|
Software 1
You don't always need to pay for good software. In fact, price is rarely a measure of quality. Some of the more expensive programs are amongst the most troublesome to use. Similarly, there are lots of very good programs available for free. Some of them are as good as, or even better than, the paid for versions. And sometimes they are better simply because they're more specific - a good program to provide you with nothing more than a calendar, for example, might suit you better than using the calendar supplied by Google or Yahoo, because it's designed to do that one single thing and not be linked to a bunch of other stuff you have no need of and no interest in.
And because it's more specific, it might be better and more simply designed, and consequently easier to use. So look around for good free programs, there are plenty of them out there. Here's a few of the best: |
|
Open Office
If you don't have Microsoft Office (or you don't want to use it), there are free alternatives, such as OpenOffice (which is what I'm using now). You can download it from here.
Once you've saved a document in OpenOffice, you can choose to save it in Microsoft Office format (handy in case you want to send a copy to someone and you want to make sure they can open it, since Word's .doc format is the industry standard format), or you can save it in the OpenOffice format. Of course, one of the advantages of not using Word is that you've finally seen the last of that bloody dancing paperclip (although you can turn it off, I do realise that - better still to do away with it forever though :) ). Of course, there's more to Open Office than word processing. There's a full suite of programs, including Spreadsheet (like Excel), Database (like Access), and Presentation (like PowerPoint). Abiword is another great open source word processing program, and can be downloaded here (click where it says 'Microsoft Windows'). It does all Microsoft Word does, and it has an amazing array of features. A big advantage, of course, is that's it's free, but it's also a very small download, as opposed to the giant software that is Microsoft Office. To read more about it, go here.
|
|
PersonalBrain
Mind Mapping is a way to organise your thoughts and projects in a way that mimics the way the human brain works. There are a few good mind mapping programs out there but PersonalBrain is one of the best. It has a very good user interface and it's easy to use. Its uses are virtually limitless - you can use it to 'map' the progress of a project you're working on, or to map your entire life. Bit ambitious, that, of course, but what you use it for is entirely up to you.
Clicking on a 'thought' (the name for an item you've entered) opens up that thought, giving you access to everything it's linked to.
As with many of these free programs, the company would rather you signed up for the paid version, which has certain advantages, but the free version lacks nothing really.
Get it from here.
Clicking on a 'thought' (the name for an item you've entered) opens up that thought, giving you access to everything it's linked to.
As with many of these free programs, the company would rather you signed up for the paid version, which has certain advantages, but the free version lacks nothing really.
Get it from here.
Other mind map software
FreeMind is another good mind mapping program, available here.
And another one is iMindMap, by Tony Buzan, the creator of Mind Mapping.
You can download it from http://www.thinkbuzan.com/uk/registration/freetrial (it says 'freetrial' in the link because you get a free trial of the full version when you download the free version).
On the right you can see a 'traditional' mind map. At the centre is the main 'thought', or subject, and branching off from it are the main ideas that grow from, or spark off from that thought. Each of them, in turn, branches off into more specific details. Instead of having to trawl through long, boring lists to find something and to understand the whole thing, you can glance for a few seconds at a mind map and 'get the picture'.
Keynote
If you want to keep notes (and who doesn't), then you need a good program to do it with. And by that, I mean NOT the Windows Notepad. Admittedly, Notepad has its uses, which are very few (essentially, it's an onscreen scratch pad to make a quick note, but the program is so limited it's virtually useless). It's a mystery to me why Microsoft have never come up with something along the lines of Keynote.
The best program I've come across to handle this need is Keynote. Again, it's free software. The individual who designed the program (Marek Jedlinski, I think) quit working on it some years ago, but it's still available (in fact, someone else has taken over the project and is trying to add a few things, but it's fine as it is). It's an amazing program. You can have several files if you like, one for each project, but you can also use just one file, since the heart of the programme is that it is so well designed that you only actually need one.
The best program I've come across to handle this need is Keynote. Again, it's free software. The individual who designed the program (Marek Jedlinski, I think) quit working on it some years ago, but it's still available (in fact, someone else has taken over the project and is trying to add a few things, but it's fine as it is). It's an amazing program. You can have several files if you like, one for each project, but you can also use just one file, since the heart of the programme is that it is so well designed that you only actually need one.
You create a new tab and start adding pages (which show up in the left panel like the files in an Explorer window, the familiar tree and branches setup). Then you can add another tab (and name it) and carry on. This way, each tab (called a Note in this program) is, in effect, a separate notebook. Each heading on the 'tree' (called a Node) can contain a note, or several other nodes, and can be contracted by clicking on the minus sign at its side, and expanded by clicking on the plus sign.
That's why I say you can have everything in one file if you like. It's incredibly useful, very easy to learn to use, easy to set up just the way you like it (you can change the text size, colour, background colour, etc to suit yourself), and you can password protect your files, so you can keep important information in it without worrying that it might be compromised.
Download Keynote from here or from here
There are some very good online programs that have similarities to Keynote, but none nearly as good in my view. If I could find an online version of Keynote, it would be perfect, because then you'd have all the benefits of Keynote, and you'd have access to it wherever you happen to be.
