Freeware programs - four of the best
Jeff Dray
Published: 02 May 2002 18:00 BST
Being a skinflint from way back, free software holds a special place in my heart. In a previous article, I reviewed a couple of free office suite and e-mail alternatives, StarOffice and Pegasus Mail. On my continued quest for a bargain, I have found four more freeware products that I'd like to share with you: Opera, WS_FTP LE, MyVitalAgent, and IncrediMail. Each offers comparable if not superior performance to their commercial counterpart applications. Find out if one or all of these programs might be right for your organisation.
Opera
Opera is a fast and easy-to-use Web browser that I believe outperforms both Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape Navigator. It's available for free, so long as you don't mind the odd ad popping up once in awhile. (A non-ad-sponsored version is available for $39.) The installation was quick and trouble-free. Apart from the small pane at the top of the screen, it was very clear and uncluttered. The ad window is quite unobtrusive and actually very easy to ignore. In fact, I experienced fewer pop-ups during an average hour of Web surfing than I did with Internet Explorer.
When comparing load times with IE5, Opera really has the edge. Everything I looked at displayed quickly and properly. The Google link returned some speedy results to my search for "Jeff Dray." (Apparently, there is someone else with my name selling insurance in Philadelphia. He's no relation.) The built-in download manager also came in handy when I was downloading various other freeware packages to evaluate.
Using multimedia applications with Opera was no less satisfying, as I listened to the BBC world service with no problems. In fact, the audio stream took far less time to start than with IE and didn't suffer from those data-buffer breaks. And all this was on a 56 kilobyte dial-up modem. I can only guess what the performance would be like on a faster connection. If you suffer from slow download speeds and are considering an upgrade to an expensive broadband connection, try Opera first. While I'm not saying Opera offers broadband speeds on a 56k line, I found it to be significantly faster than IE. In fact, I was so impressed with my test of this browser, that I've made it my default browser.
WS_FTP LE
Another package I like is the WS_FTP LE file transfer client from Ipswitch. WS_FTP LE is the free version of WS_FTP Pro. It's available free to government employees, students or employees of educational institutions, and private individuals who wish to use it for non-profit purposes. Read this explanation for further usage information or check out the WS_FTP LE licensing information page.
What I like most about WS_FTP LE is its simplicity. It's a small download that installs in seconds. To initiate an FTP session, simply enter a profile name for the session, the host name/address, the user ID, and a password. Once a connection is established, WS_FTP LE presents you with an easy-to-use two-pane window: one pane for the local system and one pane for the remote system. Select the desired file from the appropriate pane, click the transfer button, and presto, the file is transferred.
I recently used WS_FTP LE to upload several HTML pages to a new domain I just purchased. When I was done, I just clicked Disconnect. What could be simpler?
MyVitalAgent
For those of you who regularly test Internet connections, MyVitalAgent from Lucent Technologies IP Services Product Group, formerly Quadritek Systems Inc., can be a real time-saver. This handy program monitors your Internet applications, such as your Web browser, e-mail system, DNS, and FTP, for any potential problems. MyVitalAgent will highlight where bottlenecks exist and recommend ways to improve your system's performance. Once installed, this tool gives a graphical display of your connection's condition. The display shows the number of bad packets, your upload and download speeds, and much more. MyVitalAgent works on DSL, cable, or dial-up connections. I found this program very helpful in fine-tuning my Internet connection.
IncrediMail
For those of you who want to brighten up your e-mail, try the IncrediMail e-mail client. While it won't suit every business environment, IncrediMail is a fun package that allows you to personalise your e-mail with backgrounds, sounds, animation, and even your handwritten signature.
It installs without difficulty and automatically imports the mail settings from your standard client. You can set IncrediMail to be your default e-mail program or just use it only occasionally. IncrediMail works with POP3 and SMTP mail servers.
If you support users who are nervous around computers, it might be just the ticket. It's user-friendly and not so intimidating. On the skin that I tried, when you click Send, the page folds up into a paper dart and is launched (sent), accompanied by the whoosh of a jet engine. IncrediMail's Web site offers a multitude of graphics, message notification animations, and wallpapers.IncrediMail is definitely worth a look from the home user or the tech who supports home users. It might also be considered if you want an easy-to-use, free mail client for home use.
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