Suggested Downloads

This list of software titles are suggested software for installtion on your desktop or laptop PC. Most of the titles are utilities that will help your computing experience. There are some, such as the Windows Updates, that are critical for you to use your computer on the Engineering computing network.

Essentials - Basic Utilities No Computer System Should Be Without

• Windows Updates: Don't forget to download your Windows updates! If this is not done on a regular basis, your computer will become infected by viruses or spyware.
• Symantec Antivirus: Having an antivirus program is absolutely essential. Symantec Anti-Virus Corporate Edition is free for CSU students, staff & faculty. Pick up your CD from the CTSS Computing Lab in the Morgan library.
• Foxit Reader: For viewing PDF documents. PDF documents have become a standard for viewing formatted information. Foxit Reader is a lightweight, fast alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader (also free).
• VLC Media Player: A highly portable multimedia player capable of playing nearly every media file. Lightweight, fast alternative to Quicktime, RealPlayer, and others.
• Java Runtime Environment: If you want to view Java applets on web pages, or standalone Java applications, you must install the JRE.
• Adobe Flash Player (browser plug-in): For viewing Flash and Shockwave files in your web browser.
• Mozilla Firefox: Our recommended web browser. Firefox is a secure, feature-package alternative to Internet Explorer.
• Mozilla Thunderbird: Our recommended email client, from the people who brought you Mozilla and Netscape.
• OpenOffice office suite: This office suite does everything Microsoft Office can do, and it's free! Can read Office documents and even save in Office document formats.
• 7-Zip: Compress (zip) and decompress (unzip) files. Like Winzip, 7-Zip handles nearly every compression format and has a high compression ratio. Unlike Winzip, it is entirely free.

Useful - Programs We Strongly Recommend

• StarOffice office suite: A Microsoft Office alternative from Sun Microsystems, based off of OpenOffice. Free for CSU students, staff & faculty. Pick up your CD from the CTSS Computing Lab in the Morgan library.
• Google Chrome: Chrome is a fast, secure and minimal web browser.
• Lavasoft Ad-Aware: An anti-spyware scanner, which operates very similar to an antivirus scanner program.
• Spybot Search & Destroy: Another excellent anti-spyware scanner.
• System Information for windows: Find out more than you ever wanted to know about your computer system's hardware and software.
• Microsoft Office viewers: You can view (but not edit or create) Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, and Visio documents with these free viewers from Microsoft.
• Netzero internet: Free or cheap dial-up internet service from home.
• PDF995 or PDFCreator: Create and edit PDF files for free.
• Ghostscript & Ghostview: Create and view PostScript files for free.
• QuickTime Alternative: QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play Quicktime files without having to install the official QuickTime Player. This alternative is lightweight and easy on system resources.
• Real Alternative: For those times when you need to listen to a Real audio file.
• iTunes: Apple's music store and digital music jukebox.
• Mega Codec Pack: Codecs & players for every conceivable media file. Lightweight, fast alternative to RealPlayer, and others.
• PuTTY: A Secure FTP & Secure Telnet program.
• ZoneLabs Zone Alarm: High quality firewall program. Paid versions include extras but are not necessary.
• CDBurnerXP: A CD/DVD creation program.

Note: All software titles are completely free unless noted.