Free Software
We are very aware that our boys want to continue their school work at home. We try to use industry standard software where possible (Microsoft Office, Adobe, Macromedia etc). This software is very expensive and can be difficult to afford. There are however free alternatives that will open many of the documents created at school and which can be used to create documents that can also be viewed and edited in school. There is a list of free / open source software you can download. Hover your mouse pointer over the logos to see some information about the software. If you are interested simply click the logo and download the software from their website.
If you are unable to download your own copies we would be willing to supply the software on a CD (small charge for CD), or if your son brings in a USB pen drive we can give them the install files to take home.
The Hayesbrook School cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any potential damage that may arise from installation of the the free / open source software onto your computer.
7-Zip is a free file archiver, with a high compression ratio - meaning files can be compressed into smaller file sizes. An alternative to WinZip or the basic Windows built-in zip-file compression
Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems
AVG Free Edition is an anti-virus application for private, non-commercial, single-home computer use only. Well regarded in the industry as being the best home-user free anti-virus package. An alternative to Norton Antivirus or McAfee.
CamStudio is free screen capture software. It will record all the actions you do on your screen on your computer as a video file.
CDBurnerXP Pro is a free CD/DVD burning solution. With this software you can burn CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs. An alternative to Nero BurningROM.
Exsate is a great program that allows you to import high quality DV direct to your computer in a variety of file formats in REAL TIME! Mount your camera on a tripod and press record on your computer - no need for a video tape.
Google Sketchup is a 3D program that will allow you to create most 3D objects. It has video tutorials (website) and works well in conjunction with Google Earth. An alternative to PTC ProDesktop.
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X
Kompozer - A complete Web Authoring system for Linux desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. The environment is easy to understand and quick to master.
Mixxx is a virtual DJ deck. You can load your MP3s into a playlist and control them in a similar way to a DJ's decks.
OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute. Includes applications for databases, spreadsheets, presentations and word documents. An alternative to Microsoft Office.
Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. A good alternative to Serif Photoplus, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, or Microsoft Photo Editor.
GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages. An alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
Real Player v14 is the latest real player. The upgrade now allows you to download streaming video from sites like YouTube. It plays one of the latest video types on the web, Flash Video (FLV).
