Computer software guide

[StrkEagle]

I notice some people are still paying a fair bit for computer software

So I thought I might compile a list of useful software freely available online.
Majority of these are a great alternative to mainstream proprietry software

some are only available for pc but I will mark others as follows
* - available for PC
* - available for OSX
* - available for linux

-----------Category (mainstream programs)
free program - website

-----------web browser (internet explorer)
firefox * * * http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
chrome * * * http://www.google.com/chrome
opera * * * http://www.opera.com/
safari * * http://www.apple.com/safari/

-----------torrents
vuze * http://www.vuze.com/
µTorrent * * * http://www.utorrent.com/

-----------email (outlook / winmail /hotmail / live)
thunderbird * * * http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
gmail ( web-based) mail.google.com

-----------ftp
filezilla * * * http://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client

-----------word processor (microsoft word / corel word perfect)
openoffice.org * * * http://www.openoffice.org/
google docs (web-based) docs.google.com

-----------spreadsheet (microsoft excel)
openoffice.org * * * http://www.openoffice.org/
google docs (web-based) docs.google.com

-----------database (microsoft access)
openoffice.org * * * http://www.openoffice.org/

-----------presentation (microsoft powerpoint)
openoffice.org * * * http://www.openoffice.org/

-----------html editor (dreamweaver)
nvu * * * http://www.nvu.com/
komposer * * * http://kompozer.net/

-----------pdf viewer
acrobat reader * * * http://get.adobe.com/reader/
google docs (web-based) docs.google.com

-----------image viewer (acdsee)
faststone image viewer * http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDownload.htm
good program for batch processing, converting, etc image collections

-----------raster image editing (photoshop / paintshop pro / corel photopaint)
gimp * * * http://www.gimp.org/
paint.net * http://www.paint.net/
artweaver free * http://www.artweaver.de/download-en/

-----------vector image editing (illustrator / coreldraw)
inkscape * * * http://inkscape.org/index.php?lang=en

-----------desktop publishing (indesign / coreldraw)
scribus (not the best... but hey) * * * http://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus

-----------3d modelling (maya / 3dsmax)
blender firefox * * * http://www.blender.org/

-----------messaging (msn live messenger)
amsn (both free, but amsn is less bloated) http://www.amsn-project.net/
skype * * * http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/home

-----------music player (windows media player)
winamp * http://www.winamp.com/
itunes * * http://www.apple.com/au/itunes/download/

-----------video / dvd player (windows media player)
media player classic (part of klite mega codec pack) * http://www.codecguide.com/download_mega.htm

-----------cd / dvd burning (nero)
cdburnerXP * http://cdburnerxp.se/download

-----------sound editor (soundforge / sony vegas)
audacity * * * http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

-----------archiving (winzip)
7zip firefox * * * http://www.7-zip.org/

-----------system backup ( norton ghost / acronis trueimage / windows restore / windows backup)
seagate discwizard * http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/suppor ... discwizard

-----------firewall (nortons)
pc tools firewall * http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

-----------antivirus (nortons / kapersky / symantec)
pc tools antivirus * http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/
clamwin * http://www.clamwin.com/

-----------remote access (remote desktop connection)
logmein firefox * * * https://secure.logmein.com/US/products/free/

-----------operating systems (windows / osx)
windows 7 90 day trial is available http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495
linux mint http://www.linuxmint.com/
ubuntu http://www.ubuntu.com/

most linux 'distros' are much alike, but some have some handy features
99% of them are free
all can be downloaded, burnt to a disc and some can be used as a 'live cd' (can be used without installing to harddisk)
some can be installed onto your windows partition giving you a 'dual-boot option' (at startup, you will be given a choice whether to go into windows or linux)
distrowatch.com has a list of the most popular ones

some good websites to search for free software
google
sourceforge http://sourceforge.net/
wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:S ... omparisons



Pete

[Dire]

Great list
I use VLC player for videos, I have windows media player classic too but it doesn't play as much (I found) and doesn't have as many settings...