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Is there such a thing as a free lunch? I think I’ve found the closest thing - free software. Don’t get me wrong; I have paid for more software than most computer users. I really like using “legal” software, but I have several computers setup at home now (like many of you), and to buy a separate copy of software for each one would be prohibitively expensive. So what can I do? I’ve used share-ware since the 80’s, and I’ve even paid for many of the programs I found useful. At work we use shareware to solve problems that would take hours or days to do by hand. We always pay for the stuff we use—somebody worked hard to create it and should be compensated. There has always been “free” software, as long as I can remember. Some of it was truly free, others required buying a book (Graphic Converter), sending a postcard, or even sending what you thought it was worth if you felt like it. Some of it was good, some bad, and some just amazing. However, the new class of “free” software is beyond anything I expected. Linux, FreeBSD, and the other variants are probably the best-known examples of free software. You can download and install an entire operating system for free. With the latest versions of Linux they are getting much closer to the usability of Windows. They might still require an “expert” user to configure and use them, but it’s getting close to being something I could give my Dad to use. If you want to see the true potential of free software, spend some time with Apple’s OS X product. The interface may be Apple’s, but under it lays a heart that is free and based on Unix. I figure Linux is about 1 - 2 years behind OS X. If you have a second machine and don’t want to buy a copy of Windows for it, you can download, for free, the entire operating system. Rather than debate which version of Linux is better, visit www.linux.com and learn more. Once you have your operating system on the second computer, you need some basic software, such as word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. OpenOffice 1.1.1 is something I’m playing with on a machine I built. It has very respectable programs, and from my limited (but growing) experience with it, the programs are more than I need for typical home chores such as letters, basic spreadsheets, etc. It looks a lot like Microsoft Office, but lacks the $200+ price tag. OpenOffice runs on Windows and Linux computers. Most Web browsers are still free
(I’m expecting them to charge for them someday) and typically
come installed with your operating system. The “standard”,
if there is such a thing, is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer,
but you can download Mozilla
for most operating systems for free. On Windows we have two pesky problems most people don’t know about: firewalls and spyware. If you’re connected to the Internet, you need a firewall. It stops most hackers and malicious software from getting to your computer. Until recently, Microsoft admits they didn’t focus enough on security. Very soon they will be providing tools to help users with this problem; but in the meantime, and if you’re running an older version of Windows, I recommend downloading the free version of Zone Alarm (www.zonelabs.com).
I actually bought programs to play music on my computer, but Apple has released iTunes for Windows and I now have one program (free!) for all of my Windows and Macintosh computers to play music and stream radio over the Internet. I know that there are dozens of free music programs out there, but you really have to use iTunes to see how easy and elegant free software can be. So who creates this “free”
software? It varies. Some programs are created by one person,
working alone and doing it for fun, to learn how to program,
or to enhance their resume. Other efforts, such as Linux, involve
hundreds or even thousands of people who believe that software
should be free. Either way, most software for home or small business
use is becoming extremely affordable. Free software, combined with the low cost of computers, enables us to have a 2nd or 3rd computer to play with, learn on, and not worry about breaking—or breaking the bank setting up. |
| Mike is a DACS member who is a cheapskate with software, but who writes brilliantly for free. You can contact him online at mikek@demorgan.com. |
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Spyware is software you
pick up online or through running some programs that include
an “extra gift.” Most spyware is not dangerous, but
it does track what you do on your computer and has the potential
to capture important personal information. There are several
programs to scan for and remove spyware, but the one I use is
Ad Aware from LavaSoft (