Technology is a money pit, right? No matter how much money you choose to sink into that once shiny, new PC you bought oh-so-many years ago, it seems like there's always something else to buy! Perhaps that once was the reality, but it has been shattered in recent years. With the exception of video games developed with budgets larger than most major Hollywood releases, there is no software for your PC that you cannot download and use for absolutely free; believe it or not, this also includes your operating system! Combined with the fact that you can buy a new PC from big-box retailers for $500 or less, there has never been a better time to be PC owner.

So What?

You say that your PC came with all the software you need? This may well be true - most PCs come bundled with standard-fare software. This may include a(n):

• Word processor and work productivity suite
• Web browser
• Internet security utility
• Email client
• Graphic manipulation program
• Media player
• Instant message client

If your PC already has these programs and more installed, that is wonderful . . . for the time being. But software ages rapidly; what was new and bleeding-edge a few months ago is now decrepit and dull. What's worse, you may find that the software that came with your computer are demos only and will stop working after 60 or 90 days. So if you want the full version of that fancy office suite after the demo period runs out, what do you do? Shell out a few hundred dollars? What about that anti-virus software you rely on to protect your PC from all the online baddies? Do you really want to pay for a new subscription every single year?

My advice is: don't. By the end of this article you should be fully armed with all the free software you will ever need and maybe more. Many of the programs listed in this article are what is known as "open-source." Open-source refers to a method of software development and licensing in which the computer code driving a program is freely disseminated to all who wish to use it and edit it to for their own purposes. Open-source offers the possibility of community-driven development, rather than development by a single person or corporation; this can lead to faster, more frequent updates. Best of all, open-source software is almost always free! Other programs listed here are free versions of their commercial counterparts; they may not be quite as powerful, but usually are equivalent in functionality to the program you would have to pay for.

NOTE: The following are links to Web pages where you can download free software equivalent in functionality to most mainstream commercial software. You are advised, though not required, to have a broadband Internet connection to speed the download process. Downloads of this software at dial-up speeds may take several hours, if not longer. As you should always do, be sure to back up any important documents to external media such as floppy disks, CDs, flash drives, or secondary hard drives before making any major changes to your computer!

Word Processing and Productivity Suites

A full commercial version of one of the name-brand word processors and productivity suites may set you back quite a bit. Here are some alternatives:

1. OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org/) - OpenOffice is a free, open-source alternative to the major productivity suites. This suite includes all the major components you would expect to find, including word processing, spreadsheet, slide presentation, math, database, and image creation software. Its look and feel are similar to software you are probably already familiar with.
2. Abiword (http://www.abisource.com/) - Abiword is another free and open-source word-processor. It does not include any other components.
3. Google Docs & Spreadsheets (http://docs.google.com) - You knew Google was taking over the world, but word processing? Yes, that's right - Google has its own online word-processing and spreadsheet software. You do not have to install any software on your computer - all interactions take place within the browser window. While its functionality is stripped down to the essential, most commonly-used features, this should be more than enough for the casual user. As an added bonus, you can save your documents to your Google account and never again have to worry about saving to a disk, CD, or USB drive - simply open your Google account from any computer with Internet access and you'll be able to edit the documents you created using the Google software. As a matter of fact, this entire article was written in the Google word processor!

Your computer probably came with only one Web browser installed, and you use it because it is there. However, there are many other better and faster Web browsers with many more features. Check them out:

1. Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/) - The new shining star of the Mozilla brand of Web products, Firefox recently reached version 2.0. Its features include tabbed browsing (allowing for several different Web pages to be displayed within a single browser window), a skinnable interface allowing for different browser appearances, increased security measures against phishing and online scams, and a whole host of user-created extensions which increase Firefox's functionality (for example, one particularly popular extension blocks out ads from Web pages).
2. Seamonkey (http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/) - Once known as the Mozilla Suite, the open-source version of the Netscape Navigator Suite, Seamonkey is group of programs including a Web browser, a Web page builder, email and chat clients and an address book all rolled-up into one. Though its development has slowed since the widespread release and use of Firefox, users will enjoy its multiple components and features similar to Firefox, including tabs and browser skins.
3. Opera (http://www.opera.com) - Opera's major claim to fame is its compliance with the standards of Web design as set forth by the World Wide Web Consortium (http://webstandards.org/about/mission/). It also shares most of the same features as Firefox.

