My Rules Suggesting New Software

Many Good Booters have asked what criteria I use in selecting the free software programs I recommend.

Perhaps the most important criteria is I only recommend free programs after I’m absolutely sure they’ll do what their developers claim they’ll do and do not have any security or performance issues.

I also tend to only recommend free programs that fall into the following categories.

Basic programs offered by vendors in the hope you’ll eventually subscribe to their more sophisticate suites. AVG Free Anti Virus is an example. A more than adequate security program if you adhere to David Keller’s Rules for Safe Computing, but one that doesn’t offer all the features of their anti virus suite. A suite to which they’ll periodically encourage you to subscribe.

Programs in development primarily for corporations but offered to the public for publicity and/or feedback. Secunia PSI is an example. It’s an extraordinary program that automatically patches your programs and identifies insecure and end of life programs. A utility being developed for corporations, but is currently available as a free download to the public. A way to gain public awareness and generate user input.

Open Source programs. Free programs such as OpenOffice comparable to Microsoft Office at $400 to $500, Audacity comparable to Total Recorder at $17 to $36 and Paint.net comparable to Corel Paint at $400.

Programs by respected independent developers who have successfully sold their software to brand name vendors. It’s my impression Revo Uninstaller is a product developed by a well respected independent developer. A program I’ve found to be an excellent utility.

Proprietary freeware by talented programmers. Irfanview is a classic example. Introduced in 1996 it has become one of the most popular free image viewer, editor, image converter and video/audio player - ever. In fact, its developer has made a fortune from the voluntary contributions he’s received from satisfied users.

And of late, programs that will probably be included in a new computing concept. Google’s Picasa is an example of a free, quality digital photo organizing and basic editing program that will undoubtable be one of the software programs Google will offer on their "Cloud". The name they’ve given to their project that’ll ultimately provide all the resources we’ll need to compute exclusively on the Internet rather using programs installed on our computer.

I suggest before you purchase a commercial software program, you seek out free alternatives. You just may save a bundle!

Here's wishing you a Good Boot.