Free Software
Below are a set of links to some of the best free software out there.
If you can't find what you're looking for, the best source for all open-source software is Sourceforge.
If you think that there is some application or tool which should be added to this list, then email me
Essential Software
► Firefox: Firefox web browser
► Adobe Reader: Previously known as Acrobat Reader, Adobe Reader is the program to read PDF files
► Java: Get the Java plug-in from this site to run Java applets,
like the Breadboard Simulator
► Adobe Flash Player: Flash player is needed to view Flash content
like the preview clips on the dance page
► Real Player: Media Player
Essential Security Software
► AVG Free Edition: Free Anti-Virus
► Zone Alarm: Firewall - Free for Non-Commercial Use
► Lavasoft AdAware: Anti-Spyware
Non-Essential
► OpenOffice.org: Free Office Suite - includes word processor, presentation
application, drawing tool, spreadsheet and database
► Google Earth: See satellite images for the whole globe - in
places the images are of a good enough resolution to make out cars and people - scary!
► Google Sketchup: 3D Design Tool
► 7-Zip: Free zip tool (WinZip, but properly free)
► VMware Player: Free application for running virtual machines on
your PC, allowing you to, for example, run a full Linux OS within a Window on your Windows XP PC
Application / Web Developers
► Programmers Notepad: Lightweight text editor with code colouring
► Java Development Kit: Download the JDK to write Java applications and applets
► Eclipse: Integrated Development Environment (IDE) supporting a large number of langauges
► Borland JBuilder Foundation: Java Development Environment - the foundation version is now free,
even for commercial use
► Visual Studio Express: Free cut-down version of MS Visual Studio.
I've never used it but thought I'd put a link here
Linux Operating System
Windows is bloody expensive so why not give it's free open-source alternative a go. There are hundereds of Linux distributions out there, a long list of which can be found on this site. Here are a few of the more common ones.
► SUSE Linux: One of the best distros for beginners who don't want to stray too far
from Windows
► Fedora Core: Open-source free spin-off from the Red Hat distros
► Mandriva: Previously known as Mandrake
► Knoppix: Knoppix is a "live-CD" distro which means that it boots straight
from CD or DVD. Nothing needs to be installed on the hard disk - a great way to try Linux