From Gmail to Microsoft Word, here are our favorite computer software. We use these programs daily and have generally try to keep them updated as much as possible. While it can get costly for some of them, they are definitely worth keeping.
1. Microsoft Office
No matter what people say, I've gotten to used to using MS Office, especially MS Word. Even though some people dislike it, I find that it works well, no matter what I plan on writing. In fact, it's my go-to word processing software. Student editions are most definitely worth it if you are trying to buy these.
2. Mozilla Firefox
Even though Google Chrome is supposed to be faster, I find that Firefox is a lot better for my uses. I use quite a few different extensions and add-ons, which aren't all available on Chrome, meaning that my browsing is more effective on Firefox.
3. Google Apps
From Gmail to Docs, Google makes some great software that's available on different platforms. Gmail has particularly revolutionized the way that I use email. I rarely delete any emails now, only archive. Google Docs is another app that I use daily. A lot of people share documents with me, and it's the way to check them out and contribute.
4. Adobe Photoshop
From editing , retouching, sharpening, photos and images, Photoshop is our go-to image processing software. I use Photoshop daily and would have trouble imagining using something different.
5. Adobe Acrobat Professional
When it comes to viewing, editing, and creating PDF documents, Acrobat is king of the hill. There are other programs that can do this, but Acrobat Professional definitely works better in our experience.
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Comments (5)
Not only is the stuff in the list some of the more expensive stuff, but also the basics.
For Mac users - ditch Office, and use iWork - it's $99 and fully compatible with MS Office. Data can be stored in the cloud at iwork.com - so there goes google.com. Also iWork is available on the iPad (which you show a pic of but do not talk about any apps for that). Or if you are well versed in computers get OpenOffice, which is free and use DropBox (also free up to 2gb) to store/share in the cloud. A MobileMe account ($99/year) will also get you the cloud features to share, not only documents but photos as well.
Firefox - for extensions, sure Firefox has had them the longest, but also Safari now has extensions and they are quickly catching up. Though in my opinion a web browser is a web browser, everyone should have 2 or 3 - b/c some sites still believe IE is the best way to look at things!
For Adobe Photoshop, for simple retouching iPhoto has stuff built in (i.e. red eye reduction) and such. Or get Photoshop Elements it's $99.
Acrobat Pro is a must, but if you are simply just filling out forms you can use SignMyPad (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/signmypad/id380299554?mt=8) for the iPad. It allows you to fill in text, the date, and even your signature right to your PDFs.
Justin Esgar
Virtua Computers
www.virtuacomputers.com
www.thebigappleblog.com
So do you not use a personal accounting software, or do you use excel?
How did you get your tasks to show up on the gmail screen like that. I love that and can't figure out how to set it up!
I'm more curious about the TPS reports he has to finish!
And the world he's taking over at anytime!
Favorite program of all time: Remote Desktop. I work at a huge university, and it's wonderful to be able to get into my computer and my files from anywhere on campus or off.