List of best Free Software for Students Use
Fall 2008 is fast approaching, it is in the minds of all college students, college and university students. While the world prepares to buying the traditional school supplies rig our, but some people investing in a computer or laptop. With the democratization of these tools, you are increasingly likely to make that choice in order to be able to freely carry out your research in school, homework and write your memoirs typed or simply communicate and keep you informed. However, to be quite ready for this new year, we must not forget to prepare conscientiously your software package. Given the profusion of offers paid and free, it is often forgotten, taken lightly or simply poorly composed lack of knowledge.
That is why in order to simplify your life, Techarena writing thought to students of all ages, preparing for you the list of supplies software necessary to put in your bag digital retraction 2008. Walking through the six themes addressed in order of importance, office applications research and translations through the tools for courses, software security and data recovery, the utilities facilitate your job search or Programs still organizing agenda and managing a budget, you should surely find your happiness. We have deliberately taken the party to advise you only software easy to use, light, practical and above all free. For those who hesitate between a freeware and buy a pay solution, we are addressing the issue for the themes of security, encyclopedias and suites.
So do not wait and let your choice through our top free software from the beginning of 2008 for college, college and university students!
Office
Start with the inevitable and traditional thematic office. For a student, he is more than necessary to own, to start the school year, an office suite complete, reliable and easy to use in order to facilitate the drafting of your work and other written briefs. It will require not forget the essential tools to view various documents texts to specific formats and yet widespread, such as "PDF" and "docx".
OpenOffice.org
Nowadays, as far as personal work done at home, it is indispensable to have a good office suite and reliable. Many people invest in the Microsoft Office suite out of habit, mimicry or simply for its quality. But for all those who do not or can not buy this giant of the office, fortunately there are alternatives free of charge and free, perfectly meet the needs of college students, college and course students. For Windows and Linux users, we chose the excellent and experienced no less OpenOffice.org, combining the qualities namely free, and especially free ones. Forte development efforts provided by a responsive community, improving its usability and compatibility, OD has become in a few years as the most credible alternative to Microsoft Office. More than complete, this suite includes in addition to the word processor called Writer, a spreadsheet "Calc" equivalent to Excel, a mathematical formula editor "Math", "Impress" software equivalent of a PowerPoint presentation, "Draw "A vector drawing tool," Base "a database manager alternative to Access. OpenOffice.org remains a great value for students and schoolchildren seeking a free office suite and effectively offering a grip fast and simple. To install any emergency!
Download OpenOffice.org for Windows
Download OpenOffice.org for Linux
NeoOffice
On Mac users, we could very well offer OpenOffice.org, which once started is as effective as on other platforms. However, unlike NeoOffice, the current version is not natively developed, start requires the launch of the X Window System X11. Result, opening the program in Mac requires double time. You will not lose to the change, since NeoOffice is based mainly on the code of OpenOffice.org benefits and therefore its developments and new features. Although by using a Java virtual machine to integrate seamlessly with the Aqua interface, its use remains more than pleasant on the latest machines more powerful range of Apple. To find out!
Download NeoOffice for Mac
Foxit PDF Reader
Open a PDF file is one of the most mundane to achieve in the life of a student. Most of the time, platelets and other programs available for download at sites of universities and other organizations are proposed to this format. You are surely likely to think the classic Adobe Reader (Acrobat) regularly installed by default on many machines. We still want you to submit an alternative, free and ten times as much light, namely Foxit PDF Reader. Its main asset is to be lightweight and especially to allow a launch faster than its competitor. Indeed, memory consumption side, Foxit is far less greedy with only 6 MB used against Mo. He has 34, plus some additional options provided necessary interesting such as a research tool in the text of the "File" display full-screen, selecting text with a copy of extracts to the clipboard (disabled in documents protected) or adding annotations. To hold lectures for effective and expeditious!
Download Foxit PDF Reader for Windows
Docx2Rtf (NW Docx Converter)
When you receive an attachment via email or whether they work in teams under a common duty, it is still unfortunate that he could not open a text document format. Docx. Good news, a group of developers Americans appointed NativeWinds has thought of all those who wondered how to get to a document format. Docx without having the Office suite of Redmond. You will understand, the free Docx2Rtf (NW Docx Converter) that we offer here, you provide the opportunity to read, print or convert to a one-click fichier.docx in RTF. Its use is most children, especially small program that is portable and therefore requires no installation to run. Simply click on Open to open one or more files to the standard formats of Office 2007 (. Docx,. Dotx), OpenOffice (. Sxw,. Odt), or MS Works (. Wps). You'll be at your disposal several possibilities, namely print in color or greyscale, convert them into PDF files instantly, or save the format. RTF. Pending the 3.0 version of OpenOffice, which bear the default. Docx, this free application and portable is a small nugget of emergency to put in your bag digital!
