Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (Full Version)

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InfoCentral -> Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/22/2008 10:35:52 AM)

Here is a place to post FREE and practically FREE software alternatives to the high priced ones. If you know of any post away...



InfoCentral -> MicroSoft Office Suite (9/22/2008 11:13:25 AM)

Open Office

Here is TOTALLY FREE solution not only for home use but allows businesses of any size to use it too. Usually you will see "free for personal use only" or home use but this one has absolutely no restrictions.

"OpenOffice.org 2 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose. "

[Click Here]

And for training purposes, here are some books. [Click Here]



InfoCentral -> Adobe PhotoShop (9/22/2008 11:41:10 AM)

GIMP

Here is a Adobe PhotoShop alternative/replacement. [Click Here]

And here are some books on how to use it. Of course most sites offer FREE tutorials on the use of their software so that may be all you really need. If you want something more organized and takes you by the hand and leads you then the book format is the way to go. Tutorials are great for people who like to pick and choose select aspects. [Click Here]



figmentPez -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/22/2008 11:46:50 AM)

7-zip is a great alternative to WinZip or WinRAR. I've used it for several years now, and really like it. The 7z format is actually much better than Zip at compressing files. Found that out when my mom had to email her Quickbooks files to her accountant, and we couldn't make a zip file small enough to get under the 10MB limit on her email account.



InfoCentral -> WinZip Alternative (9/22/2008 11:57:17 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: figmentPez
... we couldn't make a zip file small enough to get under the 10MB limit on her email account.


Ah, but won't WinZip allow you to cut the zip file into multiple smaller files? Instead of having one big zip file I believe you have the ability to select the max size and have it divide it into a series of files. You need this when your files are bigger that the media your intending to copy them too.

I have a PC and I have been using ZipGenius for my compressing/uncompressing needs and so far has worked out good for me as well. It also supports the 7zip format as well and again is 100% FREE.

<IXOYE><



figmentPez -> RE: WinZip Alternative (9/22/2008 12:08:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: InfoCentral

quote:

ORIGINAL: figmentPez
... we couldn't make a zip file small enough to get under the 10MB limit on her email account.


Ah, but won't WinZip allow you to cut the zip file into multiple smaller files? Instead of having one big zip file I believe you have the ability to select the max size and have it divide it into a series of files. You need this when your files are bigger that the media your intending to copy them too.


We weren't using WinZip. My mom first tired the built-in zip capabilities of WinXP (which give zero options for anything), then we went right to 7zip (which can split files, but I didn't think of doing that at the time).



iluvatar -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/22/2008 6:53:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: figmentPez

7-zip is a great alternative to WinZip or WinRAR. I've used it for several years now, and really like it. The 7z format is actually much better than Zip at compressing files. Found that out when my mom had to email her Quickbooks files to her accountant, and we couldn't make a zip file small enough to get under the 10MB limit on her email account.


FYI: QB has two different export options - one for backing up everything and one that's supposed to be small enough to e-mail. I forget the exact command, but I just did it a couple weeks ago.

-Dan.



HisLamb26 -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/23/2008 8:58:25 AM)

Another Word Processor Alternative that my kids like: Abiword.

http://www.abisource.com/

It's a bit simpler, and significantly "lighter" than Open Office. Good if you just need a simple word processor for homework and letters, but don't need a full office type package.



gigigirrl -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/23/2008 9:08:42 AM)

Here are just a few I have come across through the years...

Defraggler defragger

Design Pro from Avery desktop publishing

cute pdf this is a way to print to pdf-cute pdf installs as a printer. When you want to create a pdf you just print choosing cute pdf as your printer. Another way to create pdfs is to use open office. Create the document then export to pdf.

Keynote Tabbed notebook and personal information manager, with tree structure. Open Source

Antivirus: Avast, AVG, Avira AntiVir, PC Tools AntiVirus Free
Antispyware: Superantispyware Ad aware
Spybot
Malwarebytes
Firewall: Zone Alarm

genealogy software the standard edition is free

2xplorer file manager - much better than windows.

Esword - simply I love it...

