"free" software that is useful?

[RogerRabbit]

Has any one tried this, is there a better solution out there:

http://www.primopdf.com/

• 
• FREE PDF Converter - not a trial version.
• Print to PDF from virtually any application.
• Create PDF output optmized for print, screen, ebook, or prepress.
• No annoying pop-up ads, no registration requirement - no catch!
• High-quality, easy to use PDF creator for all users.

*Windows 98 users should download version 1.0 here.​

• NEW! Secure PDFs with 40-/128-bit encryption, allowing the highest level of security for your PDF files. Settings include password to open, password to change, disable printing, disable text/graphics copying, disable commenting, disable text editing, disable page addition.
• NEW! Add document information (e.g. title, author, subject, keywords) to converted PDF files, resulting in faster and easier searching of PDF documents.

 

[jpf]

I use pdf995 (at http://www.pdf995.com/) and it is very easy to use. Just print any document and select pdf995 as the "printer" and it does the conversion.

I have not used PrimoPDF.

 

[I_AmCdn]

I just tested primo...slick little program. Leaves no trails / stamps on the output. It does shrink the document slightly.

 

[I_AmCdn]

1st test was with MS Word...works great.

I just tested with Quark and it does not properly convert some of the embedded JPEGS in my artwork.

 

[I_AmCdn]

pdf995 (at http://www.pdf995.com/) is the better choice....it converted Word Excel & Quark correctly.

 

[RogerRabbit]

Good find!

Thanks guys!

Are there any other free useful business/ productivity software to install on an XP machine?

 

[spiderman05]

I used pdf955 a few years ago. I bought the whole suite, (including PDF editor and PDF signature). The price was less than 30$ as far as I remember. Though, the tool has limited features when compared to adobe's pdf writer (but it remains a good bargain for the price). Also, the pdf files generated seemed to be (much?) larger than the ones generated by adobe's.

Now, I prefer using openoffice to convert files to pdf.

 

[cancowboy2001]

Have a look here: http://www.econsultant.com/i-want-freeware-utilities/index.html

There is stuff I have come across in other places and have used (mostly anti-virus and anti-spyware) and am happy with. I would note that PrimoPDF is on there.

 

[wumpscut]

Thanks guys!

Are there any other free useful business/ productivity software to install on an XP machine?

is StarOffice still available?

and for viewing/editing pictures I use Irfanview but I imagine Photoshop users would find it very basic.

 

[jpf]

Star Office is now called Open Office (http://openoffice.org) and it's better than when it was Star Office.

 

[club69]

there are lots of useful OpenSource/Freewares here:

http://sourceforge.net/index.php