Any (many?) Smaller Alternatives?

Can anyone point me towards a good, simple, (hopefully rather basic) article that explains the difference between Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader (and "Acrobat") - anything such as this? I am looking to minimize applications on a family members PC (six years old) which is of only 20GB capacity, and hoping to be able to get rid of some of the "Top-Heavy" software apps/programs.

The top four space-takers (performance robbers??) on this machine are: 1. "Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1", 2. "Microsoft Word 2002", 3. "Adobe Reader 8.1.2", and 4. "Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0". All of these are well in excess of 50MB, with "Microsoft Works 6.0" not far behind showing 46.85MB.

Thanks in advance.

g.
PS - Do we really need the ".NET Framework" programs?

 

Microsoft Office - An office application suite. Contains word processor, spreadsheet, and (depending on edition) Groupware/Email Client, User-level database, presentations. Biggest competitor is OpenOffice.org, but that might not save you much, size-wise.

Adobe Reader: Reads PDF (portable document format) files. Smaller alternative called FoxIt available.

.NET framework required if running .NET apps. If it is installed, then they probably are.

In the grand scheme of things, though, 50MB is not a huge deal for a 20G drive. Assuming 2GB for Windows, that leaves 360 apps to fill the drive. You probably want to check things like temporary/cache directories, download directories, music/image/data files, etc... If your biggest apps are in the 2-300 MB range, I doubt that's the space eater unless there are a LOT of them.

 

Thank you very much. Before I delve in and get buried too deep, can you tell me; is MS "Word" (still) embedded into MS "Office", or are they (now) separate programs?

Also, I came across a program online called "Foxit" (not sure if that means that it is basically "Firefox [which we do run] Friendly" or not?) that perhaps I could replace Adobe Reader with? I didn't see it in the MG download section, so I am a bit wary.

 

This is a good, small, office program:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Floppy_Office_d5645.html

 

Foxitreader is an AMAZING alternative to Adobe's PDF readers.

It is on majorgeeks:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Foxit_Reader_d4763.html

.NET framework is a must-have, but you only need one version. You are showing evidence of having multiple versions installed. You can probably remove anything before version 3.

Office is Microsoft's productivity suite. It bundles Microsoft Word (their word processor), Excel (spreadsheet program) and Outlook (email client) as a minimum typically. Sometimes other microsoft products get included, like Front Page, Powerpoint, and Access, but that depends on the version of Office you buy.

I can't think of any better-performing alternatives, so you probably want to stick with that one. OpenOffice is a free alternative, but doesn't perform as well, and isn't as functional as Microsoft's suite.

Also note that new hard drives are typically less than $1 /GB nowadays... would be pretty cheap to get a much higher-capacity drive.

 

Thank you very much. I understand that this might replace much of what MS "Office" (& Word) does? Can you tell me (as we have not yet "graduated" top using USB sticks here on the farm), is this basically an alternative to MS 'bloat', and can I use it straight-away on my desktop PC, or is it something I'd need to have a USB stick for?

Lastly, would this program do any of what Adobe does, or would I still want to think about an alternative for that?

Thanks again!

 

You mention in your original post that you have both MS Office and MS Works on this machine.
MS Works is a stripped down version of Office.
To my knowledge there is nothing that Works does that Office will not.
(Anyone? If this is incorrect, please let me know)
Uninstalling Works would be a space saver.

 

My apologies - it IS "Works" ("Suite", I suppose) that we have here (which I suppose is what "Word" is embedded into [a part of]). I think I've gotten a bit tired/confused from all the reading.

Thanks for picking-up on that and mentioning it.

 

How extensive is your need for word processing capability? If you only need to use these programs occasionally you might consider using something like google docs: http://docs.google.com

It's completely online and it allows you to create and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can also upload documents on your computer to view them online anytime.

 

To answer your other question MS Word can be had as a standalone product, but the MS Suites that include it are much more cost effective.

Another thought is to use CCleaner
http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_Slim_No_Toolbar_d4191.html
This will allow you to streamline your system.
One word of caution about this program.
If you have web sites that you visit regularly that required a login when you first visited them, CCleaner will remove the "cookies" that remember you from that visit.
Therefore you will have to remember your logins to access these sites.
I only mention this because the after first time I used CCleaner I couldn't remember a couple of my logins.

 

Actually, there is an improved version. It's called Tiny USB Office. This is a link to the authors site. (The same as Floppy Office)
http://www.xtort.net/office-and-productivity/floppy-office/

There is a bit of info about it there and a download link. What it is, is several small office apps, that can be moved around on a USB memory stick, but do not have to be on one to work. You can put them on your PC. (You can choose which ones you want to use and delete the rest of the package)
I don't think they actually install. That's why they are considered portables. And I think you will have to manually move the folders to your program files, after extracting them. Then, you will have to create shortcuts from the main folders.
I am not sure the PDF app in this package will work as well as Adobe for you, but Foxit Reader IS a good app, as a couple of others have said.

 

WOW! Lot's of (GOOD!) alternatives it seems. Thank you all very much.

I should probably have mentioned, that this is my mom's PC I am speaking of, and in that she is nearly 70 years of age, well, simpler is better. Although the online google docs program sounds good, and it is something that I may well be interested in for my own PC at home, I don't think that that would work for mom in that she'd have yet another account/password, etc. to remember/write on a sticky stuck to the PC, etc., and she has had just about enough of that! (I've tried to explain/work with her and the Password Manager in Firefox, but she is just not getting it - and I have to admit that I struggle with that feature as well at times, just as I did with "RoboForm").

