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Feed that new computer some new - free - software January 9, 2000 By JIM BROOKS For the new computer owner, there's nothing more exciting than getting that PC up and running and trying out all the new software that comes with it. Invariably, after trying all that software, you'll find yourself wondering if there's something out there that will do a certain task that's specific to your job or your home life -- perhaps some electronic sticky notes or a scheduling calendar. You visit your local supercenter and come up empty-handed. But don't think that just because you can't find it there that you can't find it online. Need a program to help you manage your birthday card mailing list? How about a program that gives you your Meyers-Briggs type? It's all available for download online -- at no charge. Software available for free downloading on the Web falls usually in one of three categories:
It's a very handy service, too. For example, graphic design programs like Adobe PhotoShop cost hundreds of dollars, but you can test out a demonstrator version of the software for 30 days at no charge. There's a lot of uses for freeware and shareware. For example, I love Microsoft Word, but I whenever I write I use a very simple, no-nonsense text editor called NoteTab Light. Once I'm done, I can import my completed file into Word, my e-mail client or a Web editor, spellcheck and format it as necessary. Some of my favorite sources of freeware, shareware and demoware are listed below. ZDNET.COM. ZDNet.com is my first stop for the latest in freeware and shareware. If it's out there, chances are they have it. If you know the name of the program you're looking for, you can search for it using their easy-to-use site search engine. Or you can browse their list of files by category, which is the online equivalent of window shopping. In their Top 50 list of popular shareware, I found several programs that I've found useful. Among them:
You'll find a host of demos of commercial software at the site. Check it out the ZDNet Downloads Web site at www.zdnet.com/downloads/. SHAREWARE.COM. If you've spent much time watching cable TV, you've probably seen one of the popular C|Net TV computer show broadcasts. C|Net's vast Web site (www.cnet.com) holds sites devoted to these programs and much more. Shareware.com is one of C|Net's older Web sites, and as you might guess, is devoted to free software downloads. The site boasts more than 250,000 files available in its search engine. If you want an idea of what other Web surfers are downloading these days, check out their ``Most Popular'' feature. You can also visit lists of the newest shareware releases, as well lists of the top software picks from C|Net's tech gurus. Point your browser to www.shareware.com for more information. OTHER SITES. Try some of these other sources for freeware and shareware. Most will have the more common downloads, but each will have something the others might not have. I recommend brewing an extra large cup of coffee and spending some time browsing. TUCOWS. TUCOWS (The Ultimate Collection Of Winsock Shareware) - TUCOWS has its origins in the days long before Windows 95, and its remained a popular spot to find shareware. TUCOWS has evolved into a portal Web site of sorts. Besides shareware for your Mac or PC, you'll find Linux applications, software for your PDA and more. The coolest feature at TUCOWS is their section devoted to children called TUKIDS. Shareware is divided into age groups and then arranged by skills and topics. It's an easy way to find something new to challenge a bored six-year-old who is hanging around the house. For to take a peek for yourself, visit TUCOWS online at www.tucows.com. JUMBO! Jumbo! boasts more than 300,000 freeware and shareware files. Jumbo! offers free e-mail newsletters covering new software arrivals in specific categories, from games to MP3 files. It's a handy way to keep track of what's new in software without visiting the site each week to browse the files. You'll find reviews of the latest shareware titles, free screensavers, free desktop themes, icons and much more. Visit Jumbo! at www.jumbo.com. FILEWORLD. PC World magazine's Web site has its own special download section called FileWorld. FileWorld has a comprehensive listing of freeware, shareware and demoware. It's all organized neatly by category, and the magazine's editors offer their reviews and top picks each week. Visit FileWorld on the Web at www.pcworld.com/fileworld/. REBATE CANCELED. Microsoft has canceled its offer of a $400 rebate to individuals who sign up for three years of MSN Internet access. According to an Associated Press story, people were signing up for the service and taking the rebate, only to cancel the service - and pocket the rebate. While the language in the agreement states the customer must pay back the rebate if the Internet access account is canceled, loopholes in some state law prohibited Microsoft from forcing those who canceled to repay the $400. The rebate program was to last until March 31, 2000. Comments and questions about this column may be sent to jbrooks@myoldkentuckyhome.com, or visit www.myoldkentuckyhome.com on the World Wide Web. | HOME | |