And last but not least - one of my faves

emailer
Vallen-e-Mailer is an application to send e-mails to an unlimited list of recipients. The list of recipients is to be provided by a simple text file. Each e-mail is delivered to each recipient separately. A log file is created while sending.
It is simply great I use it in my business all the time

One last note - some of these i would call donationware not just freeware. So if you like the software and use it - than consider donating. They have spent time and energy on these softwares.



InfoCentral -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/23/2008 7:31:50 PM)

Ah, I just switched from Norton to AVG Antivirus (the FREE version). And I have been using Ad Aware for years now and swear by it. I think everyone should get this is do a regular scan of their computer.



Rockwall -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/25/2008 8:14:45 PM)

I bought a USB memory stick and I have several free apps on there. I recommend a completely free application called "Portable Apps" that installs and lives on your USB so you can go to any computer that has a USB and run these apps. It has a nice start menu like the Start > Programs that Windows has so it is easy to use the software.

Install the Suite Standard and it comes with several apps installed such as Firefox, all OpenOffice programs such as their spreadsheet, word processor, etc. Search their site and you can get additional apps.

Original site: http://portableapps.com/
Additional portable apps: http://portablefreeware.com/

2 other programs that I have installed on the USB that are not part of the Portable Apps is EssentialPIM Free, which is a Personal Information Manager that has a notes section and calander: http://www.essentialpim.com/index.php?r=products . The other one I have is CGPWord Password Keeper which is a single place with a single password to keep all of your passwords to different places, and you can make your own categories too: http://www.cgpgroup.com/index.asp?PgToLd=cgpword

Here are some other free stuff that I use:
Need to know what files are hogging up space on your hardrive? Use WinDirStat (Windows Directory Statistics) because it gives you a quick graphic image of what folders/files are taking up all that space: http://windirstat.info/

Need to know what your hardware configuration is and what software is installed on your computer? If you want to know your motherboard model, processor information or other stuff all in one web page file you can print, use Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

I use a few more, but this will do for now I think.



DaveW -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (9/29/2008 1:04:50 PM)

Serif software has freebie versions of many of their programs (earlier releases) if you don't mind getting a bunch of emails wanting you to upgrade to the paid versions.

http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/



neuronstatic -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (10/2/2008 11:55:51 PM)

Ok, I am trying to stick with Windows platform for this thread given that I think that is the intent.

Thunderbird instead of Outlook (and please, never ever use Outlook Express).

And be sure to add Lightning to Thunderbird to get calendar invite support.

Dia or Inkscape instead of other drawing tools (though nothing really beats Visio... yet).

Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) for network sniffing/debugging instead of Wildpackets (or whatever its called nowadays).

Some other stuff:

Filezilla - secure FTP

VNC - remote desktop access

PuTTY - ssh and telnet client

soooooo many more, too many to list...

But I will save those for the more nerdy lot who write and debug software [8D]



Limulus -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (10/18/2008 6:15:30 PM)

If want a completely free replacement for Windows, there is Linux which is much better and easier to use than it was 5 years ago.

Kubuntu - If you want to stay with the look and feel of Windows
http://kubuntu.org

ubuntu - has the appearance of a Mac OS
http://www.ubuntu.com/

You can set it up as an alternative to Windows, or dual boot with Windows and Linux, you can run it on top of Windows or use the Live option and only load it into temporary memory. There is loads of free open source software.

Vista Vs Ubuntu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5OzNQ&feature=related

More Ubuntu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFiAUjdtP8k



Walker311 -> RE: Software Alternatives to the Mega $$$ Programs (10/20/2008 12:51:26 AM)

I saw this thread and wanted to share this recent experience.

My wife had take a ton of pics on our digital camera. She was watching tv and deleting pics she did not want and accidently deleted them all. She was sick!

I told her that we live and learn and then I wondered if maybe I could find a freeware utility that could retrieve deleted images. I found one and we have all of the deleted images now.

TestDisk & PhotoRec 6.11-WIP, Data Recovery

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download

Next, I will buy an external HD where she can download the images.



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