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Simple Software
A lot of software applications - including the big office 'suites' - often make doing a job more difficult rather than easier. There are, however, plenty of examples of built for purpose software which has been built by people who understand what people want to do and make it easy for them to do it.
Important Note: In 2005, we switched to our systems to Apple Mac. Since then, we have enjoyed a vastly more simple, more reliable and more pleasurable computing experience. It can be a big jump (though not as big as you might think), but it should be considered by anyone who values their time too much to be spending it maintaining their computer. (If, by the way, you think that a Mac will limit your access to software, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we are now using numerous applications which are simpler, more powerful - and generally cheaper - than their counterparts on Windows).
In the meantime, as most people still use Windows, the following is a collection of programs we used to use and still recommend* as as effective productivity improvers. Most of these are 'shareware': low cost downloads with a free trial.
Nelson Email Organiser: If you use Microsoft Outlook for email, this program makes organising, managing, filing and searching your emails a whole lot more efficient. This is what Outlook should have been. (The program sits 'on top' of Outlook so can only be used in tandem with that program. Note that it doesn't work with Outlook Express).
Copernic Desktop Search: Copernic is the desktop search facility that Windows Explorer should provide but doesn't. Searches instantly by keyword, as you type, finding documents, spreadsheets, PDF files and even emails. And best of all, it's completely free.
TaskTracker: Nicely complements Copernic by keeping track of the most recent files you've used. Much more powerful than the 'Recent Documents' list on the Windows 'Start' menu.
MailWasher Pro: Check your email before you download it. The 'bounce' feature allows you to send spam back to the sender unopened - and 'blacklists' the sender, automatically bouncing future mail from the same address. A good way of reducing the impact of uninvited emails.
FinePrint: An excellent paper- and ink-saving program which allows you to print two or more pages on one page, double-sided pages and lots more. Fineprint 'catches' your printing jobs on the way to the printer and allows you to decide how you want a particular job to look. Free trial version available
Firefox: Simply a much more powerful, quicker and more secure replacement for Internet Explorer.
Mind Manager: Mind-mapping is a great way to get your thoughts in order and this program helps you do it in a very user-friendly manner. Another mind-mapping program available locally in Australia is MindGenius
Picasa: By far the easiest way I have come across to manage all the pictures on your computer. Automatically catalogues both what's already there and anything you add in the future. Makes emailing pictures - with automatic compression - a breeze. This program is supplied free by the people behind Google.
Apple iTunes: Never has managing music and burning CDs been so easy. In Australia, the iTunes shop doesn't work, yet, unfortunately. But this free software - available for both Windows and Mac - is much simpler to use than any of its competitors I have come across.
Open Office : A completely free alternative to Microsoft Office. Word, Excel and Powerpoint files can be opened and files can be saved in these formats also. Certainly worth a look if you are not using valid MS Office licences on all you computers. This is a big download, but it is regularly included on the free CD-ROM provided with many computer magazines.
CityDesk: Needs a bit of website building knowledge to get started, but if you can do that this software is an excellent way of managing website content. Used for the articles section on this site - even updates our front page for us automatically when a new article is posted. Free version available
Palm: Okay, this isn't software, but the home of Palm hand-held computing. We love our Palm - it is the best diary and organiser we have ever used and works on an incredibly efficient platform.
* All recommendations are made in good faith but with no guarantees implied or otherwise. Use of any of these programs is entirely at your own risk and all support needed should be directed to the distributors of the software. We highly recommend that you install an up-to-date virus detection program prior to downloading anything off the internet.
