Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
How To Find Very Good Free Software
I love free stuff, especially free stuff that is really good and badly needed, like free software that I can use to support my new home-based small business. I recently spent a couple of hours checking to see if I could find free accounting and project management software, and I'm delighted to report that the answer is 'yes'.
If you are interested in exploring free software options, read on. I'll provide a brief guide about what you can find, where to look, and how to avoid some potential pitfalls. But before that, just a personal comment: really good free software is available because there are really good people freely devoting their own time, talent, and money to make it available. I love knowing that there are people in the business world that have interests other than making huge profits, and I choose to support them. My donations may not be much, but a little money from a lot of people has a huge impact.
What You Will Find and Where to Look
I believe you will find 99.9% of anything and everything you want. If you need convincing, take a look at the two PC Magazine sites below. Just scan the table of contents along the left side of their pages for a quick review of what is available. You'll find everything from audio, blogging, and communication software to RSS reader, synchronization, and video software. The 2008 version still has some very good recommendations.
PC Magazines Best Free Software 2008
PC Magazines Best Free Software 2009
Another one of my favorites is CNET. Not all of their software recommendations are free, so you will need to do a more detailed search, but it's well worth the effort. Their website is not limited to software. For example, if you want a list of the best small business web-hosting sites, you can find that information as well.
Another resource that is far more extensive is from the Free Software Foundation. That's where I found Open Office Suite which is fully compatible with Microsoft Office but much more user friendly. I really love what the Free Software Foundation does, and donate to them whenever I can.
Potential Pitfalls
Pay attention to the details before you download anything. First and foremost, make sure that you only download software that is tested to be free of spy-ware. The sites mentioned above and any other reliable site won't offer any thing but clean software.
Some software manufacturers ask you to jump through numerous hoops to get their free software. I recently downloaded BillQuick Lite from CNET only to find out that the free version requires a phone call to the company. Had they mentioned that from the start, I might have been willing to do it. But I was only aware of it after spending about 30 minutes downloading and installing it (it's a huge program). I immediately uninstalled it. There are too many other options available.
Make sure you download the right version of software. Some companies offer the paid version first, and if you aren't alert, you'll choose that option, download and install it, then have to uninstall it and go back and get the free version.
Pay attention to any default options that might be selected for you. If you don't, you may end up with changes made to your internet home page, installed toolbars that you don't have any use for, or other default settings.
I recommend testing a program for as long as it takes you to make sure it's right. You have choices, and you may as well chose the program that meets most if not all of your needs. Right now, I'm on my third accounting software program, and am still looking.
My Personal Recommendations
Here's a list of free software that I use on a regular basis. I'm testing some other programs, but am not prepared to recommend them yet.
AVG Anti-Virus 9.0 Excellent virus protection. It does slow my system down and I've been known to turn it off, but I don't recommend that.
Glary Utilities Very good system cleaning program
Gmail My favorite email program.
MalwareBytes Keeps those malicious bugs at bay. If you ever have been attacked by malware, you know how paralyzing it can be.
Open Office Suite Microsoft Office isn't the only game in town. In my opinion, this one is far better and it is compatible with Office.
Picasa Photo and video editing software from Google.
You now have an excellent starting point to help you locate free software. I'm confident that you will find what you need. And if possible, please support those that make these wonderful resources available.
In a later article I will explore shareware options with you. It's another very good option for acquiring inexpensive but very good software. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me.
I love free stuff, especially free stuff that is really good and badly needed, like free software that I can use to support my new home-based small business. I recently spent a couple of hours checking to see if I could find free accounting and project management software, and I'm delighted to report that the answer is 'yes'.
If you are interested in exploring free software options, read on. I'll provide a brief guide about what you can find, where to look, and how to avoid some potential pitfalls. But before that, just a personal comment: really good free software is available because there are really good people freely devoting their own time, talent, and money to make it available. I love knowing that there are people in the business world that have interests other than making huge profits, and I choose to support them. My donations may not be much, but a little money from a lot of people has a huge impact.
I believe you will find 99.9% of anything and everything you want. If you need convincing, take a look at the two PC Magazine sites below. Just scan the table of contents along the left side of their pages for a quick review of what is available. You'll find everything from audio, blogging, and communication software to RSS reader, synchronization, and video software. The 2008 version still has some very good recommendations.
PC Magazines Best Free Software 2008
PC Magazines Best Free Software 2009
Another one of my favorites is CNET. Not all of their software recommendations are free, so you will need to do a more detailed search, but it's well worth the effort. Their website is not limited to software. For example, if you want a list of the best small business web-hosting sites, you can find that information as well.
Another resource that is far more extensive is from the Free Software Foundation. That's where I found Open Office Suite which is fully compatible with Microsoft Office but much more user friendly. I really love what the Free Software Foundation does, and donate to them whenever I can.
Pay attention to the details before you download anything. First and foremost, make sure that you only download software that is tested to be free of spy-ware. The sites mentioned above and any other reliable site won't offer any thing but clean software.
Some software manufacturers ask you to jump through numerous hoops to get their free software. I recently downloaded BillQuick Lite from CNET only to find out that the free version requires a phone call to the company. Had they mentioned that from the start, I might have been willing to do it. But I was only aware of it after spending about 30 minutes downloading and installing it (it's a huge program). I immediately uninstalled it. There are too many other options available.
Make sure you download the right version of software. Some companies offer the paid version first, and if you aren't alert, you'll choose that option, download and install it, then have to uninstall it and go back and get the free version.
Pay attention to any default options that might be selected for you. If you don't, you may end up with changes made to your internet home page, installed toolbars that you don't have any use for, or other default settings.
