Internet Abounds with Software for the Taking

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Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash for a piece of computer software, it's a good idea to check what's available for free on the Internet.

Many software companies offer demos --- try-before-you-buy versions of their programs that can be freely downloaded from the Web. Some demos have built-in expiration dates, after which you'll have to pay to play. Others offer limited features in an effort to whet your appetite for the full commercial version. For a sampling of available demos, see ZDNet Downloads at www.zdnet.com/downloads.

Better yet, there are scads of perfectly good, full-featured programs free for the taking. Many of these programs are similar to expensive commercial software, minus a couple of bells and a few …