If your computer is connected to the Internet, especially through a broadband connection (cable, dsl, etc.), you need to be running both a firewall and anti-virus protection. The newest versions of the major operating systems come with their own built-in firewalls, but they do not offer protection as strong as you need, and none of them come with their own anti-virus protection. The following links are to free firewall and anti-virus software which will keep your computer safe on the Internet (NOTE: these products are for personal, non-commercial use only - use of these free downloads by an organization is a violation of their respective license agreements):

1. Zone Alarm (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp) - Zone Alarm offers a free version of their firewall to control the Internet's access to your computer and your computer's access to the Internet.
2. AVG Anti-Virus (http://free.grisoft.com/) - AVG's anti-virus software will update itself with the latest virus definitions without you having to pay an annual subscription fee.

Email

Email can be divided into two categories: Webmail and desktop mail. Webmail is done through services such as Yahoo! and Hotmail in which you read your email through the web browser and never actually download it to your computer - it all stays on the email service's servers. Desktop mail uses a client to view and download the email directly to the computer.

1. Webmail:
   • Yahoo! (http://mail.yahoo.com) - Features large storage, built-in anti-virus scanning, and a spam filter.
   • Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com) - Another decent webmail service offered by MSN.
   • Gmail (http://www.gmail.com) - Google's brand of email, by invitation only - receive an invitation through a friend or through a text-message enabled cell phone.
2. Desktop Mail:
   • Thunderbird (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/) - From the same developers as the Firefox web browser.
   • Eudora (http://www.eudora.com) - Although as of this writing (October 2006) Eudora is a commercial email client, it is scheduled to be released as a free, open-source program in early 2007.
   • Seamonkey (http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/) - The Seamonkey suite does include a desktop email client among its programs.

Graphics Manipulation

No need to shell out big bucks for a fancy photo-editing program, just download these!

1. The GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/windows/) - An open-source image manipulation program on par with the best commercial programs, though it has a steep learning curve.
2. Picasa (http://picasa.google.com/) - Google's free quick-editing software for photos.

Though your computer undoubtedly comes with its own media players, here are some more to try out:
1. VLC (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) - An open-source media player capable of playing almost all audio and video formats, including DVD and VCD.
2. MPlayer (http://www.mplayerhq.hu/) - Another open-source movie player capable of playing multiple media formats; designed originally for the Linux operating system and reprogrammed for Windows.
3. Media Monkey (http://www.mediamonkey.com/) - Useful jukebox for organizing, tagging, ripping, burning, and adding album art to extensive music collections.

Web Authoring Software

1. Nvu (http://nvu.com/index.php) - An enhanced, stand-alone version of Web authoring program that comes with the Seamonkey web browser suite. Easy-to-use, for beginners.
2. Aptana (http://www.aptana.com/) - A more powerful and professional Web authoring program, designed more with coders in mind.

Do you IM? Do you have multiple screen names across multiple chat networks (AIM, Yahoo!, Jabber, etc)? Are you sick of having to use three different programs for each of your accounts? Well, stop! These IM clients are here to make life easier for you!

1. Gaim (http://gaim.sourceforge.net/) - Free and open-source, Gaim supports the AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, Lotus Sametime, and Zephyr networks.
2. Trillian (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/) - Free chat client that supports AIM, MSN, IRC, and Yahoo! networks.

Interested in more free software for Windows? These links should provide you with everything you'll ever need:

1. The OSSwin Project (http://osswin.sourceforge.net/) - A directory of entirely open-source software for Windows.
2. Download.com (http://www.download.com) - A division of the C|Net online computing Web sites, Download.com provides links to almost all software, including free software and demonstration software - be sure to check the license to see if it is free before downloading, otherwise you might only have 30 days to evaluate it.

If you're tired of the woes and nags of your current operating system, it may be time to try a new one and a free one too! Linux is an open-source operating system released under the General Public License, making it free to use, modify and distribute. It carries the stigma of an operating system used only by the computer elite who use it only to separate themselves from the unwashed PC masses. In recent years, however, it has become a viable desktop replacement for the leading commercial operating systems. There are several different versions or "flavors" of Linux however, each one slightly different and geared toward a different crowd. Linux has the advantage over commercial operating systems since it is updated constantly, usually with no more than six months going by without a new and better version being released. Most flavors also come with all the software you will need for the tasks listed earlier in this article pre-installed. The flavors listed below are the best for beginners, but be warned: installing an entirely new operating system is an adventure. Be sure to back up all your important documents and media files before you attempt this, and be sure to read the directions!

1. Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com) - Started only two years, Ubuntu is one of the most popular flavors of Linux and touted as the easiest to migrate to from a commercial operating system.
2. Mandriva (http://www.mandriva.com/download) - Another very popular and easy-to-use flavor, Mandriva has been used for years by many people and is very easy to install.
3. ReactOS (http://www.reactos.org/) - ReactOS is not a flavor of Linux; rather it is an open-source recreation of Windows NT, coded from the ground-up to look, feel, and be as compatible as possible with Windows software. It is still being developed and is highly experimental and risky to use.