The best free software for soloists

One of the largest costs of starting and operating a small business is software. But before you rush out and purchase the standard proprietary software for each of your major functions, let’s take a look at some of the best free software.

With licenses, training and compatibility considerations, the software costs can quickly add up. One company that definitely has soloists in mind is Google. Over the last few years, Google has come a long way with their service offerings for small businesses and individuals. And best of all, as all their applications are free, they certainly speak our language when it comes to price!

Below is a list of the best free software options and observations for each of the main areas/categories in which we require software:

Operating system (OS)

This is the main piece of software which operates the hardware and software resources on your computer. Some popular examples are Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS. Microsoft Windows is by far the most widely deployed OS. Although Linux is a free alternative, unless you are keen to learn how to get around your computer from scratch, it’s probably best to stick with the tried and true mainstream product, Microsoft Windows. Depending on your needs, this may be the only piece of software you’ll need to fork out cash for.

Word processor and spreadsheet

Google Docs & Spreadsheets can cover both the word processor and spreadsheet functions pretty well. It is an online web application that allows you to create and edit documents via your web browser. It isn’t as feature-rich as Microsoft Office but is rapidly catching up and certainly has some unique advantages. You can save documents in a variety of formats to your own computer or to Google’s servers, tag and archive documents, share documents with other users and even collaborate in real-time on specific documents with other registered users. You don’t even need to use your own hard disk! And best of all, Google Docs & Spreadsheets is free. Other options include OpenOffice.org or StarOffice. Both are free, open source software packages (meaning they’ll run on any operating system platform) and in terms of functionality and usability, they are catching up fast with Microsoft Office.

Email

There are many free email client applications and online services available today. You can consider anything from Outlook Express to Eudora or Google’s Gmail service if you don't mind accessing your email via a web browser. In fact if you plan on being on the road often, it is probably wise to sign up for a Gmail account. That way, you’ll have no problems with access. All you need is a web browser.

Calendar

Google Calendar lets you synchronise your calendar with other popular calendaring applications as well as some mobile devices, although the synchronisation software may cost you a little bit of money depending on the vendor.

Task specific software

Sometimes we require software that carries out specific tasks, like project management, flowcharting or specific number crunching operations. I would strongly suggest using open source solutions for all your task specific requirements. Since most readers of this article are likely to be using Windows, why not have a quick browse of the Open Source Windows website which lists several open source software applications. While this is a good start, it is by no means an an exhaustive list.

Desktop / bringing it all together

If you decide that you’ll make use of the Google services mentioned above, why not go one step further and set up your own personalised Google homepage? This will allow you to create a shortcut to the Google features that you plan on using frequently and you can use it much the same way as you’d use your Windows desktop.

This should at least provide you with a primer for alternatives to proprietary software and help you keep software costs down while you’re starting out.

If you know of any other useful free software, post a comment and let us know.

Paul J. Morris is an information systems strategist. This incredible title means that he helps businesses become more efficient at what they do while keeping them on track with their goals.

22 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 4 | Next» View all»

Does this mean we can say goodbye to Microsoft AND save heaps of money? Would anybody want do that? Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
No, we can't say goodbye ... Depends on what you call 'major functions'. Software programs are 'tools' for the job. I have found that I have to keep all my software up-to-date with the latest versions in order to open or read files that are sent to me by clients. Particularly as I cross platforms from PC to Mac and back again with clients. That includes all my professional design programs and MS Word for opening client files. Also, my main problem is not with Windows, but with the security and anti-virus programs that put unnecessary stuff on your computer and use up memory. Security and Anti-virus is where free software may be better than the proprietary ones ... Karen from Springwood NSW
To these I'd have to add Google Desktop Search. It's now available for Macs as well as PC's and it's marvellous. Finding any file or document on your computer has never been easier. Robert Gerrish from Flying Solo | Read my articles
Google Calendar has been a great resource for me. But I'm still stuck in the old ways with MS Office and Outlook.
NetVibes has really been a revelation for me as it's a home page on steroids - so many ways you can use it. I highly recommend it.
Martin Neumann from Melbourne
I've found some free pdf software which is reliable and very easy to use, and it lets you create a pdf from any application you might be using. PrimoPDF is available for free download at www.primopdf.com
It beats having to pay for the equivalent Adobe software. Matt Stace from Balmoral, Australia
I agree, PrimoPDF is very good and easy to use from any application. I also like Open Office: www.openoffice.org which is a complete office suite including spreadsheet, word processor etc... It's compatible with Microsoft and just as easy to use. Eva Pettifor from www.darwinwebdesign.com.au

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