Today, I want to present you a guest publication by Scott May , owner of Columbia-based CompuSoft Consulting, specializing in home and small office tech support, on his views related to the freeware.It seems the cost of almost everything is going up these days. Rather than dwell on the grim, why not focus on something extremely useful and absolutely free?As difficult as this might be for some people to grasp, not every programmer is out to make a buck. Some simply enjoy sharing their handiwork with others, at no charge, for the common good. Other freeware publishers choose to give away their software in hopes that you’ll want to sample the rest of their product line or upgrade to a more feature-rich commercial version.
Google the word "freeware," and you’ll get thousands of sites enticing you to step closer, read all about it. They are virtual carnival barkers, luring you in with the promise of free software. Unfortunately, the vast majority is advertiser-based, and some are only a few bytes short of being malware. You can’t just jump at the word free, or you could get more than you bargained for.The best places on the Web to find quality freeware are hobbyist sites. Computer nerds are hands-on and brutally honest, with little of no advertising to deal with because that’s not their motivation. So rather than reinvent the wheel for the umpteenth time, I’ll assume the role of Internet signpost, pointing the way to untold treasures.One of my favorite tech-oriented stops on the Web has to be TechSupportAlert.com. Editor Ian Richards, nicknamed Gizmo, runs a fantastic site. There’s so much quality content here, with links galore, it’s a tech head’s paradise.In the upper left side of Richards’ homepage, there’s a link to his list of the best freeware utilities in 46 different categories. Constantly updated, this is a monster list guaranteed to find a program for every purpose, from Web browsing and antivirus protection to multimedia production and integrated productivity suites. Even if I don’t agree with his first choice, the chances are that one of the many alternatives will satisfy your needs.Another great source for new and sometime offbeat free software is the BestFreewareBlog.com. Freeware categories fill the left column, while screen shots and brief descriptions of the software appear on the right. Content is updated several times each month and past program links are organized in searchable archives.The find of the week at Best Freeware Blog is DocPad, a feature-laden alternative to the rather anemic Windows Notepad. DocPad offers 10-level undo, built-in spell check, font and object formatting tools, and much more. Unlike some freeware sites, this one offers a lot for Vista users.
Blogs can be great sources of information and tested freeware. Again, no one hates spyware worse than PC nerds, and most don’t recommend something they wouldn’t use themselves. Forums also are great places to get feedback from fellow users on the best and worst freeware programs out there.Finally, check out the goodies at FreeDecentDownloads.com. In addition to the site’s very active user forums, you’ll also find more lists and links to the best freeware in dozens of categories.The more you explore, the more you’ll find, until you finally locate that ultimate freeware application that might not cost you dime but is pure gold.