The 5 Best Free Software Downloads for Students

That new laptop was expensive enough. Why pay an arm and a leg for all the software you need to make it functional? Fortunately, there's a jaw-dropping amount of free software available on the web if you know where to look. Unlike, say, Microsoft Office, it's free. Also unlike Office-- it actually works.

1. Browsers
Okay, so even people living under rocks, in caves, or on Mars have heard of Firefox by now. It's a great and more secure alternative to Internet Explorer, but have you tried Chrome? Google's shiny new browser offers most of the accessibility of Firefox and it runs much faster.
Windows/Mac/Linux compatible.




2. Office/Word Processing
There are at least two great programs offering every feature of Microsoft Office for free: Open Office, compatible with all operating systems, and NeoOffice, which is designed specifically for Mac users. (Hey, that Mac was expensive enough; you don't want to pay extra just so you can open all the .doc or .docx files people insist on sending you.) Both Open Office and NeoOffice allow you to create text documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, and more. They have all the same tools and functions, but without the creepy paper clip.
You can even try using GoogleDocs in lieu of actual software. And then you'll be able to access all your assignments from any computer.

3. Design and Image Editing
Hands down, the best free Photoshop alternative is Gimp (GNU Image Manipulating Program). It can do just about everything Photoshop can do, and the price is...oh, that's right. There is no price. Best of all, it's compatible with all operating systems. Even Linux users are in luck!

4. Video
VLC is a great application that will play any video or audio file format you can think of with very little fuss. Much more reliable and comprehensive than Winamp, Windows Media Player, DivX, or Quicktime.
Windows/Mac/Linux compatible.

5. Anti-Malware/Spyware
Now that you have that nice laptop with all your important files and assignments on it, you'd better protect it. (Mac and Linux users-- you're off the hook for this one; PC users-- pay attention).
PandaCloud Antivirus
Recommended by PC World, PandaCloud is widely considered to be the best free antivirus software out there. It detects problems using your internet connection, so you don't need to update or download massive files to keep it current.
AdAware has the capability to detect patterns in malware threats, and you can set it to handle problems automatically. While upgraded versions do cost money, the basic version is free.
Avast! Free Antivirus improves with every new version. If there's trouble brewing within your PC, Avast! will find it at no cost.