UC Davis Information & Educational Technology

Bits & Bytes

Cheap, Free & All-Around-Awesome Software

Published in the Aggie on November 10, 2004

Ever wanted to write your own screenplay, record your own music, or upgrade your computer to the latest operating system? Of course you have, but you need software to do so. With the right software, you could do just about anything, but this stuff costs a lot of money, right? Well, not if you're a UC Davis student!

Aggies have many resources for cheap and free software just waiting to be utilized. Read on to learn how you can expand your horizons with new software.

MyUCDavis Software Web Site

Located at http://my.ucdavis.edu/software, the UC Davis software Web site offers downloadable programs to students, faculty, and staff. Some are available only as limited downloads (they will expire after a pre-defined amount of time), and you will need to spend money to gain access to their full versions; however, several are free of charge.

Featured Downloads:
  • Symantec (formerly Norton) AntiVirus - Prevents and purges viruses and bugs. An absolute must. And it's free to students!
  • Internet Explorer/Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox - Quick links to the latest versions of these Web browsers.
  • Mathematica - Math program combining calculation, statistic, and visualization tools. Price discounted for students.
  • Eudora - POP email client. Free for students. Stores your email on your computer so you can keep old messages.Network Configurations - Use these to access the Student Modem Pool so you can go online with your computer on campus. Free download.
Internet Tools CD

The Internet Tools CD features a bundle of programs and is available for about $7 at the UC Davis Bookstore in the Memorial Union.

With the CD, you can configure your computer to connect to the Internet through UC Davis. The CD features all the programs you'll need to use that connection. Scared of getting stuck during installation? No problem! Tutorials and troubleshooting info are included with the CD in case you get lost.

Some Included Software
  • Symantec (formerly Norton) AntiVirus - Prevent and purge viruses and bugs.
  • StuffIt Expander 6.0 - Easily store and "expand" compressed downloads and attachments.
  • Adobe Reader 6.0 - Read and print PDF files.
  • Eudora - POP email client.
  • Also includes several dial-up networking configurations!

Want to know more? Visit http://online.ucdavis.edu/about.

UC Davis Bookstore Computer Shop

Nestled within the heart of the UC Davis Bookshop in the Memorial Union lies the Computer Shop, which is stocked with computers, accessories, and of course, software. All software is priced at an educational discount, which can knock hundreds of dollars off the standard price.

Operating Systems
  • Microsoft Windows XP - Get Microsoft's newest OS.
  • Macintosh OS X - Upgrade to the newest Mac OS.
  • Macintosh Virtual PC - Using this program, your Mac computer can run Windows-based applications.
Utility Software
  • Symantec (Norton) Personal Firewall 3.0 - Protect your computer with an added Firewall program.
  • Symantec (Norton) Internet Security 3.0 - Guard against hackers, viruses, spyware, and privacy threats.
  • SpamCatcher - Filter spam from your email.
Productivity Software
  • Microsoft Office Professional - The bookstore's most popular software, this includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, FrontPage, and more!
  • Adobe Products -Adobe's PhotoShop, Acrobat, PageMaker, InDesign, After Effects, and more. Programs available individually or in bundles.
  • Final Draft - Create screenplays and teleplays.
  • GarageBand - Produce music, right from your computer. Mac only.
  • Dragon's Naturally Speaking - Create documents and spreadsheets not from what you type, but from what you say. PC only.
  • Eye Candy 4000 - Create and add special effects to home-produced movies.
Reference Software
  • EndNote - Search online bibliographic databases, organize references and images, and create bibliographies instantly.
  • Dictionary Bundle - Includes Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus as well as the Encyclopedia Britannica.

You can check pricing or make an online purchase at http://bookstore.ucdavis.edu/computershop/

So what kind of fun and creative stuff do you wish you could be doing? With cheap, affordable software, just about anything is possible.

This column is provided to you by the student writers of Information and Educational Technology. For questions and comments, please contact ietpubsjr@ucdavis.edu.

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