BEST ALTERNATIVE SOFTWARE
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Rick's Picks for the best alternative software.
This list is made up of Freeware, Lite, Open Source, Shareware, and Trial software.
Some of the software is available in versions for other operating systems.
- IrfanView
- Graphic Viewer & Adjustment Tool
- irfanview.tuwien.ac.at
- AbiWord
- Full featured cross-platform word processor
- www.abisource.com
- Belarc Advisor
- Builds a detailed profile of your installed software and
hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your
Web browser.
- www.belarc.com
- Convert
- Unit Conversion Tool
- www.joshmadison.com
- Acrobat Reader
- View Adobe Acrobat PDF Files
- www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.htm
- Karen's Power Tools
- www.karenware.com
- Computer Profiler
- View your computer's hidden secrets.
- Replicator
- Automatically copy and backup files.
- WhoIs
- Discover who owns Internet Domain Names, and how to contact their
owners.
- Recycler
- View and manage each drive's Recycle Bin. Empty bins manually,
and automatically.
- Show Stopper
- Shutdown, Power Off, Reboot, Log Off, Suspend or Hibernate
-- all from a desktop shortcut or command line!
- Countdown Timer II
- Never forget another appointment.
- Alarm Clock
- Turn your $2,000 computer into a $20 alarm clock. :)
- Font Explorer
- See the fonts available on your computer.
- Net Monitor
- See if your web site is up, or down.
- Power Toy
- Teach your computer to talk, sing, and even dance!
- E-Mailer II
- Send E-Mail from Windows' command line, desktop, from
Countdown Timer II, or 'Net Monitor.
- Time Cop
- Time your meetings, recipes, exams, and more!
- Discombobulator
- Understand those cryptic web addresses, and make a few
of your own.
- Hasher
- Compute and verify MD5 hashes of text strings, files, and groups
of files.
- Directory Printer
- Print the names, and other information, of all
folders and files on your computer.
- E-Mailer
- Send E-Mail from Windows' command line.
- Drive Info
- View information about the disk drives attached to your
computer.
- Version Browser
- View and print the "Version" information stored inside
your Windows programs and other files.
- Window Watcher
- See the hidden programs running on your computer.
- Disk Slack Checker
- See how much of your disk space is being wasted.
- Autorun.inf Editor
- Easily create the special file that causes programs
to run automatically when a CD is inserted.
- Cookie Viewer
- View Web browser "Cookies" left by the web site's you've
visited.
- Registry Pruner
- Remove unneeded entries from Windows' Registry.
- Registry Ripper
- Extract portions of Windows' Registry, and save them to
a file.
- Snooper
- Track what programs are being run, and when they are running.
- Print Logger
- Keep a record of each document your computer prints.
- Clipboard Viewer
- View the contents of Windows' Clipboard.
- TextIt
- Excellent ASCII Text Editor
- www.sventore.com
- Ad-Aware
- Control Disruptive Spyware Cookies with Free Version
- lavasoft.element5.com/software/adaware
- Notebrowser
- Easy-to-Use Planner
- www.notesbrowser.com
- PowerDesk 5
- Free Edition of a powerful replacement for Windows File Explorer
- www.v-com.com/product/pd_free_trial.html
- Easy Thumbnails
- Freeware utility for creating accurate thumbnail images
and scaled-down/up copies from a wide range of popular picture formats.
- www.freewarehome.com
- Lexun Backup Solution
- Powerful backup and restore application, and its
free!
- www.lexunfreeware.com
- PDF995
- Creates .pdf files from any file you can print. Free version
brings up advertising windows when used or $9.95 license fee version with
no advertising. Many other features included.
- pdf995.com
- OpenOffice Suite
- Full featured suite including, word processor,
spreadsheet, drawing module, database interface, HTML generator,
multimedia creator and much more. Microsoft Office compatible file
formats and multi-platform versions available. All free, thanks to Sun
Microsystems (distributor of previous office suite StarOffice) and
OpenOffice.org.
- www.openoffice.org
- Freeware Home
- Giant collection of links to even more Freeware
- www.freewarehome.com