Five Shareware Must Haves

Keeping up with the constant influx of computer programs can be nerve racking. But if you know where to look those nerve racking programs can also be free. So I have listed the top Five Shareware Programs Must Haves.

5. Mozilla Sunbird. If you have a laptop and need to have your schedule handy at all times this program is for you. It is easy to download and set up anyway you choose.


4. Open Office. Lets face it, if you walk into Best Buy or Office Depot right now, you could find a copy of Microsoft Office 2007 for over 400 dollars. However if you want a program that does the same thing and is free, Open Office is for you.

3. iGoogle. Google, the mother of all things Internet, has a fully integrated system of bells and whistles that you can use at your leisure. There are too many things name here but Google is free also.

2. Tiny Spell. If you are an avid writer of emails or a frequent blogger this small unobtrusive program is for you. Just download and it will chime and change colors when you have misspelled a word.

1. Linux Knoppix. Did you know that you don’t have to run Microsoft Windows on your computer. Here is a free operating system. Just before you download this read the manual…please.

~Vale~

Find Cheap Computers Here!

If you are like me you want...excuse me...need a good deal on computers and computer accessories. This need made me do a search of epic proportions. Well more like an hour, but hey for the Internet that is almost like a lifetime. As a computer guy I know that the average person doesn't understand what they are looking for when purchasing a computer. So here are a couple of quick tips:

1.Do your homework. You do not need a two thousand dollar computer to play solitaire or check your email.
2.Mismatched computers are ok. If you have a black monitor with a beige tower who cares.
3.Box stores have an insane mark-up on their computers.
4.You can buy computers without the monitors, keyboards, or operating systems.
5.Never ever buy a computer when you need it.
6.Yes, you can get a good computer under 500 dollars.


Here are a couple of sites where you can buy refurbished computers at incredibly low prices. Why refurbished you ask? Well every computer right out of the box is already outdated. Believe it or not. So why pay full price for something that is already old.

If you want a Dell System here is their outlet
If you want a HP System here is their refurbish site
If you want systems under 300 dollars Tiger Direct is where you should look.

Good luck.

~Vale~

How to Change Internet Browsers

If you have been using a computer for any length of time you must realize that there are pop-ups, viruses, spyware, malware and a host of mutant toolbars waiting to infect your machine in cyberspace. Internet Explorer however has a perpetual flaw that allows these wayward items to exploit your computer. (Not due to poor design but time in service) However during this blog entry I will show you how to change internet browsers in a flash and offer you some suggestions on which ones to try. The most popular browser on the net besides I.E is the one I currently use is Mozilla Firefox.

Mozilla Firefox is an open source program that allows you the user to customize the browser for your usage and best of all it is free. This browser comes with a pop up blocker, about forty different themes or skins to change the look of your browser as well as a host of utilities that allows you trick out your browser. The first thing you have to do is download the browser package and then install it. After you install Firefox it will ask you do you want to make Firefox your default browser check “Yes.” It is just that simple.

Opera is also a free web browser that is not as interactive as Mozilla Firefox but better than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. It is of straight forward design with it tabbed browsing, pop-up blocker, zoom detail for tiny characters on websites and it can be skinned like Firefox. However Opera is limited to what utilities, if any, can be added to its browser and it free just like Firefox. Its download and installation process is just as simple as following the prompts and BAM you are up and running.

There are a host of free web browsers out there but Firefox and Opera are the two main ones The Apocalypse Papers recommends on its “How to” Monday. If you have any suggestions or comments about a free web browser please don’t hesitate to leave it in the comments section of this blog entry. And please don’t forget to subscribe to The Apocalypse Papers.


~Vale~