As a student you have the responsibility of paying for your tuition, your textbooks, all those meals that help you gain your freshman 15, and everything else in between. There are somethings you shouldn’t be paying for and it’s particular apps that you need to help you in school. I have provided a list of the six apps that no student should ever pay for.
Word Processor Apps
You know, I love Microsoft Office and all of it’s competitors, but there is one that stands out to me the most as being a winner and it’s the FREE Open source version, Open Office. Open Office looks, acts, and feel just like Microsoft Office except it feels better because…it’s free. Open Office is available on Linux, Mac, and Windows. If you still insist on using Microsoft Office at least get the heavily discounted version using your student discount Microsoft Office Professional Academic for only $80.
Photo Editor Apps
Those crazy photos you upload to Facebook, must look their best right and nothing does it not a good ‘ole photo editing software. Well kick Adobe Photoshop and it’s retail price of $699 to the curb. Get Gimp. Again, Gimp was made to look and feel like Photoshop, now I have to admit its great, but it’s not Photoshop. The truth of the matter is though for the quick edit of a photo here and there for school projects and sharing to friends on Facebook, nothing beats the FREE. Gimp is also available on Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Anti-Virus Software
Unfortunately, you must have some sort of security when using your computers these days, but it doesn’t have to cost you a dime. So many companies like the guys who provide Norton Antivirus and McAfee want to charge you to protect yourself, but with AVG Free Anti-virus you can do this for free. The providers of AVG Anti-virus software have received accolades from some of the best tech sites out there for their antivirus software and that’s enough besides the price to make me an instant convert. AVG Antivirus is available on Windows and Linux. If you need something for the Mac (which most users will find they won’t) you can use iAntiVirus.
Note-taking Apps
It’s already a pain to take notes in class, so you shouldn’t add on additional pain and actually pay for a note-taking app. This is where Evernote comes in handy, it free, simple, versatile and wonderful. Did I mention wonderful? You can keep track of audio notes, image notes, and of course text notes. Evernote also lets you clip things that you want to take note of from the web - and it’s FREE! Evernote is available on NUMEROUS platforms the Web, Windows, Mac OS X, and literally every smart phone you can think of from the iPhone to the Palm Pixi.
Mindmapping Apps
Need to brainstorm a paper you are writing for class or just have some ideas to flush out, then using a mindmapping app is super helpful , until you have to pay for it. Freemind if FREE and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. There is also SimpleMind for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, and MindMap Memo for Android.
eBook Reader Apps
These apps are the real money savers as now you don’t have to buy your books new or used, you can simply download your books to your desktop, laptop, or mobile phone and start learning. The only thing that can make eBook readers any better is them being free and I have a few on various platforms that are great AND FREE to use for your eTextbooks. Try CourseSmart on the Web, Kindle for Mac, iBooks for your iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, and Aldiko for your Droid.
So now that you have all the apps you shouldn’t pay for, you have no excuse not to be the best and richest student on campus with all your app savings.
Author Info:
Ashli Norton is the Co-Founder of SimpleLeap Software, a small software firm that makes apps for the Mac, iPhone, and iPod. Ashli is also the Editor of TheiPhoneWebsite.com
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