What Windows Features Do You Use?

GHoosdum

I'm collecting information for an article that I plan to write. I'd like as many people as possible to answer the following set of questions:

• What features that are built-in to Windows do you use regularly?
• What features that are built-in to Windows do you use rarely?
• What features that are built-in to Windows do you never use?
• What features that are built-in to Windows do you use a third-party program for instead?

Thanks!

Thrax

1. Calculator, notepad, wordpad, DOS Shell
2. Sound recorder
3. Remote desktop, IE6
4. The CD-Burning tool, internet browser, the XP style shell.

V-P

1. Calculator, notepad
2. IE
3. Remote desktop. Sound Recorder
4. Media Player (WinAmp), CD Burner (Nero), Shell (Vista), Logon and Boot Screens

Deano

1. Notepad, Wordpad, Paint
2. Volume control
3. Remote Desktop, Sound recorder, Realplayer
4. Browser (FF), Media Player (Winamp), CD Burner (Nero)

Leonardo

Windows:

Calculator, Notepad, Wordpad, Printscreen (screenshot), MSPaint, CD burning tool, most of the System Tools, Much of the Administrative Tools, Search, Run (MSConfig, Regedit), Windows Update, Windows Explorer (I truly dislike "My Computer"), Quick Launch....OK, most of the integrated stuff, to include the integrated wireless and networking...

Third Party:

Firefox; multimedia/viewers: IrfanView, Media Player Classic, VuePro, Real Player (when there's no other choice), crApple Quicktime (infrequently); Tools/Utilities: CCleaner, RegScrubXP, SpeedFan, CPU Z, SiSoft Sandra (only occasionally), Norton Ghost, TweakUI; WinRAR, Security: SpyBot, Ad-Aware, AVG-Free anti-virus,

Windows never use:

Windows Firewall (use router hardware firewall), Malicious Software Removal Tool (see "Security" above), *Remote Desktop Viewer., .Net anything, Movie Maker,




*Thrax, I'd be interested to know what use you make of Remote~ and what steps/settings you use to mitigate the security risk. Perhaps a new thread, Sir?

airbornflght

• The Start button:, the shell(themes)
• Fast User switch, IE
• paint, wmp, quicklaunch, encrytion
• FF, TI-89 Emulator, PS CS2, many many more.

RWB

There would be alot to list, and along time to compile them.... here's what I can think of currently. I will update it as more come to mind. I copied some of what others mentioned.

What features that are built-in to Windows do you use regularly?
Calculator, Windows Update, Windows Firewall(along with my router's), Notepad, Wordpad, Printscreen (screenshot), MSPaint, Windows Media Player, Command Prompt,

What features that are built-in to Windows do you use rarely?
Paint, IE, Windows Movie Maker, System Restore,

What features that are built-in to Windows do you never use?
Remote Desktop,

What features that are built-in to Windows do you use a third-party program for instead?
Diskeeper, a Vista look-a-like shell, Quicktime, iTunes,

Thrax

Hey RWB, don't know if you knew this or not, but the windows firewall only monitors outgoing traffic, not incoming which is the major threat. Your router's firewall can do both, and does both already via NAT, which means you can free up some memory, CPU overhead, and network performance by switching the XP firewall off.

Sledgehammer70

1.) Notepad, Calc, System Tools, Printscreen, Basic windows based shortcuts.
2.) Windows Media Player, IE
3.)Remote desktop, Sound Recorder, MSpaint, Windows Firewall, Movie Maker
4.) Media Player. Web Browser, Messanger, DVD & CD burning, image editing, remote desktop programs, Firewalls,