What This Blog is About
Minor updates were done to this text on 6/20/06, 1/19/07, 6/3/07, and 6/16/09.
This text, (the original part) was written perhaps early 2005. I post date it so that the introduction will continually be at the top.
I place this here in hopes that my hard knocks experience over the last 23+ years using computers might help others. I like helping folks. I have more experience with PC security than the average user, although I am not an expert.
Almost all of the items I recommend herein are either free to use, or low cost shareware.
Downloading freeware and installing it willy nilly is a VERY bad idea. Some is virus laden, may be a trojan horse, or perhaps unwanted spyware, etc.. However most is just junk.
Originally, I when I started testing freeware, (1983?) I did so mainly for my own benefit. When blogging became common, I thought I would pass along some of what I learned, (sometimes the hard way). I hope to lessen your travails, and maybe help you to find a few freeware "jems" as well.
Because of potential dangers you should not trust what I say, at least until you have tried a few of the programs I recommend and see that they work well, and cause no harm.
So, how can you tell that I'm steering you in good directions? I suggest doing a search on the net, see what other folks have to say about the programs I recommend.
Perhaps 1 in 20 freeware programs is decent. About one in 10 of those is very good to excellent. One such, just as an example is: Keynote 1.6.5 ( http://www.tranglos.com/free/index.html )
I do not list Keynote otherwise in this blog not because it is a bad program, (it is not), but rather because it has some minor bugs and is a little awkward to use.
( 3/3/06: It is now listed in: http://rhoadesbwebsites.blogspot.com/2006/02/tree-structured-notepim-type-programs.html )
So why try it then? Well, if you do you will begin to get a feel of how I descriminate among freeware and shareware programs. At first, you might think, "Wow, Keynote 1.6.5 is a terrific program!" Later, as you use it more, you may discover it's minor bugs. Or perhaps you will still think it is very good and want to use it regularly as many do. In this case you win too.
It is always best to download programs from the author's site when possible. This way, you are least likely to obtain an altered copy.
Most of the programs here have been tested by me on Windows XP, some on Windows 95/98, and Vista.
If you know of a good freeware program, and you let me know via email address rhoadesb@excite.com I might place it here too. Also I would appreciate any bad or good comments about this "blog" as well.
By the by, when someone tells you that free or lowcost software is all garbage, etc. do me a favor if you would, ask them to visit "products, web sites, etc. I find interesting". Thank you.
I will occasionally add items, update others, etc..
As the famous Red Green states, "Keep your stick on the ice." :)
P.S.:
If you try and like Keynote 1.6.5, but perhaps want better, try Treepad listed in my recommended products.
This text, (the original part) was written perhaps early 2005. I post date it so that the introduction will continually be at the top.
I place this here in hopes that my hard knocks experience over the last 23+ years using computers might help others. I like helping folks. I have more experience with PC security than the average user, although I am not an expert.
Almost all of the items I recommend herein are either free to use, or low cost shareware.
Downloading freeware and installing it willy nilly is a VERY bad idea. Some is virus laden, may be a trojan horse, or perhaps unwanted spyware, etc.. However most is just junk.
Originally, I when I started testing freeware, (1983?) I did so mainly for my own benefit. When blogging became common, I thought I would pass along some of what I learned, (sometimes the hard way). I hope to lessen your travails, and maybe help you to find a few freeware "jems" as well.
Because of potential dangers you should not trust what I say, at least until you have tried a few of the programs I recommend and see that they work well, and cause no harm.
So, how can you tell that I'm steering you in good directions? I suggest doing a search on the net, see what other folks have to say about the programs I recommend.
Perhaps 1 in 20 freeware programs is decent. About one in 10 of those is very good to excellent. One such, just as an example is: Keynote 1.6.5 ( http://www.tranglos.com/free/index.html )
I do not list Keynote otherwise in this blog not because it is a bad program, (it is not), but rather because it has some minor bugs and is a little awkward to use.
( 3/3/06: It is now listed in: http://rhoadesbwebsites.blogspot.com/2006/02/tree-structured-notepim-type-programs.html )
So why try it then? Well, if you do you will begin to get a feel of how I descriminate among freeware and shareware programs. At first, you might think, "Wow, Keynote 1.6.5 is a terrific program!" Later, as you use it more, you may discover it's minor bugs. Or perhaps you will still think it is very good and want to use it regularly as many do. In this case you win too.
It is always best to download programs from the author's site when possible. This way, you are least likely to obtain an altered copy.
Most of the programs here have been tested by me on Windows XP, some on Windows 95/98, and Vista.
If you know of a good freeware program, and you let me know via email address rhoadesb@excite.com I might place it here too. Also I would appreciate any bad or good comments about this "blog" as well.
By the by, when someone tells you that free or lowcost software is all garbage, etc. do me a favor if you would, ask them to visit "products, web sites, etc. I find interesting". Thank you.
I will occasionally add items, update others, etc..
As the famous Red Green states, "Keep your stick on the ice." :)
P.S.:
If you try and like Keynote 1.6.5, but perhaps want better, try Treepad listed in my recommended products.
posted by rhoadesb | 4:04 AM
