Software Section

In this section I want to talk about software. Software is the fuel that runs our computers. Without software a computer is just an expensive doorstop.

In the early days of computing computers were very expensive but that would be the least of your costs. Setting it up with software was horrendously expensive. The first word processing program I saw demonstrated on an IBM machine in the 70s seemed marvellous but cost around $2000-$3000 and was very basic to word processors today.

In those days there was no free lunch; every bit of software had to be paid for. Today there is so much good software going free or very cheap.

A lot of free software is "Open-source".; that is, it is produced by a vast number of skilled programmers working together, and is excellent. It has caused other software manufacturers to drop their prices or even offer free versions of software, albeit including advertising.

It is worth doing a search in Google for "Open-source" and checking on Wikipedia for a full description.

Some of the Open-source programs I use are "Open Office", similat to Microsoft's "Works", Gimp a graphics program and of course "WordPress"

A sit worth visiting from time to time for open-source software is SourceForge.

Shed 18 is giving away FREE software for a time; no strings attached. Go here now to claim this quality software

Some of the software is shown in the right hand panel; there is more.

See the Shed 18 full range here