Features

1. Google Pack
http://pack.google.co.uk
Size: up to 200MB

Google's ever-expanding compendium of free software is now so impressive that it outstrips the bundled applications that come with most PCs. The latest addition to the family is StarOffice, the slightly enhanced version of the open-source OpenOffice, which topped our A List until the advent of Office 2007. With a high-quality word processor, spreadsheet, PowerPoint-like presentation software and database, it's a genuine alternative to Microsoft's premium-priced market leader.

Spyware Doctor roots through your hard disk with commendable diligence, ripping out malware that even our paid-for security software failed to detect. Skype remains the best and most widely used VoIP application on the market, while Firefox is our browser of choice.

All that's before we've mentioned Google's own-brand software: the elegantly designed Picasa excels at organising and making basic edits to your digital photo collection; Google Desktop keenly sniffs out files and documents that you'd long since given up hope of seeing again; while the Google Toolbar includes a useful pop-up blocker and other enhanced search features for both IE and Firefox.

There are a couple of makeweights in the Pack, but the smartly designed installer makes it easy to pick and choose the applications you want. Google Pack also provides regular reminders when there's a new version of an application or fresh additions, meaning you don't have to keep checking back. For a company that focuses on online apps, Google's not half-bad at desktop software.

Art & Design (2)
Communication (4)
Diagnostics (7)
Entertainment (11)
File Sharing (3)
Internet (4)
Security (5)
Tools (11)
Various (1)
Virtualisation (2)

	1 Google Pack Google Pack's Picasa offers simple but effective photo editing.