Top Ten Free Programs

1. OpenOffice.org 2.0 - OpenOffice is a powerful office suite that will allow you to create documents, spreadsheets, multimedia presentations, diagrams, databases, and mathematical equations. Compatible with other office suites like Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org is free for use commercially and privately.

Download OpenOffice.org

2. GIMP - GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages.

Download GIMP

3. AceMoney Lite - AceMoney Lite is a freeware personal finance manager. AceMoney Lite will allow you to track your spending habits, create and manage budgets, track investments, pay bills, and download and import information from on-line banks in QIF and OFX formats.

Download AceMoney Lite

4. McAfee Site Advisor - Helps keep you safe from malicous websites McAfee Site Advisor will perform a background check on the web page you are visiting and will alert you if the page is dangerous.

Download McAfee SiteAdvisor

5. File Shredder - If you work with sensitive data then you probably have worried more than once that the files you delete could be recovered by someone later. File Shredder will destroy files beyond recovery.

Download File Shredder

6. Cobian Backup - Cobian Backup can schedule and backup directories and files to either a drive on your local computer or to a network drive. There are two types of people in the world, those that make backups, and those that have never had a hard drive fail.

Download Cobian Backup

7. DrawPlus 4 - The amazing DrawPlus 4 is the user-friendly program that will enable you to achieve outstanding designs in no time at all. Create attention-grabbing text, decorative page elements and logos, as well as full-page illustrations, with little or no previous design experience.

Download DrawPlus 4

8. America's Army - A very well designed and entertaining first person shooter, America's Army is a first rate video game that is incredibly 100% free. Designed as a recruitment tool by the U.S. Army, players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and grow in experience as they navigate challenges in teamwork-based, multiplayer, force versus force operations. In the game, as in the Army, accomplishing missions requires a team effort and adherence to the seven Army Core Values. Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage and makes them integral to success in America's Army.

Download America's Army

9. Yahoo! Widgets - Seen the new Windows Sidebar that comes with Windows Vista but don't want to upgrade just yet? Now you can make Windows XP feel like Vista. Yahoo! Widgets help you save time and stay current by bringing an always-updated, at-a-glance view of your favorite Internet services right to your desktop.

The Yahoo! Widget Gallery offers over 4,000 desktop Widgets making your computer experience that much better.

Download Yahoo! Widgets

10. Microsoft Visual Studio Express - Learn how to design windows applications, games, and websites without having to spend a small fortune to get started. Microsoft now offers a version of their industry standard Visual Studio suite for free. Comes with everything you need to get started. Find answers to basic and advanced programming questions online. Visual Studio Express is perfect for anyone looking to take their computer skills to the next level.

Download Visual Studio Express

I hope you will find at least a few of my picks useful. All of the software designers that created them should be commended for their generosity. If you truly do find one of these programs useful, it never hurts to make a small donation via their official website so that they may continue to offer great software free to the public.