| In my youth I used to copy programs from friends to | | | | If you want an operating system, and can't afford |
| use on my computer. When I found out that this was | | | | Windows XP or Vista, there are quite a lot of Linux |
| called piracy, I tried for awhile to ignore my conscience, | | | | versions out there which are free. Try looking for |
| but eventually decided I needed to 'Go Legal.' Problem | | | | UBUNTU LINUX which is a free version from Mark |
| was, I didn't have the cash to buy all the software I | | | | Shuttleworth (Remember the Russian Space Tourist...) |
| needed. To my surprise, I found out that most of what | | | | You can also email him, and he will send you a totally |
| I needed was free! | | | | free double CD (or 10!) so that you can get it even if |
| So, if you are in a similar situation, here are some leads | | | | you haven't got a computer yet! |
| to free software. If the phrase is in capitals, put that | | | | To easily set up all the funny settings in your computer, |
| into Google as your search term to find the correct | | | | download the little utility TWEAKUI and just run it by |
| page. | | | | double clicking it. There's a whole pile of things that you |
| If you need an Office suite of programs, ie. Word | | | | can do with it. And it's made by the Microsoft guys. It's |
| processor, Excel type spreadsheet program, | | | | not very big, so it will download quickly. |
| Presentations program and Database program, it's all | | | | If you need photediting software, there is a program |
| for free and is Microsoft office comaptible from Sun | | | | called IRFANVIEW for image manipulation that's free. |
| Microsystems. It's called OPENOFFICE, and version 2.4 | | | | Also GIMP which is free, but it would be my second |
| is about the latest. It's about 130MB, so it might take | | | | choice. |
| awhile to download. You can download an earlier | | | | If you need an Anti Virus program, a very good one, |
| version, which is smaller, if you want to save money | | | | that I use myself, is AVG FREE edition. The latest |
| on your downloading costs. | | | | version is 8.0 or above. It's about 47MB to download, |
| If you need to view and print one of the new | | | | and it will want to update itself everyday, so just make |
| Microsoft Word documents, like a .docx type, | | | | sure you go through all the settings before you forget. |
| Microsoft offer a free download of the WORD | | | | You can turn the update feature to manual if you don't |
| VIEWER program. If you already have an old version | | | | want to be downloading things every day. |
| of Word and you want to open the newer type of | | | | If you want Bible software, like free Bible versions, |
| document, there is another free program called the | | | | Free commentries, all downloadable and able to be |
| FILEFORMAT CONVERTER, which will enable you to | | | | installed on your computer, try looking for E--SWORD. |
| view these new fangled doc files. | | | | It's amazing how this stuff can be free. |
| If you want a nice audio program, that can load and | | | | If you need to read a PDF file, you can download the |
| play a whole bunch of stuff, and also converts from | | | | ADOBE ACROBAT READER for free. |
| one format to another, and allows you to edit and | | | | There are many many other free things available. The |
| record, try AUDACITY. It's an open source program | | | | list above is just a drop in the ocean of what's |
| and works very nicely. Also remember that Microsofts | | | | available. But at least this will get most of the average |
| Media Player is also free, if you are running Windows | | | | guys immediate needs sorted out, and you don't have |
| operating system on your PC. You might just have to | | | | to be a pirate any longer ! |
| authenticate your version of Windows with them. | | | | |