The Google Pack for Windows XP and Windows Vista Users
Ok, a real cheapskate would use a Free Operating system like Linux on their PC’s. However, nobody can deny that the Windows platform won’t be going away anytime soon. Linux might have evolved a lot, from the depths of the Geek-only difficulty level to the more mainstream “Little Knowledge Required” stage, but still, Windows dominate the market. There’s a very high chance that if you’re going to buy a 2nd hand computer, it will have a Windows operating system on it, and if that computer is around 2 to 4 years old, it would probably be Windows XP. However, for your PC to be more productive, you need a plethora of applications. The most basic of which would be an Office Suite, like Microsoft Office, so you can use your PC for word processing and other office stuff. Then you will need an Antivirus to safeguard your PC from software viruses. The list goes on. The most popular versions of these applications however are expensive. Microsoft Office for example, retails for about $150 - $200. McAffee’s Home edition Antivirus costs around $40. If you sum up most of the basic software applications you’ll going to need, it will probably cost you the same amount of money to buy a 2nd hand computer. Definitely not a CHEAPSKATE’s scenario.If you already have a PC with a Windows XP (or Windows Vista) operating system installed, you might be interested in getting Google’s Google Pack. This is a collection of the most common software applications all squeezed into one package. The best thing about it is that it’s free. All of the softwares included in the Google Pack is totally free – no ifs, no buts, and definitely no hidden catch. Here’s a rundown of what’s inside the Google Pack:
Google Earth
Google Earth is a software tool that provides you of a map right inside your desktop. Google Earth provides street maps, satellite images and even 3D-rendtions of buildings. For more information on Google Earth, click here.
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Provides a Google searchbox right on your Internet Explorer, so you don’t need to go to Google’s website everytime you want to search for something in the internet. It also provides buttons to some of the popular sites like Gmail and CNN. For more information about the Google Toolbar, click here.
Norton Security Scan
Norton Security Scan is a free version of the popular Norton Internet Security software. It will scan and remove viruses and Trojans from your PC. It will even scan your PC for potentially harmful spywares and adwares (although it will not remove it). Though it pales in comparison to the commercial version, it is still good enough for most computer users. For more information on Norton Security Scan, click here.
Spyware Doctor
A good companion to Norton’s security scan, Spyware Doctor will scan and remove spywares and adwares on you computer. Like the Norton security scan, this is a slimmed down version of a commercial software. Nonetheless, it offers most of the useful features of the commercial version - for free. For more information on Spyware Doctor (starter edition), click here.
Google Desktop
Google Desktop extends the functionality of the myriads of Google services right into your desktop. The most useful of which is having the power of a Google Search into your own computer. It can do a full text search on your computer for specific files, like emails and documents. Another neat thing about it is the gadgets feature. The “gadgets” are like mini programs that can show you various information you want right at your desktop. For more information on Google Desktop, click here.
Picasa
Picasa is a tool that can be used to view, organize, and search the Images on your computer. You can even move, rename, and rate your images. It can even provide basic Image editing tools such as red-eye removal, and color correction. The most powerful feature would be the ability to password protect a collection of images. For more information on Picasa, click here.
FireFox (with Google Toolbar)
FireFox is a great alternative to the Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser. You might think that since Windows XP already has a free web browser, why fiddle around and install another? Well, besides from it’s also free, it is more secure and faster than Window’s Internet Explorer. It also comes with a Google toolbar by default. The best feature in my opinion is the tabbed browsing experience. You can view multiple web pages in a single Firefox window, freeing up space in the taskbar. The only thing I don’t like is that the ‘Save Passwords” option is on by default (which you can easily turn off), which is not good if you share your computer with other people. For more information on FireFox, click here.
*There's also a link to download FireFox at the Right-hand corner of this Page.
Google Photos Screensaver
Google Photos Screensaver is like the Windows XP photo screensaver on steroids. Aside from being able to create a screensaver from the photos and images from your computer, it can also display those images through photo-sharing websites with some simple clicks of the mouse. It also has “Photo Feeds” which you can use to share to specific audiences, like family and friends. For more information on Google Photos Screensaver, click here.
Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader is a must have for all computer users, since most of valuable information in the web (like registration forms) are distributed using PDF files. Even most of the Documents and User Manuals of various Hardware products (Motherboards, Printers, Webcams, etc) are distributed using the Adobe PDF document. For more information about Adobe Reader, click here.
Google Talk
If you’re familiar with Yahoo’s Yahoo Messenger and Microsoft’s MSN Messenger, then you would have no difficulty with Google Talk. It’s an Instant Messaging application that you can use to chat with those who have a Gmail account. For more information of Google Talk, click here.
Skype
Skype offers free voice calls to another Skype user around the world. It can also deliver Video Calls. Albeit most of its features are already in Google Talk, it also offers phone calls to landline and mobile phones, not for free, but for a much cheaper price than any Phone carrier rates. For more information about Skype, click here.
Real Player
If you happen to have a .RM, .RMVB, or .RAM file, you may be wondering what those files are. Those are Real Player media files, and you’ll need Real Player to play/open those files. If you find yourself dealing with Real Player media files often, then you need to have Real Player installed in your PC. For more information about Real Player, click here.
*Personally, I don’t use Real Player, since I don’t come across Real media files that often. But if you do need to play Real media files, I suggest using Real Alternative, which will play Real media files, sans the Real Player.
Star Office
The last yet the most productive component in the Google Pack is the Star Office suite. This is a good alternative for the Microsoft Office Suite . Star Office has a commercial version that retails for $70, around $75% cheaper than Microsoft Office. It is compatible with Microsoft office, meaning you can open, edit, and save Microsoft Office files. I don’t know yet what’s the difference between the retail version of Star Office and the Free version included in the Google Pack. For more information on Star Office, click here.
*I was having a terrible time installing Star Office through Google Pack, so I went ahead and got for the best Microsoft Office alternative – Open Office. Star Office is actually the commercial version of the Free Open Office suite, so whatever essential tools included in Star Office, I am pretty sure it is also in Open Office. I’ve been an Open Office fan for almost 2 years now, and I highly recommend it. I am currently writing this blog on Open Office’s word processor – Writer. For more information on Open Office, click here. I highly suggest you download a copy.
Google Pack is a good collection of most of the very essential software applications that an average everyday computer user needs. There are other alternatives out there that are also free, and maybe even better than the Google Pack components, but Google Pack saves you a lot of time and effort since the software are already in one installation package. Google Pack also lets you choose what components you want, you don’t have to install all of the components. Another good thing about it is that whenever you need help or information on any of the Google Pack components, you only need to go to one website. It’s really a CHEAPSKATE PRODUCT worth taking a look at.
For more information on Google Pack, click here.
You can download Google Pack here.
