 Help for PC users wanting to quickly and easily replace their existing pay-for and proprietary software with suitable free and open source alternatives. This page is a community service and does not venture into the ideological and philosophical issues, but provides practical, simple and easy-to-follow advice. SECURITY ALERT: Are You using the best and safest Browser? NOW! Keep up-to-date with Free Software News and Updates here:  Remember this site: 
| |||
| Step 1: Replace your MS internet browser with Open-Source Mozilla "Firefox" browser . During installation Firefox will ask you if you want to import all your existing MS Internet Explorer settings (Favourites, Cookies, passwords, etc.) Set Firefox to be your default browser. Don't un-install Internet Explorer; Microsoft has made it an integral part of many of its other applications and some of your other programs (MS Outlook, MS Office, MS FrontPage, etc.) may stop working! Note: Keep the number of sites you set up to be browsed with IE to a minimum to avoid problems with viruses, spyware, trojans and pop-ups. Immediate Benefits: Your internet browsing will feel un-changed, but from now on with less pop-ups, crashes, spyware, etc. 
As a bonus, you now can now use tabs when browsing multiple sites! Step 2: Replace your Virus Checker software with a free product There are a number of free Virus Checkers. One of the most reliable and popular is AVG. Download and install the latest version from http://Free.Grisoft.com (look for "AVG Free"). Make sure you enable automatic updating. (Note: A pay-for version provides some extra functions.)
Immediate Benefits: Your PC will be well protected from viruses - without any licence or renewal fees. Step 3: Replace your Spyware Checker software with a free product There are a number of free Malware/Spyware Checkers. The one we have found the most reliable and with very good reviews is AdAware 2007 Personal Edition. Download and install the latest version from www.Lavasoft.com Make sure you update it regularly. (Note: A pay-for version provides some extra functions.) Immediate Benefits: If you update and run AdAware regularly, your PC will be protected from spyware - without any licence or renewal fees. Step 4: Install PDF Reader More and more articles, papers and other documents are distributed in the "PDF" format. The advantage of this format is that it will display and print the same on any computer, operating system or printer. While not providing full authentication and security, distributing documents in this format does hinder accidental and mischievous alteration of the document. Download and install the latest version from www.Adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Immediate Benefits: You can view and print all documents in "PDF" format that you receive. Step 5: Access all your Instant Messaging (IM) contacts with one free program The "Miranda" (open source!) or "Trillian" free software allows you to chat with all your IM contacts (ICQ, Yahoo, AOL, MSN, Skype, etc.) using one program, rather than a separate IM client (eg. Yahoo Messenger, MSN, ICQ, etc.) for each. Download the free open-source Miranda program from www.Miranda.org or the free version of Trillian from www.CeruleanStudios.comm (a pay-for version provides some extra functions). Immediate Benefits: By combining all your IM contacts into a unified chat program, you can chat to all your friends and colleagues using one program (without losing the functions of the various IM/chat programs) and you also reduce the loading on your computer. Step 6: Make FREE phone and video calls with Skype Skype is free software that allows you to make free phone calls (Voice over IP "VoIP") to other Skype users; also calls to normal phones which cost ~$0.02/min and SMSs ~$0.11 each. Download for free from www.Skype.com. Click here for the complete Skype VoIP User Guide with introduction, problem solving help, hints and technical information. Although Skype is free, it is not open source; WengoPhone is an open-source alternative. Immediate Benefits: FREE phone calls to other Skype users; cheap calls to any phone. P Save our Planet - use Amazon's Green Products! Can't wait? FREE Amazon 2-Day Shipping for your whole household! The "Google Pack" Google also seems to have picked up on the idea of providing "Free & Open" alternatives to Windows products... The "Google Pack" includes FireFox, AdAware, Trillian, Adobe PDF Reader, etc: What is "Open Source" and what can it do for me? Some of the programs listed here are Open Source; here is the Official Definition of "Open Source". The Open Source Industry Australia (OSIA) the national industry body for Open Source in Australia. Get Open Source books and manuals from Amazon.com  and read the useful Open Source primers. Humour, anyone? Slashdot's Robin 'Roblimo' Miller is the author of "Point & Click Linux!" and loves to read analysts' and Windows users' reasons why Linux isn't ready for the desktop so much that once in a while he likes to turn the tables and write about Windows from a Linux user's perspective ... His article describing a Linux-user's one-week experience using Windows is quite funny ... Run Free and Open Linux Download the most user-friendly Linux: Kubuntu This includes the latest version of www.OpenOffice.org Comprehensive list of office suites (Wikipedia) Use Australian dictionaries from www.JustLocal.com.au/clients/oooau/ Some creators of Open Source programs appreciate a small donation, usually using a free PayPal account. | |||
| Today's Special Offers: Cool 3 SkypePhone !!! Compare Bank Loans Lowest % Credit Cards Win iPhone, Wii or Petrol FREE faxing from/to PCs! Domains from $0.99 |
| Useful Links |
| Skype User Guide Video Conference Easy: Build a Web Site What is HL7? HL7 Tools FREE Skype Download |
|
|
| Info Compiled by: |
| HL7 Systems & Services PO Box 857 AVALON 2107 Australia Ph.: +61 412 746 457 Fax: +61 2 9475 0303 E-mail: |
   Please contact us for any info to add to these FAQ! |