New Computer? Need Apps? Enter Ninite.
If you're like me, you may have just purchased a Windows 7 machine. Once you find and buy a new computer, the "helpful" staff may suggest software you should buy to install on your new machine (and give them more commission). Before you splurge a few hundred dollars more, you should check out Ninite which lets you download several free and open source programs all at once.
The simple interface splits the software into several categories (Web Browsers, Messaging, Media, etc.). Just check off the programs that you wish to download and install and press the large green "Get Installer" button all the way at the bottom. Save the installer to your desktop and run it. It installs everything with no need for user input.
Ninite Easy PC Setup
I tried this to download three pieces of software and it worked seamlessly. This should be the first stop for anyone looking for new (free) applications for their systems.
Wanna Type Faster?
Sitting at a computer has made everyone a typist. If you want to be able to work proficiently, you should probably look into... I don't know... learning how to type! Typing tutor software has been around for as long as I can remember (Who doesn't remember those old DOS programs? Anyone?). Software can typically run you from between $10 and $50, but why pay for something when a community of programmers can offer you something just as good but for free? Enter the open source program TypeFaster Typing Tutor.
TypeFaster User Install
The beauty of this little gem is that you can setup multiple user accounts and track your progress and even use it in the classroom. There is a Teacher mode which allows you to view the progress of all the accounts (During the install you have to select Multiple Users and Support for Teachers). If you add multiple users, once you open the program you'll have to setup a new user (or teacher) before you can begin (single users can ignore this).
TypeFaster GUI
The user interface is dominated by an onscreen keyboard which highlights the key you should press in red. A white text box displays your cursor underneath the character you need to type as well. There are several built-in lessons and the software also lets you make a customized one. You can track your progress and even play a typing inspired jet fighter game.
I have used this at several computer labs and have had much success with it. One of the draw backs I have seen with similar programs is that there is too much flash. This can cause a distraction especially with younger children. This program does what it is supposed to do and does it well with a simple interface.
And the award goes to… Portable Apps!
Since it's big win at the 2009 SourceForge Community Choice Awards, I thought we should take a look at one of my favorite Open Source Projects.
I use a variety of software and time and time again when I'm at work I find myself using this one quite a bit. The software I'm talking about is Portable Apps. Like it sounds, it is software on the go. It can be run from any USB Drive or even an iPod connected via USB. What would the advantage of this be? Say you need to print a word document at a friend's house... then you come to realize that your friend doesn't have Word or OpenOffice. You're up a creek without a paddle... right? Wrong! The very same USB Drive that you have the document on can now be used to run a portable version of OpenOffice. Pretty neat huh?
Portable Apps
Installing Portable Apps to you USB is straightforward. Download the installation file to your computer. There are a couple of choices to choose from; the Suite (with no Applications), Suite Lite (with an assortment of Applications), and Suite Standard (with the Suite Lite Apps plus OpenOffice). Once downloaded, plug in your USB drive and install the program to the USB's root (when you plug in your USB, it will be given a letter drive such as "F:\"). This could take awhile depending on which Suite you're installing. (For more info on installing the Suite and other apps check out their support section. )
Portable Apps has a wide variety of open source software in portable form that you can choose from. At last count they had 72 programs available plus the attractive suite to access them from. Programs range from the aforementioned OpenOffice.org to Gimp and utilities like 7-Zip. So be more productive... and don't be stuck without your paddle... err usb drive.
Featured Posts
Categories
- 3D Models (1)
- Apps (4)
- Editorial (1)
- Fail (3)
- Food (2)
- Free (19)
- Gaming (2)
- Mobile (14)
- Multimedia (15)
- Open Source (8)
- People (2)
- Polls (4)
- Transportation (4)
- Web (20)
