ADVICE
Getting your software free

By Kim Komando
Gannett News Service

You can buy a computer these days for less than the programs that make it useful. Popular software, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop, can set you back hundreds of dollars.

Fortunately, there are many great free programs. Some have fewer features than their paid counterparts, but they often work just as well.

Unfortunately, some free software contains adware that tracks your Web surfing habits and tailors ads to your interests.

The Windows programs featured here don't include adware, according to their user agreements.

In addition to adware, free programs often have other downsides. Documentation is sometimes sparse, so you may have to experiment to master them. Technical support is limited or nonexistent. If there's a problem, you may be on your own.

1 Free software can put a wall around your computer to protect it from Internet threats. For instance, you simply must have a firewall. This makes your computer invisible to hackers' probes.

Outpost (www.agnitum.com) and ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com) provide basic protection for Internet users. First-time users should go with the default settings. Both are available for Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. In addition, Outpost is available for Windows 95 and 98.

2 A firewall cannot protect your computer from viruses or Trojan horses. For them, you need anti-virus software.

AVG Anti-Virus by Grisoft (www.grisoft.com) scans your hard drive and e-mail. Virus definition updates are free as well. AVG Anti-Virus is available for Windows 95 and higher.

3 You'll also need software to scan for adware. In addition to tracking your surfing, these programs sometimes hijack your Internet home page.

Ad-aware (www.lavasoft.de) and Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) are adware killers. Both programs work on Windows 98, ME, 2000, NT and XP. Spybot Search & Destroy is also compatible with Windows 95.

4 Pop-up ads are often delivered by adware. One of the best pop-up blockers is included on the Google Toolbar (toolbar.google.com). It not only blocks pop-up ads but gives you numerous search options. It's available for Windows 95 and higher, for use with Internet Explorer 5.5 and higher.

5 If you chat with friends, you know how cluttered your desktop can get. It's not uncommon to have two or three instant messaging programs open at the same time. Trillian Basic (www.ceruleanstudios.com) allows you to chat with AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, IRC, MSN and Yahoo! users simultaneously. Trillian is for Windows 95 and higher.

6 PowerToys (www.microsoft.com) are additional programs that extend the functionality of Windows. One of the most popular PowerToys is Tweak UI. With it, you can clear your Internet tracks, manipulate mouse functions, get rid of arrows on shortcut icons, and more. Tweak UI is available for Windows 95 and higher.

7 Microsoft's Outlook Express is a popular e-mail program. Outlook Express doesn't have a built-in spellchecker. It relies on the dictionary from Microsoft Word or Works.

If you don't own Word or Works, Spell Checker for OE (www.geocities.com/vampirefo) can help. It's a stand-alone program and works on Windows 95 and higher. It requires Outlook Express 5 or higher.

8 Free software sometimes can substitute for expensive software. Office programs fall into the "expensive" category. Word processing and spreadsheet software can cost several hundred dollars.

You can open, create, and save Microsoft Word and Excel documents with 602PC Suite (www.software602.com). It also comes with a basic photo editor and organizer. It's compatible with Windows 98 and higher.

For the Mac

Macintosh fans will want to check out these freeware gems that run under OS X. Like the Windows software featured here, they are free of hidden adware and are supported online with frequent updates.

TinkerTool lets you take control of hidden features in OS X to customize the look of your desktop, the Dock program launcher, scrollbars, fonts and more. www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html

Safari Enhancer makes Apple's free Web browser more useful by adding features, such as the ability to import bookmarks from other Mac browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. www.lordofthecows.com/safari_enhancer.php

DragThing replaces the OS X Dock with its own program launcher that lets you organize programs, folder and files using a more robust tabbed interface. You can preview many types of files directly from DragThing's launchers, play sounds, eject CDs and empty the trash. www.dragthing.com/english/download.html

OS X includes a built-in spellchecker that works with most programs. Nisus Thesaurus adds a thesaurus you can use with almost any software. It includes 120,000 words; and the Word Browser and glossary make navigating words easy. There's even the option to filter out offensive words. www.nisus.com/thesaurus

The GIMP is a sophisticated photo-editing program that delivers many of the same capabilities as Adobe's expensive Photoshop software, including customizable brushes, masks and layers. Also for Windows and Linux. www.gimp.org

While Apple's free iPhoto software can make simple Web galleries and slide shows from your digital camera images, JAlbum adds more templates and options for customizing how your images are presented on the Web. jalbum.net

Apple's free iTunes software includes a few "visualizers" that display constantly changing patterns of color and light on the Mac's screen as you listen to your favorite tunes. G-Force and WhiteCap add hundreds of new psychedelic visualization effects to iTunes or other Mac music players. www.soundspectrum.com