Dont Spend a Dime: The Path to Low-Cost Computing

Kelly, a freelance writer and blogger, offers the reader a list of free alternatives to popular commercial software for a variety of computing tasks. Covering applications such as office and productivity software, graphics manipulation, email and anti-virus, this guide walks the user through the setup and basic use of free software similar to more familiar, and costly, popular programs. The work includes traditionally installed software such as the OpenOffice productivity suite and the Gimp photo manipulation program as well as online resources such as Google Docs, Gmail and Picassa web albums. Chapters on internet telephone calls, blogging and social networking are also included. Intended as a basic overview, the work does not cover advanced topics but sets the user on their way to using free software. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

James Floyd Kelly is a professional writer from Atlanta, Georgia. He has written numerous books on multiple subjects, including LEGO robotics, open source software, and building your own CNC machine as well as a 3D printer. He is the editor-in-chief of the number one MINDSTORMS NXT blog, The NXT Step (TheNXTStep.com), where he is joined by fellow NXT experts who share their knowledge and designs with other robot fans around the world.