by 25 people |
Newby guide to freeware
Word to PDF conversion
- Cute PDF
The page looks like you will be paying, but there really is a free version there for whatever use.
For online conversion (no need to download anything), try one of the following:
- You Convert It
Converts documents into a lot of other documents. Includes PDF conversion. - Online viewer for PDF, PostScript and Word
Very useful for viewing documents your computer can't handle. Think: Apple computer conversion problems, outdated computers, slow dial up or simply a computer you can't add extra software to. - Doc2PDF
This is what I sent my mom to. She needed to convert articles to PDF on a computer that really couldn't handle more software. Fast and easy
Books about open source and freeware
Free Culture: The Nature and Future of Creativity
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 12/06/2009) 
Freeware Encryption and Security Programs: Protecting Your Computer and Your Privacy
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $20.00 (as of 12/06/2009)
Handpicked Software for Mac OS X: The Best New Freeware, Shareware, and Commerical Software for Mac OS X
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)
HTML editing - creating your webcode & website yourself
However, looking up that site, it refers me to a new updated version called Kompozer.
Use NVU if you want different languages supported. Use Kompozer if you just want a relatively bug free version and will only be working in English anyhow.
FTP
One of the free FTP programs out there is: Filezilla. As the name suggests it's open source.
Keeping track of your notes: neomem
I use neomem A LOT. As in: when I'm online (and when am I not online?) I usually have two pc programs open: my browser (yes, that would be firefox) and neomem.
I have two files in neomem that I use all the time.
One is a general file I call 'to do' but it is more than a todo list: it's my list of notes. When I was setting up my first blog, I stored notes there. Lately I have been gathering affiliate information there. All in one file.
How does it work? Well - in your file you get several pages and directories. And you can make a page a directory of other pages. So all the affiliate information is stored together, in that one portion of the file devoted to affiliate information. Another portion is my adsense diary. I used to keep that when I was still optimizing adsense on my website.
But I also keep a wishlist there. Not just for myself, but also ones my dad has written at some point, one for my grandmother.
In other words: all my notes neatly organised.
That's not all though. Another indispensable file is my login codes file. If you work online like I do, there are a ton of websites (as in three pages printed oud) to keep the login codes of. These include client sites, affiliate programs, all my own sites, social networking sites etc.
I add a new account: next time I open the file it's automatically reordered it to where it belongs in the alphabet. And yes, this file is kept locked with another password. Because I can't afford to let my client login codes lying around.
The best thing
The best thing about neomem is it uses so little memory. You could use excell for the login codes for instance: but that program uses way more memory. Neomem can be open at the same time with firefox and not slow firefox down one bit.
Note
The website has all this talk about some errors in handling special codes... may be true, but I never noticed it. It's just a beautiful light program for everyday notes.
My favorite free software and yours
I checked all the software I actually talk about. Below are the ones I review above, as well as submissions by readers. I didn't download them all - though negative stumbleupon ratings will get software booted from this list.
In other words: this list is as safe as I can make it, please add your own favorites :) And don't forget to vote for them ;)
Image creation - GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program
Free program that can do just about everything Photoshop can do!2 points
Open Office
Free office platform. Compatible up to MS office 2007.2 points
Create PDF for free - CutePDF - Free PDF Utilities, Save PDF Forms, Edit PDF easily.
CutePDF allows you to create PDF files from any printable document, save PDF forms using Acrobat Reader, make PDF booklet, impose, rearrange pages and...1 point
FTP solution - Filezilla
1 point
HTML and CSS creation - KompoZer
Adapted from the Mozilla suite. Has fewer bugs than NVU.1 point
Foxit PDF reader
Free PDF reader that works on windows.1 point
Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Uninstall, Remove Programs, Solve uninstall problems
uninstall programs and scan after uninstall for leftover registry keys, files and folders so you can remove them.1 point
NeoMem.org - neomem
Keep track of your notes in one lightweight program (for windows).1 point
Create 3D graphics: blender.org
Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.0 points
Paint like a painter, digitally - Artweaver :: the artist way
Artweaver is a Windows Freeware program to simulate natural brush tools.0 points
Fractal Art Free software and more!
Original fractal art, free fractal screensavers and custom made screensavers.0 points
Share your (free) software tips here
And tell me if the links don't work anymore or there is anything else wrong here...
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Reply
- KathyMcGraw KathyMcGraw Sep 29, 2009 @ 12:14 am
- My favorite is CutePDF which I use daily, but am interested in the other ones you mentioned. Am favoring to come back to...thanks 5*
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Reply
- Flynn_the_Cat Flynn_the_Cat Sep 28, 2009 @ 5:22 am
- Pant.NET is a handy MSPaint replacemnt for those who can't get a handle on GIMP, the free version of ArtRage is a lot of fun (I have lenses about it - but the full version, so not quite the same. But I still very much recommend the free one)
Recently discovered the LazyNegumi app - I put a writeup on my Graphics Tablet lens recently, if you're interested (I'm the ONLY hit coming up on Google, I'm afraid!) It helps control the cursor to draw smoothly
Pidgin is a very handy little (and undemanding) chat program - i use to to alert me to new emails and make sure the net's working! And it let's you login to a large number of chat accounts (msn, gmail, livejournal etc) at once.
Netlimiter (NetMonitor version) - is also great, and small, and tracks your internet up/downloading and the programs doing the connecting
Security wise - AVG, Avast and Malwarebytes
A program called Clonespy is great for checking for duplicate files
Seconding GIMP and OpenOffice, and CutePDF and I'll be trying neo
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Reply
- capriliz capriliz Aug 3, 2009 @ 11:29 am
- I always use gimp and open office. Blender.org is a new one for me. On my way to check it out.
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Reply
- MarthaSale MarthaSale May 7, 2009 @ 4:18 am
- Thank you for sharing!
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Reply
- BarbRad BarbRad Apr 11, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
- This is very helpful information. Thank you. I was looking for a PDF converter.
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Thanks for all your support!
A big thank you to all of you who've supported my online work by:
- linking to any of my web projects
- voting on my lenses
- buying stuff from my lenses
- asking questions
- giving constructive feedback
- ... donating money :)
- and being generally supportive :) ;)
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