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| What are some helpful programs I might want? |
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| Open Office |
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What it does: Open Office is a program similar to Microsoft Office. It is a very robust software suite that can not only read Word and Excel files, but write them, as well. This makes it almost completely compatable the often expensive Microsoft product.
Where to get it:
You can download Open Office from www.openoffice.org.
Cost: Quite possibly the best part of this program is the cost: completely free. It's open souce software that relies on individuals to assist in developing it. If you have programming skills, feel free to get involved. Otherwise, enjoy an excellent no-cost software solution.
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| AVG Antivirus |
What it does: AVG Antivirus is a virus scanner. In addition to pay solutions, Grisoft offers a free version of their software. It offers automatic e-mail and system scans, just like the big boys, but at no cost to you.
Where to get it: You can download AVG Antivirus from www.grisoft.com.
Cost: Free. Updates are also free. To access some optional advanced features, a pay version is required. |
| WinZip |
What it does: WinZip is a program that allows you to compress files. This allows large files to be stored on media that would normally be to small to fit them as well as to save bandwidth when e-mailing or transfering files. WinZip can also be used to decompress files that have been "zipped."
Where to get it: WinZip can be found in several places on the web, including www.winzip.com and www.download.com.
Cost: WinZip is shareware, so it's free to try, but you'll need to pay to keep it. |
| Zone Alarm |
What it does:
Zone Alarm is a firewall program design to keep hackers and other Internet intruders from accessing your computer. In fact, Zone Alarm not only blocks access to your system, it actually makes your computer nearly invisable to a hackers scanner. In addition, it allows prevents spyware and Trojan Horse programs that have made it onto your computer from "phoning home" or allowing hackers to work around your firewall. Zone Alarm comes in two flavors: Zone Alarm Basic and Zone Alarm Pro. The basic version offers protection for single computers of individuals or non-profit institutions. The pro version offers more advanced networking features for use on servers and can be used by businesses.
Where to get it:
Zone Alarm can be found at www.zonelabs.com.
Cost: Zone Alarm Basic is free. Zone Alarm Pro is $19.99 plus upgrades. |
| Quicktime |
What it does:
Quicktime is a media player created by Apple. It can be used to play Quicktime video files as well as view still images.
Where to get it:
Quicktime can be found at www.apple.com.
Cost: Free for the basic version. |
| Real Player |
What it does:
Realplayer is a media player that can allow you to view Realmedia video files, listen to Internet radio stations, play and download MP3 files and receive news items on your desktop.
Where to get it:
Real Player can be found at www.real.com
Cost: Free for the basic edition. |
| Flash Player |
What it does:
Flash Player allows you to view animations on websites that were created with Macromedia's Flash program.
Where to get it:
Flash Player can be found at www.macromedia.com.
Cost: Flash player is free to download. |
| Musicmatch Jukebox |
What it does:
Musicmatch Jukebox not only allows you to play back Wav and MP3 files, it also allows you to "rip" audio tracks from CDs and burn them to a recordable CD. Audio files ripped to your hard drive are automically sorted by artist, track and album. Musicmatch Jukebox offers preset compression levels as well as custom settings.
Where to get it:
Musicmatch Jukebox can be found at www.musicmatch.com.
Cost: The basic version is free. |
| AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) |
What it does:
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is a program that allows you to sent instant messages to others. This is similar to a chat room, but is more private. You do not have to have AOL in order to use AIM.
Where to get it: AIM can be found at www.netscape.com.
Cost: AIM is free to download. |
| ICQ |
What it does:
ICQ is a program that allows you to send instant messages to others as well as host a personal web site. One feature that sets ICQ apart is the ability to see what the other person is typing, as they type.
Where to get it:
ICQ can be found at www.icq.com
Cost: ICQ is free to download. |
| Firefox |
What it does: Firefox is an open source Internet browser program that is an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. It is based on the Netscape Navigator browser (listed below) and is part of the Mozilla browser suite, which is no longer being developed (Firefox developement continues, though, along with other individual components of the original suite). Firefox offers one very important feature for today's Internet: it blocks just about all unrequested pop-ups.
Where to get it: Netscape can be downloaded from www.mozilla.org.
Cost: Firefox is free to download. |
| Opera |
What it does: Opera is an Internet browser program that is an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Where to get it: Opera can be downloaded from www.opera.com.
Cost: Opera is free to download, though the free version is ad supported. |
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