PC-Freebies

Your new netbook seems to be running slower than it used to. It’s no wonder since you’re trying to run applications that were meant for a much faster machine. One of the most commonly used programs that we seem to take for granted is the PDF reader. While Adobe’s PDF reader is fine for your regular PC, you should consider running something a little lighter for your netbook to conserve your system’s precious resources.

The Cool PDF Reader lets you view, print, and convert PDF files to TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, and EPS. The standalone package is only 650KB which makes it a very light program that can be downloaded in virtually seconds. The software recognizes PDF files of all versions. Other features of the software include:

• Works with 68 different languages, yours is bound to be one of them.
• Zoom in and out and rotate page displays.
• Slide show PDF document with full screen.

Perhaps the best part of Cool PDF Reader, besides doing what Adobe’s Reader does using only a fraction of the resources, is that it’s free. Get this reader for your netbook and keep those resources free.

Current Version: 2.00.62a     Installer Size: 1.6 MB     DOWNLOAD LINK

TopTenREVIEWS offers side-by-side comparisions of the best netbooks available.

The whole point behind netbooks is having a less powerful machine because you only do light computing and a lot of web surfing. And yet, no one I know is doing light surfing anymore. It’s common to have several tabs open at once and some people (me included) frequently run 10 or 15 tabs open at once. That means you need a browser that can efficiently handle web data so you don’t overload your netbook (especially considering most notebooks only have 1GB of memory).

Google Chrome is one of the best browsers for netbooks because it uses less memory to render sites and manages data better. It actually uses a little more memory to run one tab than other browsers, but when you start using multiple tabs, Google Chrome is much more efficient, leaving you more processing power for browser tabs or other applications.

Another nice feature about Google Chrome is security. Regardless of how careful you are in your Web surfing, it can still be pretty easy to run into malware. Google Chrome does an excellent job of protecting your computer by creating a sort of barrier around each website in the browser that limits the actions or changes a website can make on your computer.

Perhaps the most attractive feature of Google Chrome for Internet surfers is the speed. Chrome is one of the fastest browsers when it comes to rendering sites, and although there are still some sites that don’t render well in Chrome, nearly all sites are compatible with the browser.

Google Chrome also has a much simpler interface than most other browsers. The address bar allows you to type in website addresses or perform searches all in the same place. The menus for changing options and preferences are all packed away to the side, which is fine because most people don’t use them very often.

Overall, Google Chrome is a fast, simple and efficient browser which can allow you to browse quickly and easily despite having less spectacular hardware in your little netbook.

Current Version:2    Installer Size:9.72 MB   DOWNLOAD LINK

TopTenREVIEWS offers side-by-side comparisons of the best internet browsers available.

Netbooks already have a reputation for being lightweight and underpowered, so why fill them up with bulky desktop applications?

Looking at the netbook operating system of choice, Windows XP, Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer browser comes bundled.  As such, it is no wonder that IE remains the most used browser.  Unfortunately, this bulky attempt at a browser is about as efficient as a typewriter.  Don’t get me wrong, it gets the job done like a typewriter can but there are more efficient browsers out there for you to try.

Looking at the Mozilla Firefox browser specifically, it is a fully-functional browser that can take you anywhere Internet Explorer can – and it can do it more quickly and efficiently.  Netbooks already have limited resources available and Firefox runs much lighter, freeing up more of your netbooks resources for other tasks and processes.

Firefox also allows you to install third-party addons that can enhance your browser’s capabilities and the way you see and use a browser.  Take Xmarks (formerly FoxMarks) for example, this little addon stores your Internet bookmarks in the cloud so that any where you access the web you have easy access to your favorite sites.  Netbooks are always on the go so it can be a chore to sync your bookmarks manually.  Xmarks updates automatically upon exiting the browser so you don’t have to manage favorites across your work PC, home desktop, laptop and netbook.

Besides addons, it has a “snappier” feel to it.  It responds quickly to your requests and just feels faster as you bounce from page to page.  Because netbooks rely so heavily on Internet connectivity, it’s more important than ever that your browser is light and efficient.

There are faster-rated browsers out there, but none with a following the size of Mozilla Firefox.  How does your browser stack up? I recommend the PeaceKeeper Internet browser benchmarking site.  Not happy with your browser’s performance?  Perhaps it’s time you ditch the minivan and take the Ferrari for a spin!

Current Version: 3.5.1   Installer Size: 7.7MB   DOWNLOAD LINK

TopTenREVIEWS offers side-by-side comparisons of the best internet browsers available.