Geeks in Phoenix

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My four favorite free programs I always recommend

Updated July 28, 2024

As a computer repair technician, I get asked a lot of questions. Quite a few of them concern software I recommend. Since I am frugal, I will usually suggest free programs. So here are my four (4) favorite free programs I always suggest.

My 4 favorite free programs I always recommend

Free graphic programs

When it comes to graphics, everyone knows about Photoshop. And you have probably heard the phrase 'photoshopped' before. Photoshop has become the leading image editor.

But what if you cannot afford Photoshop? Well, there are other alternatives for image editing. And it just so happens that they are free, too.

Paint.NET

The user interface inside of Paint.NET 4.0

Paint.NET started as a free replacement for the Paint program that comes with Windows. But it has grown to be a top-line graphics editor that rivals Photoshop in terms of useful features.

Paint.NET has an intuitive interface and supports layers, special effects, and hundreds of plugins. It runs only on the Windows platform and requires the latest version of the .NET framework.

Click here for more information on Paint.NET

GIMP

The GIMP user interface

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is another alternative image editor for Photoshop. It has a complete set of editing tools, including layers, channels, and over 100 plugins.

GIMP is part of the GNU Project, which is open-source, so you are encouraged to participate in its development. GIMP will run on Windows, OS X, and GNU/Linux operating systems.

Click here for more information on GIMP

Free productivity programs

OpenOffice

The main screen inside of OpenOffice 4

When it comes to productivity software, there is one question I regularly get, "Is there an alternative to Microsoft Office?". I always respond with, "Yes, Apache OpenOffice. And it is free.".

Apache OpenOffice is another open-source project comparable to and compatible with Microsoft Office. With OpenOffice, you can open, edit, and save all Microsoft Office file formats.

It has Writer, a word processor equivalent to Microsoft Word; Calc, a spreadsheet program comparable to Microsoft Excel; and Impress, a multi-media slide-show presentation program equivalent to Microsoft PowerPoint.

It also includes Draw, a graphic program equivalent to Microsoft Paint, and Base, a database program comparable to Microsoft Access. Versions of OpenOffice are available for Windows, OS 10, and Linux operating systems.

Click here for more information on OpenOffice

Free anti-spam program

MailWasher Free

E-mail is the most popular way for hackers to attack your computer right now. All they have to do is get you to open a bogus email in a web browser or e-mail client.

But with MailWasher Free, you can check your mail securely. MailWasher Free downloads nothing but the text of your e-mail. By default, it will not download attachments or display HTML-formatted mail. It will render HTML e-mail only after you get a security warning.


You cannot use MailWasher Free as an e-mail client since it does not have an e-mail editor. It is just for deleting unwanted mail on your mail server—that way, the unsolicited mail never makes its way into your browser or mail program.

Now, MailWasher Free is supported by ads inside the program itself. If you have more than one e-mail address or want to avoid the advertisements, you may want to consider purchasing MailWasher Pro.

Click here for more information on MailWasher free

Eliminate spam from your inbox with MailWasher Pro 7.5

When it comes to communication, e-mail is the fastest and easiest way to exchange thoughts and ideas. But it can also be one of the quickest ways to spread viruses/malware too. But you can protect yourself and your computer by using MailWasher Pro 7.5 by Firetrust.

About screen inside MailWasher Pro 7.5

MailWasher Pro is an anti-spam program that allows you to view your e-mail without worrying about setting off a virus. How does it work? It merely downloads only the text of the e-mail, not any of the links or attachments. It then allows you to delete any unwanted e-mail right then and there. That way, spam e-mail never makes its way into your inbox.

View of Inbox inside of MailWasher Pro 7 dot 5
View of Inbox inside of MailWasher Pro 7.5

MailWasher Pro also has some great built-in tools to help you figure out what is good e-mail and what is spam. The Origin of spam tool checks blacklist databases for known spam servers (you can edit the list). MailWasher Pro also checks the FirstAlert online database for known spam e-mails.

Origin of spam shows this mail came from a blacklisted IP
Origin of spam shows this e-mail came from a blacklisted IP

MailWasher Pro also has a Friends list and a Blacklist, which allows you to specify which individual e-mail addresses are good or spam. And with Filters, you can create wild-card rules to even further screen out the junk e-mail. MailWasher Pro 7.5 includes improvements in the way it handles IMAP mail accounts.

There is a free version of MailWasher Pro called MailWasher Free that has a limited feature set. MailWasher Pro allows you to use multiple e-mail addresses, has a recycle bin, a full preview pane, and technical support. And if you use the MailWasher Mobile app, you can sync e-mail accounts, friends list, and blacklist from MailWasher Pro. Both versions work with Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, G-mail, and every other mail program.

For more information on MailWasher Pro or MailWasher Free, follow the links below.

MailWasher Pro
MailWasher Free

Free computer diagnostics

Repairing a PC can sometimes be expensive, and that is why we offer free basic in-shop diagnostics. Give one of our professional and experienced technicians a call at (602) 795-1111, and let's see what we can do for you.

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Here at Geeks in Phoenix, we take pride in providing excellent customer service. We aim to give the highest quality of service  from computer repair, virus removal, and data recovery.

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Repairing a computer can be time-consuming. That is why we base our in-shop service on the time we work on your computer, not the time it takes for your computer to work! From running memory checking software to scanning for viruses, these are processes that can take some time.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (602) 795-1111  and talk with one of our Geeks. Or you can send us a message from our contact page , and one of our Geeks will get back to you as soon as possible. Or you can stop by and see us. Here are our hours and location.

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