Download Docx2Rtf (NW Docx Converter) for Windows
Should we prefer Microsoft Office to a free office suite?
In terms of office suite, Microsoft Office is a reference. However, the reference has a price, and students often have a limited budget, which could tip the balance towards the free office suites such as OpenOffice.org or NeoOffice. The arguments in favour of Microsoft are not non-existent anyway. So as OpenOffice. Org seems to run after the interface and features of Office 2003, Microsoft has made numerous improvements in Office 2007 (PC) and Office 2008 (Mac), including a completely redesigned interface. This last argument is a double-edged sword, because the interface of Microsoft, also ergonomic though it may be confusing for users familiar with previous versions, which plays in favour of OpenOffice. Org which is may be more familiar in this area. The problem of file formats also arises: at a time when we write these lines, OpenOffice.org is still incompatible with OpenXML formats introduced by Microsoft Office 2007. This will be the case with version 3.0 of the suite free. Finally, we must take account of awards: in addition to its Family and Student editions marketed at a price of 99.99 € for the 2007 version (Windows) and 111.20 € for the 2008 version (Mac), Microsoft carries out special operations in the direction of students. For the beginning 2007, it was possible to get the full version of Office 2007 for Windows at a very low price. At present, it is doubtful that Microsoft renews the operation.
Security and retrieving data
Security and retrieving data
While computer security is not the domain of choice among students. Unfortunately often neglected, it is essential to the health of your working tool and especially crucial for the protection of your data. It would be the unconscious, even suicidal, work on a PC without installing a series of effective security. For more clumsy and reckless of you, we've also prepared to resurrect what your documents deleted by mistake and a system of software protection against theft of your machine. Do good use, without neglecting the basic principles of vigilance.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
The first program that a student or college student must install on his work PC is obviously an antivirus. Otherwise, in the best case you to expose your machine slowdowns or even unavailable due to infection and, of course, at worst, the loss of your data. That is why we strongly recommend that you install an antivirus reliable and efficient. To satisfy the wider public, we selected AntiVirus AVG Free Edition, which even if not completely perfect in all respects, these features should amply sufficient to many users. Totally free, including a module antivirus and antispyware protection, offering regular updates, it now offers a new interface more ergonomic and accessible. Without dethrone the cadors pay its category, namely the excellent NOD 32 and Kaspersky, AVG is a preferred solution imperative to install on any machine work.
Download AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition for Windows
Malwarebytes Anti Malware
Also in the same vein, possess an anti-spy regularly updated and effective is equally important. That is why we advise you to also install Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. This reference in its field, free, you will eliminate a few clicks of the malware and other threats infecting your machines. The ergonomic interface consists of nine tabs, research, protection, updated quarantine, reports, exclusions, parameters, other tools. Two methods of analysis rather veloces will be at your disposal, a quick review scanning your system with a reduced detection and a comprehensive review carefully analyzing all your storage devices. The exploration and heuristic your machine is made of the registry file systems via the process loaded into memory. A module for updating database, containing 32319 signatures so far, will ensure reliable protection and updated almost daily. The icing on the cake, he worked for our greatest happiness, a practical tool in line with Unlocker, which will unblock the process preventing the removal of a file recalcitrant. To try !
Download Malwarebytes Anti Malware for Windows
Restoration
The worst thing that can happen to a student, apart from missing his exams, is to erase a text document containing an important duty to perform. After hours of work and concentration, a moment of bewilderment can happen quickly. This can become a tragedy can fortunately be corrected if handled early enough. Indeed, if you have the proper utility and respect for a few precautions, a document deleted from the trash is recoverable. Any good digital kit should contain one of these nuggets saving. We have selected for you, the aptly named Restoration, which is one of the few utilities recover deleted data to be free, accessible and the largest mobile. This little detail is of vital importance. Installing an application after your deleted files can definitely undermine all attempts at restoration. The installation process can rewrite the location where your content is valuable duty. Thus, it takes just a few clicks to launch the application preferably from a USB key. It will do more than start the research process. Side interface, could not be more simple and childish. You will be asked to select the hard disk or external device on which were various elements to resurrect. Once the scan is complete, a search engine keyword allows you to locate your files. The utility of an astonishing efficiency is therefore to download and keep carefully, hoping that you do've ever need!
