Jan
13
2009
Here are two additional advantages of free software which I neglected to mention in a previous post…
1. Users can easily download and try out different freeware programs without having to commit to buying an expensive software package. This way, if the program doesn’t meet the user’s needs or won’t work on his/her computer, it is easy to remove it and install a different one.
2. Freeware is more environmentally friendly and consumes fewer natural resources in manufacturing/distribution. Unlike with typical commercial software, there is no shipping, packaging materials, compact discs, or paper manuals involved.
Other advantages include its free availability, convenience, and often lower system requirements.
Jan
12
2009
Freeware computer programs can be distributed free of charge, and they perform a broader array of functions than commercially available software. However, it is important to avoid downloads containing spyware or viruses. While this is not as widespread a problem as some Internet users believe, it is safest to take the following precautions…
1. Try to avoid downloading freeware from disreputable web (and FTP) sites. Major sites like tucows.com and download.com are safe, but many small sites also provide virus-free software.
2. After you download freeware, always scan it for viruses with an antivirus program like AVG Free. Make sure that your antivirus program has the latest updates installed beforehand.
3. If the application causes your computer to behave abnormally, it is safest to fully remove it, disconnect from the Internet, and run a virus scan of the computer’s hard disk drive.
Jan
05
2009
Hv3 is a new web browser that is available for use with Windows and Linux. I recently downloaded and tested it…
The browser downloads and installs quickly (only 2.5 MB). It isn’t quite as user friendly as the major browsers, but is generally easy to use.
Hv3 is not compatible with as many websites as IE 7.0 or Opera 9.x, but it does load and display some sites more quickly. It doesn’t show Google Adsense ads, which probably helps to speed things up.
Unlike older versions of MSIE and Netscape, it can display the Yahoo homepage, as well as eBay search results, AltaVista.com, and most other sites I visited.
However, it lacks a lot of features like password memory or advanced options, and “forgets” custom user settings when it is closed. The bookmarking system could use some improvement as well.
Nonetheless, I plan to keep Hv3 and use it for accessing some types of websites. Future versions will probably correct the above-mentioned minor issues.
You can download Hv3 here. Just click on the EXE file after it is downloaded; no need for an “unzip” utility.
