Apr 09 2010
Set up a PC with free software?
Today’s question of the day was: “Can I set up a viable working PC with only free software? The answer: yes. Here is a list of absolutely free and better than average software that you can download and install on a PC that already has a Windows operating system, e.g., Windows XP, installed. You will need access to internet service, for which you may have to pay. You will also need to verify the ’system requirements’ for each of the applications mentioned to insure that they will run on your specific CPU. Take a look at these free software applications.
- OpenOffice. This office suite application includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, drawing, etc. Free. It is compatible with MS Office files. OR
- Google. If you want online access to your files, Google Documents has word processing, spreadsheets and presentation. Free of course.
- AVG free edition. Antivirus software, free.
- Zone Alarm Home. Firewall, free
- Auslogics Disk Defrag. Hard drive defragmenter, free.
- CutePDFWriter. No printer? Install this application and ‘print’ to a PDF (portable document format). You can then email the PDF files.
- Gmail. Google’s free email has what I consider to be a near-unbeatable SPAM filter. Online email is always accessible anywhere you can access the internet. You do need to find someone to send you an invitation to Gmail but they are plentiful. Yahoo would be a second choice.
- Firefox web browser.
So next time someone offers you a used CPU, don’t turn it down simply because it has no software included.
