Description:  Netscape 7.1 includes Netscape Navigator, Netscape Mail, Netscape Instant Messenger, Netscape Composer, and Netscape Address Book. Netscape 7.1 offers Java for running web applets, Nullsoft Winamp for audio playback, and RealPlayer8 for streaming media.  Free Program.  See Netscape What's New.

Requirements: Computer/Processor: Pentium 233 MHz or higher. On Operating Systems Windows 95, Windows 98, NT, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Linux and Unix.  Memory: 64 MB of RAM. Hard drive space: 26 MB.

Description:  New features in Internet Explorer 6 include Web privacy tools (P3P), error correction for upload to Microsoft, image toolbar for email and pictures, media toolbar for locating and playing media, auto image resize for resizing pictures for the screen, and Outlook Express, a popular email client. Web-based applications have enhanced support for DHTML, CSS level 1, and DOM level 1.  Free Program.  See Internet Explorer FAQ.

Requirements: Computer/Processor: Pentium III or higher. Operating Systems: various Windows  128 MB of RAM minimum. Hard drive space: 12 MB.

Description: Opera, unlike Netscape or Explorer, follows the HTML standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and is extremely fast.  Opera support all common Web standards needed to surf the web, including markup languages (HTML and XML), network and security protocols (HTTP, SSL and TLS), style sheets (CSS1 & CSS2) and programming languages (ECMAScript, Javascript and DOM).  Opera 7 has been released for Windows. Linux, EPOC, Mac, Solaris, Handhelds, Free BSD, BeOS and others..  Features include instant messaging, integrated search, presentations, WAP searching, email, and integraged Java.   Free Program with Ad Banner otherwise US$20 educational, US$39 otherwise. 

Requirements:   Computer/processor: 486SX with 8 MB memory or higher. Minimum install: about 2.24 MB without Java, 10 MB with Java.

Description:  Free media player plays CDs, DVDs, and all common media file types including streaming audio, video, animations, and multimedia presentations on the web.   Windows Media Player FAQ

Requirements:  Available in different versions in different languages  for Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, 98 SE, 95, NT4, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Solaris, Pocket PC, palm, and various handhelds.

Description: Free media player plays CDs, DVDs, and all common media file types including streaming audio, video, animations, and multimedia presentations on the web.  Click on "Free" player. Reported to include "spyware."

Requirements:  Older Versions no longer supported include versions in different languages for Winddows 2000, ME, 98, 98 SE, 95, NT4, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Linux, and Unix.

Description: ICQ is one of the most popular internet communication programs.  ICQ enables you to communicate with other computer users while using other programs. You are alerted when friends log in. ICQ includes chat, message, e-mail, URL and file transfer, and the ability to link to other peer-to-peer applications (interest groups).  Free Program.  Same as 2002b with bug fixes, Expanded Search Functionality and Keyword Search , New Email Signatures, Enhanced User Preferences, Improved Firewall Support and Detection , Improved Integration with Microsoft XP. Also Available ICQ Lite.  Reported to include "spyware."

Requirements: Computer/processor pentium class and Windows 95, 98, NT, or Unix. Minimum install about 5 MB.

Description: This utility lets you view and print Adobe PDF files which usually occur on web pages that have special symbols. The Reader allows you to view, navigate, and browse PDF files inside a Web browser or in a standalone viewer.  Free Program. User Guide (pdf).

Requirements:. Computer/processor Pentium and Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98 SE, 98, NT, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Palm, Linux, and Unix. Install about 70 MB. 64 MB RAM recommended.

Description: This graphical interface for Aladdin Ghostscript  is an interpreter for the Postscript language and PDF software. Ghostscript allows both viewing and printing the graphics in PostScript. Not  as robust as Adobe. Ghostscript FAQ.

Requirements: Windows, OS/2, or Linux.  Minimum install with fonts about 6 MB.  Aladdin Free License.

Description: The most used compression tool for Windows, downloads and opens archives from the Internet with one click, if you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. WinZip works with several different file formats including Zip, ARJ, LZH, gzip, TAR, and CAB files.  Shareware:  about $30 for license. WinZip FAQ.

Requirements: Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000/ME. Installed size about 1.5 MB.

Project Gutenberg

Description:  Project Gutenberg makes information, books and other materials available at no cost to the general public in forms a vast majority of the computers, programs and people can easily read, use, quote, and search.  Literature, classics, and reference works in the public domain are easily searchable ascii etexts.

Requirements: Internet access and browser.  Just download and read.

Description:  PGP®  is a powerful cryptographic product family that enables people to securely exchange messages and to secure files, disk volumes and network connections with both privacy and strong authentication.  Can be integrated with some popular email programs. Free Program for personal non-commercial use.

PGP Freeware v6.5.8  is available for Windows 95/98/NT/2000
PGP Freeware v6.5.8  is available for MacOS 7.6.1+
PGP Command Line Freeware v6.5.8 is available for AIX/HP-UX/Linux/Solaris
PGP Certificate Server Freeware v2.5.8 is now available for Windows NT/2000 and Solaris