SOFTWARE - PART 1

What is "software"?

Software, also known as programs or applications, is operating instructions for specific task based applications. The computer processors (CPUs) carry out these instructions. These include packaged programs used for graphic editing, word processing, databases, games, and so on. Software has to be written for a specific computer operating system (OS) like Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

Without software, your computer is nothing more than an expensive paperweight. In this section, I'll review and recommend some of the essential software you'll need and want. Many of the programs listed are available free of charge.

The Office Suite

Office Suite - A collection of powerful programs for business and home use. Suites make it easy for users to create and share information in databases, spreadsheets, and word processors, as well as other applications like presentation software. Microsoft Office is the leading office suite. There is also Corel's WordPerfect Suite and Open Office.

Most office suites contain the following four types of programs:

Word processor - A computer program designed to replace the typewriter. A word processor can create, edit, print, and store documents.
Spreadsheet - A computer program that lets the user enter numbers or text into a table with rows and columns. These numbers can be manipulated using formulas.
Presentation program - A computer program used to create and display presentations, usually in the form of a "slide show".
Email program - A computer program which users use to create, send, read and store email messages.
Certain more advanced office suites also contain a database program.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office 2003
Rating: 3 stars
Price (Dec. 2006): $399.99

This version includes:

Word 2003 (word processor) - purchased separately $229.99
Excel 2003 (spreadsheet) - purchased separately $229.99
Outlook 2003 (email program) - purchased separately $99.99
PowerPoint 2003 (presentation program) - purchased separately $229.99

Microsoft Office 2003 is the Swiss Army knife of office suites. It does many things. Some think it does too many things. As a casual, home user, you will probably only use 5-10% of the many features included. Microsoft Office 2007 will be released as you read this and the complexity of the programs will probably increase. For a power user, this is an indispensable suite of programs. For the novice...check out OpenOffice which is described below.

Open Office

Open Office 2.0
Rating: 4 stars
Price (Dec. 2006): FREE
Read a review of OpenOffice here

This version includes:

Writer (word processor) - can produce quick memos, complete books with contents, diagrams, indexes, and more. Trap typing mistakes on the fly with the AutoCorrect dictionary, which can check your spelling as you type. Reduce typing effort with AutoComplete, which suggests common words and phrases to complete what you are typing. Writer offers direct connection to email software. Writer can read all Microsoft Word documents, or save your work in Microsoft Word format for sending to people who are still using Word.
Calc (spreadsheet) - natural language formulas let you create formulas using words (e.g. "sales - costs"). Wizards guide you through a comprehensive range of advanced spreadsheet functions. Styles and Formatting makes it easy to apply flexible cell formatting options, including freely rotating contents, templates, backgrounds, borders, and many more. You are free to use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, or save your work in Excel format for sending to people who are still using Excel.
Impress (presentation program) - create effective multimedia presentations with 2D and 3D clip art, special effects, animation, and high-impact drawing tools. A complete range of Views are supported: Drawing / Outline / Slides / Notes / Handouts to meet all the needs of presenters and audiences, plus an optional multi-pane view to put all the tools at your fingertips. Impress has a complete range of easy-to-use drawing and diagramming tools to spice up your presentation. You are free to use Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, or save your work in PowerPoint format for sending to people who are still using PowerPoint.
Draw (graphics program) - create quick sketches or complex plans. Use Styles and Formatting to put all your graphics styles at your finger tips. Use the picture Gallery for clipart; create your own art and add it to the Gallery. Import graphics from all common formats (including BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and WMF). Use DRAW's free ability to create Flash (.swf) versions of your work.
Base (database program) - manipulate database data within OpenOffice.org. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports. Base offers a choice of using Wizards, Design Views, or SQL Views for beginners, intermediate, and advanced users.
There is no email program included with OpenOffice but you can use the excellent, free email client from Mozilla called Thunderbird.

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Free Word Processors

Notepad

Notepad comes free with every version of Microsoft Windows. It is the fastest and easiest way to write simple notes.
To open Notepad:

Left-click on "Start".
Left-click on "All Programs".
Left-click on "Accessories".
Left-click on "Notepad".

Basic Notepad Instructions:

To open a new Notepad document, click "New" under the "File" menu. If you already have a document open on Notepad when you click "New", it will ask you if you'd like to save your work.
To open a saved document, click "File" then "Open". A box will pop up to help you look for files on your computer. Notepad can open any type of text document (*.txt, *.doc, etc.) .
To save a document on Notepad, click "File" then "Save" or "Save As". A box will pop up asking you choose a file name for your document.
Click "File" then "Page Setup" to change the size of the paper, the margins, and other formatting.
To print a document, click "File" then "Print".
To exit Notepad, click "File" then "Exit". Notepad prompt you to save your changes if you haven't already done so.

Wordpad

Wordpad also comes free with every version of Microsoft Windows. It is a fast and easy way to write more complicated documents.
To open Wordpad:

Left-click on "Start".
Left-click on "All Programs".
Left-click on "Accessories".
Left-click on "Wordpad".

Basic Wordpad Instructions:

The most important commands like Save, Open, New, Print and Find are right at the top, just click on the icon without going through the menus.
Add text the same way as Notepad. Then add formatting, colors, and pictures.
You can use the ruler at the top to define the edges of your text. Move the ruler cursor to define the width of your document.
Add the date and time. Left-click on "Insert" then "Date and Time" and select the Date and Time format you want to use.
A useful feature for Printing is Print Preview. You can preview your files before printing by Left-clicking "File" then "Print Preview".
Save your file often. To save a document on Wordpad, left-click "File" then "Save" or "Save As". A box will pop up asking you choose a file name for your document.
To open a new Wordpad document, left-click "File" then "New". When you click "New" you can choose between three text formats - Word Document, Rich text Document, and Text Document. Both Word Document and Rich text Document allow you to add rich content like images and colors to your text file, Text document is only text as in Notepad.
You can add images to your document by left-clicking "Insert" then "Object". Select "Create from File" to insert an image from your hard drive. Left-click "Browse" to specify the location of the image type.
Select fonts by left-clicking "Format" then "Font".

How to Cut/Copy and Paste Text?

The methods for moving and copying text are the same for all word processors and most other programs as well. Here are several movies that show you different ways to do this:

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Free Online Alternatives

Ajax13

Ajax13 is a free office suite that runs from the Internet using the Mozilla Firefox browser. It consists of three programs:

ajaxWrite - ajaxWrite is a web-based word processor that can read and write Microsoft Word and other standard document formats. Simply point your Firefox browser to www.ajaxwrite.com and a full-featured program will be available for you to open, edit, print and save. ajaxWrite has been designed to look like Microsoft Word and handles all the popular document formats. Once finished with your document, you can easily save your work right to your hard drive.
ajaxSketch - ajaxSketch is a web-based drawing tool for diagramming, creating flow charts, free hand drawing and more. Once finished with your images, you can easily save your work right to your hard drive. Simply point your Firefox browser to www.ajaxsketch.com and a full-featured graphics program will be ready for you to use.
Ajax13 are planning to release a web-based spreadsheet and presentation program in the near future.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets

Google Docs & Spreadsheets is a free, web-based word processor and spreadsheet program. It requires a free Google account which you can get when you first visit the site.

The word processor formats documents, checks spelling and more.
Uploads Word, OpenOffice, RTF, HTML or text files.
Downloads documents to your desktop as Word or PDF files.
Invite others to share your documents by email address.
Edit documents online with whomever you choose.
Publish documents online to the world, or to just who you choose.

Return to top Software - Part 2

The Basics

Special Features

Active Glossary