| Adobe Reader (PDF)
The Adobe Reader (previously Acrobat Reader) reads PDF files. The Portable Document File is hard to avoid in the current information age. Many websites use these to display order forms, newsletters, etc. This is definitely a must have for someone who browses the internet. With this free download, you can only read the documents - not write them. |
| AVG Virus Protection
This free program is allowed for download from Grisoft. This program scans for viruses, mal ware, and also prevents against future attacks. The program runs automatic background scans, and you can set it up to update automatically, too. We recommend this program if you are looking for a free virus protection tool. |
| Belarc Advisor
This program will create a computer profile with all of your system stats in it. It works in your web browser, but does not send any of your information to a remote server. This is a great program for checking out your system stats. |
| CCleaner
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware! :) |
| Defraggler
It differs from other defrag tools on the market, by enabling you to quickly and simply defrag the files you want to, without having to process the whole drive. Simply run it, select the file and defragment in seconds. No more struggling with the Windows defragmentation tool! |
| Digsby
Digsby is a multiprotocol IM client that lets you chat with all your friends on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, and Jabber with one simple to manage buddy list. Digsby is an email notification tool that alerts you of new email and lets you perform actions such as 'Delete' or 'Report Spam' with just one click. Digsby is a social networking tool that alerts you of events like new messages and gives you a live Newsfeed of what your friends are up to. |
| Glubble: Parental Controls for Firefox
Glubble is a Firefox add on. It provides families with a way to make sure that their children are not on inappropriate web pages. Glubble is free for download, easy to install, and hard to get around. Check out their website for more details. |
| Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. |
| Google Picasa
Picasa is a software application for organizing and editing digital photos, originally created by Idealab and now owned by Google. "Picasa" is a blend of the name of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, the phrase mi casa for "my house," and "pic" for pictures (personalized art). In July 2004, Google acquired Picasa and began offering Picasa for free download. At the time of the acquisition, the company's management team consisted of Lars Perkins as CEO, Mike Herf as CTO, and Dan Engel as VP Market Development. |
| Google SketchUp
This is a great free program published by Google that you can build 3D models and structures with. It is a great tool for Pre-CAD students, and people who may even want to redesign their homes. This program has lots of support and premade models. This program can be optimized on many machines, so your computer can probably handle it. Check the system requirements before using this. |
| KeyPass Password Safe
KeePass is a free open source password manager, which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key file. So you only have to remember one single master password or select the key file to unlock the whole database. The databases are encrypted using the best and most secure encryption algorithms currently known (AES and Twofish). For more information, see the features page. |
| Lavasoft AdAware Personal
This is a free program from Lavasoft USA. This program has become very popular, and many people use it to remove their spyware. The program updates often - so you never have to be worried about being out of date. Note that this is only a free demo - so it will not enable real time protection, but it does remove spyware. |
| Microsoft Virtual PC
Microsoft's Virtual PC is now free to Windows users. You can emulate any version of Windows inside your current machine. There are features, such as drag and drop, and even network sharing. A very common use of this is: If you have Windows Vista - and you need to run legacy Windows XP programs, you can now without any problem. It's also great for developers who need to test, and create dynamic applications. |
| Mint: Refreshing Money Management
Mint is "the best free way to manage your money" as advertised on their website. With convent solutions such as automatic spending analysis, there are benefits to switching to Mint. It is compatible with hundreds of banks across the US and even has spaces for you to maintain your credit cars. If you are curious about Mint, try - You will see the difference. |
| Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is the web's #1 web browser. It is the most secure and expandable browser out there. It is open source, so you know its stable. What is open source? It means that billions of people around the world work on it, as apposed to a company. Firefox has more add-ons than any other browser, making it customizable for you. |
| Mozilla Thunderbird
Thunderbird is a free open source POP and IMAP email client developed by Mozilla.org, the same folks who brought you Firefox. Feature-wise it sits somewhere between Outlook Express and Outlook which means that it offers an upgrade to Express users and a downgrade to those who use the more advanced PIM features of Outlook. (from Tech Support Alert) |
| PrimoPDF Writer
Have you ever had a document that you needed to save as a PDF, but did not want to spend money on expensive tools that you may only use a few times? Try the PrimoPDF Writer. This small program installs as a printer and will save your document with incredible ease. |
| Recuva
Recuva (pronounced "recover") is a freeware Windows utility to restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer. This includes files emptied from the Recycle bin as well as images and other files that have been deleted by user error from digital camera memory cards or MP3 players. It will even bring back files that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses! |
| Remember The Milk
Remember the Milk allows users to create multiple task lists. Added tasks can be edited to include (or not) various fields. Locations can be added, and an integrated Google Maps feature allows users to save commonly used locations. Tasks can also be organized by tags. Tasks can be postponed and Remember the Milk will inform users of the number of times that that task has been postponed. |
| RocketDock
RocketDock is a smoothly animated, alpha blended application launcher. It provides a nice clean interface to drop shortcuts on for easy access and organization. With each item completely customizable there is no end to what you can add and launch from the dock.
Now with added Taskbar support your minimized windows can appear as icons on the dock. This allows for better productivity and accessibility. |
| Spybot - Search & Destroy
Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behavior to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer. |
| Stardock Fences
Fences is a one-of-a-kind program, allowing you to draw labeled shaded areas on your desktop, which become movable & resizable containers for your desktop icons. These groups can help bring organization and consistency to your computer's desktop, solving the "constant mess" problem that has plagued the desktop since its inception.
Fences also helps you finally appreciate the wallpaper you have hiding behind all that clutter.
In addition to its organizing features, Fences offers a novel quick-hide feature (in-patenting-process). Double click your desktop, and all your icons will fade out. Double click again, and they'll return. |
| Sun OpenOffice Suite
This is an office suite that has open source applications. The applications that are currently included are Writer, Impress, Math, Draw, Calc, and Base (Word processors, presentation creator, formula creator, image editor, spreadsheet, and database.) This program suite supports the open document format. This is run off of Sun's Java Runtime Environment, and is compatible on multiple platforms. |
| Ubuntu Linux
Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more. |
| VLC Media Player
VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, ...) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It can also be used as a server to stream in unicast or multicast in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network. |
| Wamp Server 2
This program makes your computer into a web server. It installs PHP, MySQL, and Apache. What makes this product stick out in our heads is that it has a "project" feature; you can create multiple testing websites, and locate them all from one central page. |