That's why I say you can have everything in one file if you like. It's incredibly useful, very easy to learn to use, easy to set up just the way you like it (you can change the text size, colour, background colour, etc to suit yourself), and you can password protect your files, so you can keep important information in it without worrying that it might be compromised.
Download Keynote from here or from here
There are some very good online programs that have similarities to Keynote, but none nearly as good in my view. If I could find an online version of Keynote, it would be perfect, because then you'd have all the benefits of Keynote, and you'd have access to it wherever you happen to be.
What, you still don't see the need for Keynote?? Think of all the separate little bits of information you have scattered around in various forms ... now imagine it all organised and in one place ... aahhh ... now doesn't that feel better??? :)
MemoMaster
I've recently found another great note-taking program, MemoMaster. This is also a free program and is as good as Keynote. One of the few things it lacks (in the free version) is the ability to password-protect your files. You can download MemoMaster here.
|
TimeLeft
There are countless online programs for timers, clocks, calendars and the like, but one of the best is TimeLeft. You're given a wide choice of clocks and you can resize the one you choose to suit yourself. Download from here.
Here's a quote from their website: TimeLeft is a versatile desktop utility - it can be used as a countdown clock, reminder, clock, alarm clock, tray clock, stopwatch, timer, sticker, auction watch, work days/hours countdown clock and time synchronization utility. TimeLeft uses Winamp skins to show digits and text. The main feature of TimeLeft is a powerful customizable reminder, which can show a message, play music (any formats including mp3) or open a link, document, execute an application, turn off your monitor or shutdown your PC. (some of these features are restricted to one usage in the free edition) and it goes on to say: Main features
|
You can choose from a number of clocks, and you can choose to show just hours and minutes (plenty for most of us) or be more accurate, with seconds tagged on, and even the date.
You can have a countdown timer showing, or, if you set a reminder, a message will pop up onscreen at the time you set. Probably not something most people will have a use for, but if you'd like the accuracy and versatility of an onscreen clock that's just the design you fancy, TimeLeft is the program you've been waiting for!
ClocX
If you like the idea of a good onscreen clock, but you're not bothered about all the other stuff, ClockX might suit you better. There's a vast range of differently designed clocks to choose from and you can resize them, reposition them and even make them more transparent so they aren't so obtrusive - the clock can appear almost ghostly on your screen, if that's what you want, and become more prominent when you place your mouse on it.
They actually look very cool (some of them do anyway), and there's a basic calendar involved too. Get it from here. |
Calendar Magic
Calendar Magic is a truly amazing program that displays everything you might ever want to know connected with dates, calendars, reminders, notes and so on. I'm at a loss how to explain what it can do, or how to describe it, the list is so extensive, really. You should click here and spend a few minutes reading the long, l-o-n-g list of features for the program.
I should also explain that I don't really find much use for it personally (probably because I'm not a mathematician, a statistician, or particularly fascinated with calendars), it's just that I find it amazing that people can make such great software and release it without charging a penny.
Here's just a few reviews/comments from the site:
The Swiss army knife of calendar software. - CNET review
Here's a cool program that allows you to determine virtually any date information you could ever possibly want to know. - K P R, USA
Calendar Magic is the single niftiest program out there. Better than a Swiss Army knife, just useful as hell. And for free? Awesome. A ton of thought must have gone into the features and design. No reason for it not to be on every PC in the universe. If it could mow my lawn, it would be perfect! - J P B
Calendar Magic is an extraordinary instrument with many applications and I congratulate you for developing it. I have been using it over the past few years and I am very happy with it. Believe me, your program is really a jewel. - L R P-M, Panama
Great program! Among other things I can now remove the World Time Clock I hardly ever use, as well as some of the unit conversion utilities I also hardly ever use, because your Calendar Magic offers both those features - and much more. - B S
I should also explain that I don't really find much use for it personally (probably because I'm not a mathematician, a statistician, or particularly fascinated with calendars), it's just that I find it amazing that people can make such great software and release it without charging a penny.
Here's just a few reviews/comments from the site:
The Swiss army knife of calendar software. - CNET review
Here's a cool program that allows you to determine virtually any date information you could ever possibly want to know. - K P R, USA
Calendar Magic is the single niftiest program out there. Better than a Swiss Army knife, just useful as hell. And for free? Awesome. A ton of thought must have gone into the features and design. No reason for it not to be on every PC in the universe. If it could mow my lawn, it would be perfect! - J P B
Calendar Magic is an extraordinary instrument with many applications and I congratulate you for developing it. I have been using it over the past few years and I am very happy with it. Believe me, your program is really a jewel. - L R P-M, Panama
Great program! Among other things I can now remove the World Time Clock I hardly ever use, as well as some of the unit conversion utilities I also hardly ever use, because your Calendar Magic offers both those features - and much more. - B S
Home | Security | Definitions 1 | Definitions 2 | Software 1 | Software 2
Passwords | Shortcuts | Tips 1| Tips 2 | Other Stuff
Passwords | Shortcuts | Tips 1| Tips 2 | Other Stuff