Software (see Disclaimer
Notice)
There is so much software available these days and some
of it is even free.
Office Packages
Most suppliers provide an office suite, usually Microsoft
Works, with the computer. If you didn't get one or you
want a better package without having to upgrade it to
Microsoft Office then OpenOffice is
free software that will read (and write) Microsoft documents.
OpenOffice doesn't have a database but there is another
Office suite that does. This is callled Ability
Office and it has a Microsoft Access compatible
database, although it will cost you around £40.
Web Browsers and E-mail Applications
With the increase in viral and other attacks, which are
almost solely against Windows and Windows products, you
may want to use a different browser and a different e-mail
application. Internet Explorer and Outlook are the products
most used mainly because Microsoft supply them as part
of the operating system but they are not
the only ones available. Alternative browsers and e-mail
applications are gaing in popularity due to their better
security against attack.
There are several alternative browsers available - some
of the free ones are
Opera, Mozilla
Firefox and Netscape
Navigator .
Some of the alternative e-mail applications are Opera (combined
with the browser), Mozilla
Thunderbird and Eudora.
These, and more, are often available in various PC magazines
on their cover disc.
Shareware and Freeware
Shareware is software that you can try for a while then
pay for it if you want to continue to use it. Freeware
is the same except that it is free to use. There is software
to do just about anything.
Commercial Software
There is a vast amount of commercial software and many
places to purchase it from. I find that Amazon, dabs.com
and Ebuyer are
good online suppliers of software (as well as for hardware
- dabs.com will often deliver next day for smaller items
if they are in stock). |
