Software Explained - Sunshine Coast Home Computer User Guide.

Software, one of the most exciting parts of you new computer. Software controls everything you do on your machine. If you want to write a letter?, you will need software, play a game? ,you will need software, run a business? the right Software is needed. It is what tells the computer what and how to do it. Today's computers usually come bundled with software, some of it you wont use, and the rest is so necessary. Lets look at some of the software in detail.

1. The Operating system.(OS) Without this, when you turn your machine on, you would have a blank screen with a c:\ flashing in the corner. There are a few company's providing OS's, the most popular is Microsoft's 'Windows series'. Starting way back with 'Windows 1.0' all the way to the current, 'Windows XP' (XP stands for experience). You also have 'Linux' another outstanding operating system and if you have a Mac, you have a different 'OS' again.

2. Software helps you to do what you need to do more quickly. If you do your own tax, for example, you will need a program like MYOB (accounting software) or Quicken, Another great tax and business help. If your an artist, you will need a program like 'Paint Shop Pro' or Photoshop. These programs can do fantastic image manipulation and touching up you photos etc. Maybe you bought you computer just to play games. These games need to be purchased in PC software form before you can shoot the baddies, save the lemmings, or build your own civilization.

Maybe you are doing something right now that could be done faster and better if you had the right piece of software. Go to your local computer shop and talk to them, tell them your needs and you may just be able to save a lot of time with the right sort of software.

Most software is expensive and after just spending a lot of money on your computer system, the last thing you want to do is spend money on software. Fortunately, many software companies are aware of this and allow shareware or trial programs to be released. This software can be used just as it says, for either a trial period or is a cut down version of the full software package. These programs help us, the consumer to try the software out before we shell out the money to buy. Don't be fooled into thinking this software is not as good as the full version, as in most cases it is the full version that has a trial period of about thirty days. Below are some links to some very good shareware internet sites where you can find the software you need and try it for free.
Good Shareware Links:-
(Click here for-Simply The Best Shareware.)
(Click here for-Shareware Pick Of The Week.)

TIP:- Ever received an email that needed you to have a particular software program installed before you could open it? This problem is usually caused by the sender creating the email in a certain software program (usually Microsoft office) and the emails receiver not having the office program on their computer. Fortunately, the people at Microsoft have created 'viewers'. The viewer is just what it says, once you install the viewer on your machine you can view emails, letters, slide shows, data bases etc, without having to have the full version installed on your machine. Realize you will be able to view and not edit or change the email or letter, but it is sure nice to be able to view the e-mail that everybody is talking about. Follow this link to get your viewers and start reading some of your unreadable emails.
Microsoft Office Viewers:-
(Download The viewer You Need HERE.)