Essential™ Desktop Tools

Imagine most desktop software replaced with web-based tools!

Desktop tools are those software programs operating from your computer or laptop instead of web-based. These include browsers and email programs, address books and calendar, word processing and spreadsheets, photographs and graphic arts, visual presentation, web development and text-only editors, FTP, audio recording and news readers. Many of these can be used in conjunction with web-based software.

Working from a great browser compatible with emerging web 2.0 standards is essential from an integration standpoint. We recommend Flock, Firefox and Opera as web browsers and migrating away from Internet Explorer as a browser and Outlook Express for email. Thunderbird and our own web-based email are excellent for enterprise level operations for spam-free email. Some of the following are free downloads, but many must be purchased. Here's a few Essential™ Desktop Tools we recommend.

Browsers

• Flock
  • Favorite browser for social networking with RSS feeds and favorites in the sidebar
  • Same source code as Firefox
  • Free download
• Firefox
  • Great browser for sessions and developer work with Firebug
  • Free download
• Safari (Mac)
  • Browser for Macintosh with "Stand" feature
  • Free download
• Opera
  • Clean browser for site compliant standards
  • Free download

Email

• Thunderbird
  • Great email program
  • Compatible with BaseCamp/Highrise
  • Free download
• MailTrust Web-Based Email
  
  • Great spam-free email service
  • Paid service

Working in a V-Card format for managing contact information is the emerging trend and may become an industry standard. This is a complex integration issue moving contact information from one database to another via .csv, .txt or .tab as there's often "drop-out" of data fields.

Address Books and Calendar

• Address Book (V-Card) (Mac)
• iCal (Mac)

Traditional voice communications via telephone is still a business essential though there are now options for voice using Internet Protocol (IP) phones instead of the traditional dial-ups. Look for a local phone company that offers IP Phones for your residence or business. Usually these are integrated and bundled with your Internet service.

Word Processing and Spreadsheets

• OpenOffice (PC) and NeoOffice (Mac)
  • Free download
• iWork (Mac)
  
  • Pages, Numbers
  • Paid, licensed software

Photographs and Graphic Arts

• ImageWell
• PicLens
  • Firefox add-on
• Adobe Photoshop
  • Paid, licensed software
• Adobe Illustrator
  • Paid, licensed software

Visual Presentations

• Graffle
  • Create beautiful flow charts
  • Paid, licensed software
• Glance.net
  • Visual presentations over the Internet through your web-browser
  • Paid, licensed software

Web Development and Text-Only Editing

• Rixedit
  • Paid, licensed software
• skEdit v4.1
  • Paid, licensed software
• iStat
  • free download
• Firebug and Web Developer
  
  • Firefox add-ons

FTP

• Transmit FTP
  • Paid, licensed software
• YouSendIt
  • Free download
• FireFTP
  
  • Firefox add-on

Audio Recording

• Sound Studio 3
  • Paid, licensed software

News Reader and Aggregator

• Net News Reader along with the web-based version of NewsGator
  
  • Free download

Our Essential™ tools includes professional integration and application of any or all of the following for your business or organization.

• Broadcasting
• Business
• Desktop
• Marketing
• Media
• Networking
• Mobile
• Web & Design Portfolio
• Tour and Training

Contact GBDS.US or call (541) 326-8900 for more information.  Complete an online questionnaire and receive a free business or web evaluation!