Tech Tools

When it comes to tech tools for the business world, I feel conflict. Microsoft and Adobe created great tools. However, I hate feeling beholden to one entity. Now with the shift to subscription models, it feels we’re stuck with whatever price they want charge. So, I feel a need to find alternatives.

There are some key open source tools I use regularly, and recommend. Below is my list:

• Firefox: Browser extraordinaire!
• Gimp: Open Source equivalent of Photoshop, image editing tool.
• OpenOffice: Full featured office productivity suite
• Scribus: Desktop Publishing
• Ubuntu: the most user friendly (in my opinion) of the Linux distributions.

Here’s a low cost option Adobe option: CS 2. No longer supported, but available for download. Use at your own risk, of course.

Below are some tools I use to troubleshoot and diagnose issues:

• Xfinity’s SpeedTest
• Malwarebytes Anti-malware Tool
• AVG – Antivirus
• WhoIs

AutoCAD Stuff:

• Have a CAD file but don’t have CAD? Autodesk has a free resource for you: Trueview.