| Software Wants to Be Free......but users want it to be | | | | with versions for Windows and Linux. Graphics: |
| safe. Free software is everywhere, which makes it | | | | IrfanView is a great freeware graphics program. It's a |
| incredibly difficult these days to find the best of any | | | | fast, small graphic viewer and editor for Windows that |
| particular kind. And then there's the fact that | | | | tries to be simple for beginners and powerful for |
| "freeware" is not always free. Some freeware is just | | | | professionals. In addition to supporting many file |
| poorly written and may cause your computer to crash. | | | | formats and languagesm there's a thumbnail option, |
| Some are a conduit for spam and other system | | | | slideshow creation, batch conversion, a multimedia |
| invasion techniques. Others are illegal copies of | | | | player, screen capturing and a host of graphic editing |
| commercial software that can land you in legal | | | | features. Entertainment: Free, legal music and film is still |
| trouble.Nevertheless, there are several excellent | | | | available, news stories and lawsuits not withstanding. is |
| software packages that are truly free, high quality, and | | | | one such San Francisco-based site for music news |
| useful. For general computer tasks and other fun stuff, | | | | and freebies for independent tunes and upcoming |
| here are some of my favorite sources: OpenOffice: If | | | | talent. But there are actually many others worth |
| you are not addicted to every whistle and bell | | | | checking out such as Garageband and AtomFilms. |
| associated with the Microsoft's Office products, you | | | | You can also find games at Happy Puppy and |
| might find this multi-platform, multilingual office suite | | | | FilePlanet, which often have other free downloads |
| exciting. The OpenOffice word processor, | | | | too.Practice Safe ComputingHere's some advice to |
| spreadsheet, database and presentation modules | | | | keep in mind when looking for good freeware |
| produce files that are compatible with their popular | | | | downloads: Research before you download |
| commercial counterparts, and are built on Open | | | | Ask your neighbor (or an expert) |
| Source ideas, making it part of a larger community of | | | | Stay out of bad neighborhoodsElaborating on that last |
| quality software that grows better through collective | | | | point, there are some rogue sites in cyberspace that |
| use and development. You can find it at | | | | appear to offer free software, but the downloads |
| OpenOffice.org. Free Anti-Virus Protection: Get | | | | contain spyware, adware, trojan horses and viruses. |
| inoculations without the pain of paying -- it's becoming | | | | Here are some dependable freeware sites you can |
| more commonplace for ISP's such as AOL to provide | | | | trust: final tip: Add to caution a dose of prevention. |
| free anti-virus protection. But for those willing to look, | | | | Make sure your system is up to date and keep it free |
| you can find some stand-alone options. offers its AVG | | | | of malware. See my article How can I avoid computer |
| Free Edition without charge to private, non-commercial, | | | | viruses? for details on how to protect yourself from |
| single-home users. You can also get a free one-year | | | | viruses and other nasties.BOB RANKIN... is a tech |
| trial of the eTrust EZ Anti-Virus package (my personal | | | | writer and computer programmer who enjoys |
| favorite) from Computer Associates and Microsoft. | | | | exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his |
| Universal IM: If you're into instant messaging (IM) but | | | | experience with others. His work has appeared in |
| your friends all use different IM tools, then GAIM is for | | | | ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is |
| you. It is compatible with AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger, | | | | publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author |
| Yahoo!, and numerous other systems, allowing you to | | | | of several computer books, and creator of the |
| have conversations with many different folks without | | | | website. |
| running multiple IM programs. GAIM is cross-platform, | | | | |