IN PRAISE OF FREEWARE

In this age of get-it-while-you-can cynicism, it is nothing short of wondrous that some people still offer valuable products for little or no money. A quick search of the Net turns up dozens of nifty freeware and shareware utilities whose authors receive far too little recognition for their efforts. In most cases these utilities are created by very talented people who have voluntarily asssumed the task of improving products that the Big Boys (like Microsoft) make millions on. Below are three outstanding examples of such utilities in the Windows 95/NT realm. Thanks guys!

• Arachnoid.com
  Paul Lutus is the proprietor here. He offers a number of well-crafted and extremely handy programs of which Arachnophilia is my favorite. This flexible and powerful html editor is all I use for web page creation. In return for taking advantage of his handiwork, Paul asks only that you stop complaining and be more considerate of others! So what is he, some kind of aging hippie or something? Maybe so. But I find his attitude refreshing and his programs first rate.

• Vector Development
  I don't know who runs this outfit, but he or she offers one free utility that I've come to depend on. It's called DUNCE (Dial Up Network Connection Enhancement), and it greatly simplifies the process of getting online. This is the kind of tool that Microsoft could have incorporated into Windows years ago. But did they? Nooooooo. [To be fair, though, a utility with some of the same features is bundled with Internet Explorer 4.0 or better.]

• Software Design
  Many of author Gregory Braun's utilities are offered in both freeware and shareware versions. The latter will cost you all of twenty dollars if you decide to keep them beyond the thirty day trial period. The former have a few less bells and whistles for no cost at all. Due to our rapidly deteriorating eyesight, my wife and I have found that Greg's Screen Loupe—which can magnify any portion of the display up to eight times—is a great little utility.

  [NOTE: For those who are unfamiliar with the terms freeware and shareware, shareware requires some modest investment of cash after a reasonable trial period, while freeware does not.]