating" and if the "User Rating" is close, it's a good place to start.
Of course, no program is guaranteed to be what I need despite ratings or recommendations. I'm willing to try anything (safe) and don't mind uninstalling inadequate programs.
We all have our own preferences and way of working. I think a trial-and-error method is unavoidable when speaking of the sort of freeware/shareware solutions I believe you're targeting-despite however awesome a friend thinks a program is. Good pc "hygiene," if you will, makes installation and thorough uninstallation necessary despite the hassle. It's worth it to solve a problem economically and quickly.
Defiant
September 22, 2010 at 9:38am
"Were it up to me, I’d find a way to automatically launch my desktop in its fresh-off-of-a-virgin-installation state every single day"
Look into Deep Freeze, it will do exactly what you want. Get your computer to the way you want it then set it up. From then on you can do whatever you want and fix it by just rebooting.
http://www.faronics.com/en/Products/DeepFreeze/DeepFreezeCorporate.aspx
There is also Windows Steady State which is free:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=D077A52D-93E9-4B02-BD95-9D770CCDB431&displaylang=en
aviaggio
September 22, 2010 at 10:53am
I dunno Murph, sometimes I'm so damned happy just find an application for something I need AND be able to get it for free. Sometimes putting up with a crappy GUI and website is just part of doing business with freeware.
Also, I'd rather see a guy working on making his freeware program function better, not spending whatever free time he has designing a website or on a fancy GUI.
Just my 2 cents.
And seriously, what's up with the website today? Damned thing cut off most of my post and I haven't been able to get back in to fix it till now.
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