Computersight -

The most of us commonly use commercial software programs. Sometimes licenses of commercial software programs are expensive. Here, you have an alternative: freeware programs. Before you consider use a freeware or not, you need to analyze the following points:

Free vs Paid

First, you need to understand what is a freeware. It is a software that you can download, use, copy, upgrade and share unlimited at no cost. Sometimes, freeware website ask you for voluntary donations. When you use commercial software you paid for use, download, copies, licenses, and upgrades. Examples of freeware programs are OpenOffice, Gimp, Open Workbench, alternatives to Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Project , respectively.

Paid Support vs Collaboration communities

When you buy a commercial software, the seller gives support about installation, manuals, uses, extensions, etc. This support can be online, by e-mail, by phone or personality, depend of the company, contract agreement with the client and locations of his offices. If you use freeware programs you can get support in collaboration communities or forums in the freeware websites. Manuals, extension, etc. are prepared by voluntaries of the community. In several freeware websites if you consider forums or collaboration community supports is not enough you can ask for paid support in their website.

Full version vs Limited version

There are commercial software programs that have a freeware-limited versions. They limit some characteristics like: functions, numbers of items, file sizes, impression formats, etc. You can use this software with educational proposes or small projects. Also, there are old versions of software programs which are freeware programs. Sometimes several tasks you can do with one single commercial software, you need more than one freeware programs.

Standalone vs Collaborating Group

Some software programs are freeware for standalone or solitaire user. If you want to work in the collaboration environment, using intranet or internet, with more than one person working in the same projects, at different places, you have to pay for that application and its support services.

There are  several questions about freeware programs: Are they secure? Are they trusty? You can consider a freeware as alternative, if you are a student, freelancer or small company that cannot afford commercial software programs and manage small projects. You easily learn to use commercial software when you have used freeware programs. There are freeware programs very similar to commercials. On the other hand, using commercial software programs you give better image to your company.

The last thing, that I recommend to make a decision to use a freeware or not: Investigate in the internet the information about it, advantages, disadvantages, user opinions and forums of freeware downloads websites.