March 31, 2009
Best Free Software Programs
There are thousands of free software programs that you can dowload to your computer. Most of them aren't worth your time. The good ones, like ZipGenius, the zip utility, and FileZilla, the FTP utility will save you money because you won't have to buy their expensive competitors.
Audacity
CCleaner
FaxZero
FileZilla
Foxit Reader
NotePad2
PrimoPDF
SyncBack
ZipGenius
There are always naysayers
Every free program that I recommend has it's detractors. You can find someone somewhere who has negative things to say about each of the programs listed. Can't be helped. I'll use ZipGenius as an example.
There are computer power users who claim that ZipGenius doesn't have a good enough compression ratio, or that it's slow, or that it doesn't open up their beer bottles.
Doesn't matter to me. In my case, I don't use ZipGenius for what the experts say it needs to do, I use it for what I need it to do, open zip files and compress simple documents.
How not to measure a free program
I don't measure free programs against perfection. I measure them against what I need them to do. Period.
If a free program honestly comes up short in a vital task then obviously I have to swap it out for a better free program or pay up for a program that CAN do the task.
If a free program does the vital task I need it to do but only a little slower, or not quite as well as it's expensive competitor, do I care? Usually not.
It's true, ZipGenius can't compress quite as well and doesn't open up as many obscure file types as the bigger name $29 programs do. Doesn't bother me in the least because I don't compress stuff much and I really only need it to open standard files not weird ones.
How to measure the value of a free program.
- The free program has to do what it says it does or forget it.
- The free program can't crash my computer.
- The free program can't drive me nuts with advertising.
- The free program has to be relatively easy to use.
I try to be careful with my recommendations
I recommend software programs the same way I recommend movies, carefully. I realize that not everyone has the same interests or needs. If you don't need an audio editor don't download Audacity. If you plan on creating an audio blog then download it because I know you'll like it.
Audacity
Audacity is one of the most highly recommended audio sound recorder/editors on the Internet. I use Audacity to produce my Computer Tips and Tools Audio Minutes.
It's very easy to use. Most people can figure out the simple interface with an hour or two of practice. Watch my video, "How to Create an Audio Minute with Audacity" to learn the basics of using Audacity.
CCleaner
CCleaner, as it's name implies, is a computer cleaning utility. You have to clean out the junk files that accumulate on your computer, eventually. Even simple computer usage takes its toll and slows things down.
Cleaning out the insides of a computer hard disk isn't the same as cleaning out your underwear drawer. You need help. CCleaner safely cleans stuff off of your computer that you don't even know exists. If you use CCleaner regularly your computer will run better and faster.
FaxZero
FaxZero is a free online fax sending service. I use it to send those rare faxes that crop up periodically.
If you don't have a fax machine or easy access to one FaxZero is the way to go.
FileZilla
FileZilla is an FTP program. It transfers files from your computer up to the location of your choice on the Internet. It's only necessary to have an FTP program if you have a website or blog and you need to transfer files.
I bought an FTP program before I realized that FileZilla existed. I honestly didn't think that FileZilla could match what the expensive program could do. I was wrong.
Foxit Reader
Foxit Reader is a program that opens up and allows you to read PDF documents, similar to what Adobe Acrobat does. The main difference between Foxit Reader and Acrobat is that Foxit does what Acrobat does faster.
If you are annoyed by the over-weight and ponderous Adobe Acrobat Reader you couldn't find a better replacement than Foxit Reader. Could 50 million Foxit users world wide be wrong?
NotePad2
NotePad2 is not a high priority program but I like it a whole lot better than the overly simple NotePad program that comes stock with my Windows machine.
NotePad2 is designed for someone who is more than a casual computer user. If you work on your own blogs or websites and you find yourself opening up NotePad to make simple html edits then I would recommend getting NotePad2 instead.
PrimoPDF Creator
PrimoPDF creator is a free program that attaches itself to any Windows program that has a print dialogue box.
With PrimoPDF you can create a PDF as easily as you can print a document to a printer. Wait a second, it's not always easy to print to a printer. I should have said it's easier to create a PDF with PrimoPDF than it is to print to a printer.
Read full PrimoPDF Creator Review
SyncBack
SyncBack is a free opensource computer backup program. This is the program that I use. It's powerful and easy to learn.
ZipGenius opens up as many compressed file types as Baskin Robbins has ice cream flavors. In my case it opens up all those zip files I download from the Inernet.
ZipGenius also compresses large files into small files, helpful when trying to get under a file size limit imposed by your email provider.
Conclusion: I hope you enjoy downloading and using these programs. They are all helpful and do everything they promise to do.
You can benefit me and others by leaving comments in the comment section below. Add your own recommendations for free programs that you think should be on my list.
Is my list good or bad? Why? What programs am I missing? Do you agree or disagree with my recommendations? Tell me. I can take it. 
Regards,
Mark
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