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Monday, April 24, 2006
Rocking in the free software world
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The best things in life aren’t free, but you can get some great software without spending a dime if you have an Internet connection and know where to look.
Here’s some stuff worth checking out if you use Windows. If you know of more freebies, let me know and we can list them here.
1) Bill Gates has enough of your money already, thus we start with OpenOffice, which can replace the $500 Microsoft Office, a bloated product re-released every few years just for suckers. OpenOffice includes a word processor, spreadsheet, a basic drawing program, and a lot more. You can even open and save Microsoft doc files.
2) Mozilla’s web browser, Firefox, is better than the also-free Microsoft Internet Explorer because it is less susceptible to viruses and other attacks. It seems to have some Java implementation probs, however, so keep IE handy for the sites that require it (like mlb.com’s live scoring scripts).
3) Thunderbird is a better e-mail client than the default Microsoft offering, Outlook Express, because it, too, seems to have fewer security issues. Also, the filtering options can consume more Spam than a Roseanne Barr wedding reception.
4) When the boss tells you you can’t play solitaire on the office computer, it’s time to fire up Tight VNC, which allows remote access of your home computer wherever you are on the planet. I was in Romania and was able to use my home computer to check e-mail, reset a game server, look up information stored on my hard drive, and even fire up a compiler to fix an out-of-control C script. You can also freak out wifey-poo by moving the mouse cursor while she’s trying to use it. Fun for all!
5) Those seeking to violate copyright law need Quick and Easy FTP server, which can be used to “serve” files to online users. Usually, FTP is used for files too large to send via e-mail, such as uncompressed sound or video. The “lite” version is free and can handle most anything you will throw at it. I use Filezilla as an FTP client.
6) Release your inner geek and kiss your social life goodbye with Microsoft’s free Visual C++ Express, a compiler for making your own programs. It’s a good introduction to the world of programming and abstinence.
7) Those desperately still clinging to a social life like Chief Wiggum does donuts may want to check out PHP Coder, a simple but effective Intergrated Development Environment (IDE) for making web pages with PHP, a powerful web scripting language. Slackers can forget they ever heard of PHP and just use it as an HTML editor.
8) An anti-virus program is the first thing you should install on any new computer. AVG gets good marks, but I have used Avast’s free version for years with no complaints. You have to register the Avast version within two months of installing it and renew it once per year, but that is a small price to pay for preserving nerd dignity.
9) I use Photoshop, which is crazy expensive, but those whose employers are more penurious should try XNView to resize photos or convert images from one format to another. Those needing more editing power should check out GIMPshop, based on the venerable GIMP familiar to Linux users.
10) If you are young and need music and mom has started noticing you are taking twenties out of her purse, look no further than Limewire, probably the best peer-2-peer file sharing software out there. At one point they included spyware in the download, but I think the backlash gave them a well-deserved lesson. The basic version is free, but I bought the “pro” version. Limewire is pretty easy to use, unlike …
11) Azureus is another take on file-sharing, but using the BiTorrent protocol. This is a little more complicated than Limewire. You have been warned. And quit stealing from your mother!
12) Are the black helicopters getting you down? Want to surf the net anonymously? Look no further than JAP. Those really trying to foil Big Brother should employ the pricier version and bone up on anonymous proxy servers.
13) Ad-Aware does a good job of removing spyware, if you are so afflicted.
14) Software firewalls blow, but the best of the bunch may be ZoneAlarm. You are better off buying a router with a hardware firewall.
15) Power users should check out the free file management utility xplorer. You’ll never use the Windows version again.
16) Have multiple e-mail accounts but want to check them all at once? MrPostman will download all of your web-based e-mail (Hotmail, Yahoo mail, etc.) into your regular e-mail client (Outlook Express, Thunderbird, etc.).
17) The Windows clipboard stinks, Clipboard Recorder does not. Now you can copy up to 99 different items before pasting!
18) Yahoo Desktop Search will find stuff on your computer way faster than that stupid dog Microsoft foisted upon us.
19) Win-Rar is a powerful archive manager that will make your forget Winzip, which only clowns use. For the clowns reading this, an archive manger compresses and decompresses a file to save space, usually before you e-mail it. Now get back to juggling.
20) Zork, the classic text adventure, is only as far away as the nearest web browser! Strangely addictive for those of us unwilling to actually work while at the office. Enjoy!
