Things to do before and after getting a laptop?

Question

I'm thinking a lenovo thinkpad. I want to know what I should do to keep my pc up and running for years. I need recommendations on anything from downloads to programs. I'm only 16 years old and don't have anything business related. I would like some suggestions on cool websites like facebook, digg, myspace, flickr, youtube, etc.

Answer 1

Your first priority should be security.

Get a good antivirus, antispyware, and firewall programs.

Antivirus:

Get Avast! -or- AVG.  They aren't the best but they're free.  Note that you can only have ONE antivirus running, as to not cause conflicts.

Antispyware:

You can have more than one antispyware running, so I recommend SuperAntiSpyware and Spybot Search and Destroy.  Superantispyware is one of the best free products and Spybot has real-time protection.

Firewall:

Comodo is a great firewall to have.  It's better than Windows firewall which lets things leak through.

Ok, now for the fun part.  Some sites I recommend are:

Games:

www.newgrounds.com

www.armorgames.com

www.mmosite.com  -  this site has information about MMORPGs

Videos:

www.ani2d.net  -  This site has anime, which I love.

Chatting:

www.meebo.com  -  You can chat on AIM, Yahoo Messenger, etc. without having to download he programs.

Answer 2

When a company sells laptops, they tend to put in a lot of unwanted software on it from specific companies. Doing this helps them to keep the cost of the laptop low. It would be a good idea to fix your priorities and remove software that you do not need. Too many unwanted software can seriously slow down even the fastest computer.  

Answer 3

Make sure you get an antivirus program (zone alarm is free, google it). Also google Adaware and Spybot search and destroy, and run regular checks. Also go into your system tools, (all programs menu->accessories->system tools), and regularly run disk cleanup and disk defragmentation to keep everything running well.

As for fun, go download firefox, and install the "stumble upon" add on. You set preferences and when you click the button it takes you to a website that people have marked as interesting.