I recommend testing a program for as long as it takes you to make sure it's right. You have choices, and you may as well chose the program that meets most if not all of your needs. Right now, I'm on my third accounting software program, and am still looking.
My Personal Recommendations
Here's a list of free software that I use on a regular basis. I'm testing some other programs, but am not prepared to recommend them yet.
AVG Anti-Virus 9.0 Excellent virus protection. It does slow my system down and I've been known to turn it off, but I don't recommend that.
Glary Utilities Very good system cleaning program
Gmail My favorite email program.
MalwareBytes Keeps those malicious bugs at bay. If you ever have been attacked by malware, you know how paralyzing it can be.
Open Office Suite Microsoft Office isn't the only game in town. In my opinion, this one is far better and it is compatible with Office.
Picasa Photo and video editing software from Google.
In a later article I will explore shareware options with you. It's another very good option for acquiring inexpensive but very good software. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Can't seem to get ramped up
This weekend would have been perfect for viewing, but I just couldn't get it all together. I had to work on Saturday, and was too tired Saturday night to drag everything out there, and get it all set up. Besides, all of the work I have done on Spring viewing is now 'for not'... it's summer...
So I'll now target the next new moon is July 21st. That should be plenty of time for me to get my observing sessions set up for Summer / Fall.
Until then, wishing you clear, quiet, dark skies.
So I'll now target the next new moon is July 21st. That should be plenty of time for me to get my observing sessions set up for Summer / Fall.
Until then, wishing you clear, quiet, dark skies.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Finally!
It looks like this will be the weekend to finally get out and peer into the night! I have a nice long three day weekend with no moon and good weather. It doesn't get much better than that. I will probably need to do some updating on my tours, but that will be a pleasure. BRING IT ON!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Now, if it would just STOP SNOWING!!
In typical but always-surprising-to-me fashion, it's snowing in Central Oregon. There is about an inch of snow left over from yesterday, and it's snowing 'as we speak'. Despite my tendency to complain about it, the variety of meterological experiences is one of the main things I love about living in this area. Of course, that means all of the astronomy projects are on hold, but that's OK. That's just good time to study or work on some projects.
My spring double star tour is all set up, but maybe I'll go ahead and add to it. I only have about 60 stars in it right now, taken from a couple of different sources. I may as well expand it. The other thing I'm doing is plotting everything out on 'The Sky'. Sky by Bisque is nice software, but far too expensive for what it offers. I purchased the Serious Astronomer edition for $100 if I remember correctly, and still have to manually go in and create a viewing list. That's a bit cheap on their part not to offer that rather important feature. In any case, there is a way to enter the RA, DEC and name of each object and plot it out on a sky chart.
Maybe one of my next projects will be to review several of the free or shareware astronomy software programs on line. In hindsight, once of these programs would have been just fine, and I would have an extra $100 to spend on astronomy accessories.
My spring double star tour is all set up, but maybe I'll go ahead and add to it. I only have about 60 stars in it right now, taken from a couple of different sources. I may as well expand it. The other thing I'm doing is plotting everything out on 'The Sky'. Sky by Bisque is nice software, but far too expensive for what it offers. I purchased the Serious Astronomer edition for $100 if I remember correctly, and still have to manually go in and create a viewing list. That's a bit cheap on their part not to offer that rather important feature. In any case, there is a way to enter the RA, DEC and name of each object and plot it out on a sky chart.
Maybe one of my next projects will be to review several of the free or shareware astronomy software programs on line. In hindsight, once of these programs would have been just fine, and I would have an extra $100 to spend on astronomy accessories.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Troubleshooting ETX auto tours
I finally got my first Autostar auto tour program to load. The main problem was that I didn't understand that just because I had an option to add a title or a description, that I HAD to add it. The instructions for the USER line are as follows:
USER ra dec "title string" "description string"
This command line allows you to access a specific object with your own description.
Enter USER, then the RA and DEC of a desired object and its title and description.
Use the format described in the Command Line section.
That means you must enter a title and a description, both of which need to be enclosed in quotation marks. Here is an example of what one line should look like:
AUTO SELECT USER 19:05:00 -07d08m00s "STF 2439" "Mags 8/9 Sep 22 PA 199 Spect B8"
Getting Autostar to accept the program was the first test. The real test, of course, will be to see if that tour will really take me to the stars that I want to visit. Tonight might be a good time to check it out if the weather holds. If not, it will be a while. I'm expecting it to get cloudy again, soon.
I originally thought I would just load one of the pre-existing auto tours that are available, but I'm really glad I decided to program my own. It isn't that hard, and I really like having my own particular list to work with.
USER ra dec "title string" "description string"
This command line allows you to access a specific object with your own description.
Enter USER, then the RA and DEC of a desired object and its title and description.
Use the format described in the Command Line section.
That means you must enter a title and a description, both of which need to be enclosed in quotation marks. Here is an example of what one line should look like:
AUTO SELECT USER 19:05:00 -07d08m00s "STF 2439" "Mags 8/9 Sep 22 PA 199 Spect B8"
Getting Autostar to accept the program was the first test. The real test, of course, will be to see if that tour will really take me to the stars that I want to visit. Tonight might be a good time to check it out if the weather holds. If not, it will be a while. I'm expecting it to get cloudy again, soon.
I originally thought I would just load one of the pre-existing auto tours that are available, but I'm really glad I decided to program my own. It isn't that hard, and I really like having my own particular list to work with.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Getting back on track
Am finally getting back on track after a brief but intense episode of either allergies or a very bad cold. It was the coughing that about did me in. In any case, it's much better now, so I'm looking forward to getting back on track with my projects. Vera bought us some really nice reclining outdoor chairs... perfect to lay back with the binoculars and study the sky on dark spring evening.
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