 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GREG'S FORMIDABLE |
|
|
FREEWARE |
|
|
RETURN TO MAIN MENU |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOME COMPUTER |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
I have an E-Machine that contains and runs well on ONLY freeware. And I mean absolutely FREE software, not those free 90-day trial stripped-down versions. Here is a list of the programs I use and have verified work exceptionally well to make any computer fully functional and secure. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This awesome free application scans deep and fast for adware and some spyware. This alone can effectively "save" a doomed computer that seems to have broken down. |
|
| ADAWARE SE |
|
|
|
|
|
www.lavasoftusa.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
download |
|
|
|
AVAST! |
|
I found this application on a free CD-ROM with a computer magazine. This anti-virus and firewall operates similar to the big name-brand platforms and does an excellent job keeping the bad stuff out and cleaning up what might get in. Plus there are no subscription fees!! |
|
|
|
|
www.avast.com |
|
|
|
|
|
download |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think it is wise to have an easy way to clean up your registry from time to time. This program makes it very easy and safe to scan, detect, and remove harmful processes from your registry. I particularly like how it classifies what it finds, admitting when it does not necessarily know for sure if an item is safe to delete. I leave these items alone. My antivirus and adware programs should catch what the registry cleaner does not. Still, this program can make a slow computer a LOT faster by ridding it of extraneous processes. |
|
| TweakNOW Reg Cleaner |
|
|
|
|
|
www.tweaknow.com |
|
|
|
|
|
download |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This excellent firewall can be tricky to set up (to get it free and not be inundated with advertisements for the 'fuller' version). But once it is working, this is a full service firewall program that updates itself automatically, learns to allow or not allow programs on your computer to access the net, and has a handy internet lock that is quick and easy to engage. I thoroughly enjoy using this lightweight but powerfull firewall. I have had it for a little over a year now and have never got an infection. Avast fixes what might get through, but that is very rare. I cannot remember the last time my computer got an infection. |
|
| Zone Alarm |
|
|
|
|
|
www.zonelabs.com |
|
|
|
|
|
download |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totally free office suite that works in the formats Microsoft Office uses. I can do spreadsheets, word documents, pdf, and many other not-so-standard formats with this set of programs. The installation is easy and quick.I enjoy the power of knowing that I can create for FREE the same files a $300 program can create. The system seems very stable. It also takes up less space than microsoft's suite. |
|
| Open Office |
|
|
|
|
|
www.openoffice.org |
|
|
|
|
|
download |
|
|
|
|
|
| Other free services I use: |
|
|
|
YAHOO - free email with more storage than almost everybody else without banner adds.
GEOCITIES - free web pages easy enough for anyone to figure out. (a service of yahoo).
ACIDPLANET - free music posting web pages for composers.
MOZILLA FIREFOX - free internet explorer that is more secure and uses less power.
ZILLA CD-DVD RIP AND BURN - Easy but powerful cool interface for creating cd and dvd.
SONIQUE - cool player with unbeatable visuals for cd's mp3's and wma.
ADOBE ACROBAT - absolutely essential to read manuals, books, and other downloadable large documents. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| My platform: |
|
|
|
766 MHz celeron processor
256 x 2 + 64 MB ram
80 + 80 GB hard drives (2, with 4 partitions)
Microsoft Windows 2000 Pro operating system
Dell 17" CRT monitor |
|
|
| Why use free programs? |
|
|
|
People might worry about using something that costs nothing. There is this false 'you get what you pay for' philosophy that is outdated and certainly does not apply to software. Indeed, all of these programs are very robust. It is even more strange that some of these programs work much better than the equivalent program that you might pay a few hundred dollars for. In the case of Mozilla Firefox and Sonique we can see two very versitile programs that outperform their compeditor - MICROSOFT. I actually have nothing against microsoft. But they charge entirely too much money per program. It would be different if their programs were flawless, robust, and secure right out of the box. But if I have to download numerous patches and fixes to get their program's working smoothly, what exactly am I paying my good money for? That is my point and why I will always use freeware. |
|
|
| Why Win 2000 Pro? |
|
|
|
A lot of people ask me why I don't use XP. Well, for slower systems like mine, XP would compound the memory issues. XP uses a lot more system resources and runs a lot more application processes in the background than 2000 Pro. Plus, 2000 Pro is a well established, tested and re-tested operating system, whereas XP requires constant updates just to keep it working as more bugs are ironed out. Finally, the computer runs VERY fast as it is, and I LIKE 2000 Pro better. One can still enjoy customizing their windows and colors without all the memory issues of XP. Now, with all this said, XP is a fine operating system on faster computers. But on anything less than 1 GHz of processing speed, or more importantly, on any computer with less than 512MB of ram, Windows 2000 Pro would be a much more stable and reliable system to use. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RETURN TO MAIN MENU |
|
|
|