Download Restoration for Windows
Laptop Alarm
The latest security problem that can meet a student is this time rather than software, but rather equipment. At the beginning, you more and more likely to invest in a laptop and "netbook" to work the fax or the library for your research. Indeed, move regularly in public places with a machine is a risk-taking and a constraint. Once installed, your precious PC can quickly turn into a valuable ball. To get out of this type of embarrassing situation and you avoid the unnecessary access paranoid, Laptop Alarm offers a few short moments of respite, you prevent the same opportunity to all attempts at flight. The configuration as the use of this application portable and free are a true child's play. Simply, as a first step, to run the program and set your password while selecting the choice variables of detections. Thus, an alarm will sound in case someone tries to disconnect the power cord from your machine, forcing its extinction or simply disconnect or move your USB mouse. Obviously, it will not stop the most furious and malicious, but the application has merit to propose a solution. To install any emergency on your mobile work, while not forgetting to simply be vigilant.
Download Laptop Alarm for Windows
Antivirus free or paid?
The free anti-virus are often attacked for their lack of reliability in relation to their commercial competitors (or in relation to paid versions of their own ranges). The products are actually complementary: just know what to expect basing its protection on a free antivirus, ie mostly to a minimum protection. It will not be seeking advanced features such as modules for protection against phishing, rootkits or parental control. Likewise, we must know that free anti-virus are not free of problems: Avast is particularly criticized for the many false positives it causes. However, we must admit that their performance has improved over the versions: AVG is notably reached a level of detection quite honorable. However, if you can afford to invest in an antivirus paying, it is obvious that neither AVG, Avast and arrive at the ankle of a Kaspersky Antivirus 2009 or a NOD32, both in terms of performance features.
Organization and budget management
Organization and budget management
To avoid the purposes of difficult months, and generally to manage the schedule, appointments or important dates (invoices, payment of rent, etc.), a small detour via the box download can be beneficial. As for budget managers, given that Microsoft has declared package with Money, the question of choosing between free and pay only arises even more, given the large number of applications free quite correct available in this category. Regarding agendas, there are also some free tools quite valid, but the solution lies perhaps the side of the web.
MaxiCompte
Among the multitude of managers budget available, it may recommend MaxiCompte, both free and easy to use. Rather complete and enjoying a pleasant interface with easily identifiable icons, you will propose a set of features satisfying the creation of one or more accounts to the arrest of operations through the display of graphs of your income and expenses . Features also include a timetable, management transfers and direct debits or printing account statements and bank statements identity.
Mozilla Sunbird / Lightning
Created by the Mozilla Foundation, Mozilla Sunbird calendar is complementary to Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird. Significantly less advanced than the latter two, Sunbird has not yet entered a final version. Nevertheless, it is already functional and offers an interface in the right line of a Outlook or an iCal, and notably to subscribe to calendars online, which may be convenient, especially for school holidays. If you are already using Thunderbird, you can also go through the extension Lightning, which includes the agenda for its Mozilla mail client, to make Thunderbird a little free Outlook, synchronization with PDAs and mobile phones less. Finally, if you use Windows, you will be able to take with you everywhere Sunbird using Mozilla Sunbird Portable, a version specially optimized to be executed directly from a USB key or external hard drive
Download Mozilla Sunbird for Windows and Linux
Download Mozilla Sunbird for Mac OS X
Download the Lightning extension for Mozilla Thunderbird (Windows, Linux and Mac OS X)
Kplan
If you are looking for a solution may be simpler and more affordable, Kplan Personal can be an interesting alternative. The interface is quite functional though a bit "old-fashioned." A timetable proposing several display modes - daily, monthly or yearly - you provide a clear and accessible from your schedule. In addition, the software offers a contact manager and electronic documents basic but correct. In short, a simple and complete
Download Kplan for Windows
Google Calendar: The best solution?
Using a local agenda is a possibility, but use an online calendar may be another. In the field, few are as comprehensive as that of Google: despite an ergonomics which requires a bit of time adjusting to a report by local application, Google Calendar offers very interesting features is the chance to subscribe to Multiple agendas as those of your loved ones, or share your own. If you also use Microsoft Outlook, you can even synchronize your Google Calendar with the latter through the Google Calendar Sync, developed by Google. Its interface is very minimalist and can choose his sense of timing (Outlook to Google Calendar, Google Calendar to Outlook and bi-directional) and the frequency of automatic synchronization. Everything works perfectly, but we regret the limitation of the software to schedule principal.
Download Google Calendar Sync for Windows