• Microsoft Security Essentials

    Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

    Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple
     
    REQUIRES WINDOWS XP or newer Operating System
    http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

    iAntiVirus
    Free Anti-Virus for your Mac.  Designed for Mac OSX with protection for Mac specific threats.
     
    Not for use with OS 9.x or below
    http://www.iantivirus.com/

    Open Office.org - Complete Office Suite
    Open Office.org is a complete office suite that is simular to Microsoft Office Professional.  This suite of software will allow you to open, edit and save files compatible with Microsoft Office and other popular office applications. It includes a word processor, spreadsheets, database, presentation software and more.
     
    Simular Applications:
    Microsoft Word - Writer | Microsoft Excel - Calc
    Microsoft Access - Base | Microsoft PowerPoint - Impress
     
    Also includes - Math -  for making making equations and formulas
    and  - Draw - for making anything from simple diagrams to 3D Illustrations
     
    This software is available for Windows, Mac, Linux users
    http://www.openoffice.org/

    Freemind - Mindmapping and Brainstorming software

    FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map) software written in Java. The recent development has hopefully turned it into high productivity tool. We are proud that the operation and navigation of FreeMind is faster than that of MindManager because of one-click "fold / unfold" and "follow link" operations.

    http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

    Windows Live

    Download free applications from Microsoft for your Windows based PC.  Includes Messenger , Mail, Writer (for blogs), Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Toolbar and Family Safety software.

    http://download.live.com/

    NVU - Web Design

    NVU is a complete web design software program which compares to Microsoft FrontPage and Adobe Dreamweaver.  It includes editing and web management tools and is available for for free to Windows, Mac, and Linux usrers.

    http://net2.com/nvu/

    The GIMP - Advanced Image and Photo Editing

    GNU Image Manipulation Program.  This is a high-end image creation and photo editing program simular to Adobe Photoshop and Jasc Paint Shop Pro.  This program is free for Windows, Mac, and linux users.

    http://www.gimp.org/

    Scribus - Desktop Publishing

    Professional Page Layout and Desktop Publish software capable of importing projects made in programs such QuarkExpress, Adobe Indesign, and Microsoft Publisher using EPS, PDF and SVG files.  Open source support for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

    http://scribus.net/

    PDFCreator
    Use this software to turn any printable document into a PDF Document.  PDF documents are viewable by the free Adobe Reader program which is available on any platform.
     
    This software will create a new printer, and then you can print your document to that printer and it will turn it into a PDF document.
    http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

    Adobe Reader

    Adobe Reader is a free program for all platforms to allow the viewing, printing and more of PDF (Portable Document Format) files.

    http://www.adobe.com/reader

    Audacity
    Audacity is a free program for the creation of audio files and audio podcasts.
    It is available for Windows, Mac, Linux and other Platforms.
    http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

    LAME MP3 encoder

    The LAME MP3 encoder will allow you to save any audio file that you create with Audacity into an MP3 format.  This will allow you to embed your audio productions in a web page, podcast, or even allow for distribution to iPods and other portable devices.

    http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/

    GNUcash

    GnuCash is personal and small-business financial-accounting software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL and available for GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. (Compare to Microsoft Money, or Intuit Quicken)
    Designed to be easy to use, yet powerful and flexible, GnuCash allows you to track bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses. As quick and intuitive to use as a checkbook register, it is based on professional accounting principles to ensure balanced books and accurate reports.

    http://www.gnucash.org

    Gantt project
    This is a free project management software simular to Microsoft Project.  It also includes an import feature to allow the use of Microsoft Project files in this program.
    You can run a live demo from their web site by clicking the launch button. (Java required) or, you can download and install the program on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
    http://ganttproject.biz/

    Ubuntu
    Ubuntu is a community developed, linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.
     
    Download this in ISO format, and burn it to a CD. You can then boot from that CD and explore this operating system and all it's tools with this "Live CD"  If you like it, you can then choose to install it.
     
    Ubuntu - Made for Humans.
    http://www.ubuntu.com