OmniFormat is a free document which allows dynamic conversion and image manipulation of over 75 file formats including HTML, DOC, XLS, WPD, PDF, JPG, GIF, TIF, PNG, PCX, PPT, PS, TXT, Photo CD, FAX and MPEG.
This utility converts files from most any format to most any other format. For example, it converts Word documents to image files and GIF files to PDF files.
The one “catch” is that it won’t work unless you install the company’s free PDF utility, which displays ads.
[tag]Freeware Utilities[/tag]
Anti-Spyware/Anti-Virus/Anti-Rootkit
Audio/Music/MP3/Real/Wav Real Alternative, AudioGrabber
Business/Office/Access/Excel/Word
Communication Skype, ePrompter, PuTTY
Files and Folders
Graphics/Images/Photographs Pixie, Picasa, Irfanview, Wink
Information/Fun/Misc
Internet
Performance/Recovery/System
Video/DVDs Quicktime Alternative, DVD Shrink, AviScreen
List of extremely useful free utilities that do specific jobs really well and save time and money.
[tag]Open Source Applications[/tag]
List of extremely useful open source applications and utilities available free under various licenses.
Microsoft SharePoint is an enterprise solution for collaboration and communication.
10 things you should know about Microsoft’s SharePoint Services (pdf).
Microsoft SharePoint made easy! Order Hosted Microsoft SharePoint from the World’s # 1 Web Host.
Free 3D drawing application and modeling program:
Google SketchUp (free) is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program whose few simple tools enable you to create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects – even space ships. You can add details, textures and glass to your models, design with dimensional accuracy, and place your finished models in Google Earth, share them with others by posting them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies. Google SketchUp (free) is a great way to discover if 3D modeling is right for you.
Are you trying to coax more life from aging hardware? I suggest taking a look at one of the smaller Linux distributions. They work well in lower-powered, smaller, older systems, and at the same time, are technologically up to date. And they are FREE!
For example there is the Puppy Linux distro, perfect for enabling the continued use of older, slower hardware. As one satisfied user commented:
Just letting you know you have saved three old computers at my home …your Puppy wokeup the unwakeable. Thank you. We now have a totally Bill Gates free house, and my young ones take pride on that fact.
Puppy Linux is fast, powerful and tiny and it is easy to get running, and has excellent hardware-detection routines. If your goal is to keep older hardware useful in today’s world, then something like Puppy Linux is an awesome little distribution.
Prerequisites for using Boot Camp.
1. An Intel-based Mac (MacBook Pro, iMac or Mac mini model) that uses Intel CPUs. Boot Camp does not work on PowerPC-based Macs.
2. The keyboard and mouse must be connected via USB or integrated in your Mac. Boot Camp does not currently support wirelessly connected input devices.
3. The Mac hard drive must have at least 10GB of free disk space. 20GB or more is better if you intend to install several Windows applications and regularly use Windows XP.
4. Before running Boot Camp, you must upgrade your Mac to OS X Tiger 10.4.6.
5. Before running Boot Camp, you must upgrade your Mac’s firmware to the latest version. Download the update from the Apple Support Downloads page.
6. A blank, recordable CD or DVD, which will be used by Boot Camp to create a Windows XP drivers disc for your Mac.
7. “Full install” version of Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 2 is required.
Asterisk Logger is a handy tool to have when you need to reveal a password behind the asterisks to recover an ftp login. Other password recovery tools might be of some use.