I have already un-installed Adobe, and from what I've learned from reading here today, I think I'll give Foxit a try for the PDF stuff. I also think I'm going to try the Tiny USB Office (if not the Floppy Office) as it sounds as if I can utilize it here on this desktop PC, and that it's smaller than Works Suite.

Thank you all again! Oh, can anyone help clarify for me about the .NET Framework stuff. Will simply having the latest (3.0, with an update just today) work, and can I proceed to remove all mentions of previous versions (2.0, 1.0, etc., etc., etc.) from Add/Remove Programs?

 

If all your mother does with Word, part of Works, is type an occasional letter, she may be able to get by with Write If write is still included in XP) and notepad. Find them in Programs/Accessories and put a shortcut on her desktop so all she needs to do is click it when she wants to write a letter. Have her try it and see if it fits for her. Things, I blieve are saved in rtf (rich text format) so if she sends a note as an attachment, everyone should be able to open it.

Also, remove some of her items from My Documents and put them either on a flash drive or burn them to a CD. She will still have access to them but they won't be taking up space on her computer.

 

Thank you. Now, I did, just today, download - ".NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 1 (KB929300)", but now am seeing an "Optional" Update; .NET Framework 3.0: x86 (KB932471) on the Microsoft Update site ... am I to understand that this is *not* for me because of the "x86" designation?

 

GEEZ-O-FLIP! I always worry that you are not getting enough fiber in your diet Mark Trent (??). In any event ...

I READ IT - THREE TIMES - AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT - THAT IS WHY I CAME HERE - TO SEE IF I COULD GET AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION - I DON'T JUST "MAKE-UP" QUESTIONS AND TAKE THE TIME TO POST THEM HERE BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO - WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE HIGH-TECH LITERACY AS YOU MR. TRENT - AT LEAST I DON'T - AND AGAIN, NOW, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN JUST ABOUT AS MANY DAYS - I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL GEEK-SPEAK - CAN YOU POSSIBLY "BREAK IT DOWN" FOR ME - OR NOT?

 

I'm guessing by the description you gave of your mom's system, that it is 32-bit (x86).

This is what it fixes.

If you don't know what protected XPS documents are, then you probably don't use them or need the fix.

If you happen to start seeing this message: "Cannot open this document because your permissions have expired" then you should install the optional update. It will always be listed for you to choose to update.

 

Yes, hers is a 32 bit system - I do know that much.

And thank you very much. Now, in the future, I will know more (hopefully!), and therefore - ask less.

Thanks!

 

I probably shouldn't post this, but I am and it is not to kick at anyone, just to clear some things up.
GRC123 did ask what he was to do about the update and his question showed that he didn't know what x86 meant, which was confusing him.

Those of us that post regularly here, usually dumb our answers down to a point that even a first-time PC user can understand, even to the point of walk-through steps. At least, until we kind of know, from the feedback, how technical our answers should be.
Patience is a virtue on both the poster's and answerer's sides. It is not always easy for a novice to tell what is wrong or give the right info. Sometimes, we need to pull that info out of them, and that gets frustrating.
(Been there a number of times)
It takes time and energy sometimes, but that is what this site is all about about. HELPING EVERYONE from the novice to someone that has used PC's for years and come across something that they never encountered before.
We weren't born knowing what we know and it took a long ride to get there. Some folks are just starting that trip.

 

Thank you - looks like a nice, plain, clear-cut - SIMPLE (good for me!) - program. And no space or resources wasted! I've decided to go for it, for now, on my PC, and I'll see how it goes. Not sure if mom will 'sign-on' or not?? But thank you again!

 

Following-up, I suppose what I attempting to do is to "stay ahead of the curve" on overloading a 20GB system ... my thinking is, if I start downsizing progs when & where I can, then later-on I won't be so frantic if/when I do (uh, the hard drive, does get bloated - in fact, that's really my ultimate goal here - to keep things "down to size", and avoid "bloat" as much as possible in the first place.

It seems as if it would be easy to overload 20GB (though it is more than sufficient for the primary user of the machine - I'll probably "inherit" it some day ...)

Today, I dropped MS Win Media Player 11 (and its Runtime), IN "HOPE" that Zoom Player will fill the needs here (?). I'd like to do the same with as much of the MS stuff as i can - to lighten this old PC's "load".

Looking for any & all suggestions/opinions/advice on downsizing/belt-tightening a six year-old Dell, with XP. (?) Have already switched-out Adobe 8 for Fox-it Reader, and thinking later today to "lose" Word 2002 and replace that with "Tiny (USB) Office" ... did I read that correctly, that it is basically a substitute, one for the other?

All posts welcome!

Thanks,
g ...

 

Tiny USB Office states on its webpage

This application has many features that are not part of Word 2002 (Also known as Word XP).
As in all such trade offs, it depends on what you use it for whether or not it will fit your needs.
There is a fairly complete description of what Tiny does on this page
http://www.xtort.net/office-and-productivity/floppy-office/

You can see it is much more than just a "Word" type program.

 

Granted, I haven't read every post completely, but I did skim through most of 'em, and one thing nobody had mentioned is the fact that none of the Office replacements are compatible with Word documents (except for OpenOffice)..... WordPad, yes, but not Word that is part of Office and is also included in some versions of Works. However, it does not appear the the OP has MS Office installed, only Word, and neither would be responsible for slowing down a PC. As has been already mentioned, most of any space that is being used on the hard drive is most likely in My Documents, or is in the form of temporary internet file and temp system files. I have seen PCs with over 8GB in temp files!!! Running CCleaner and a 2nd cleaner also is a good idea (I like Stephen Gould's free CleanUp http://www.majorgeeks.com/CleanUp_d4895.html). Then look thru each folder in My Documents and start burning stuff to CDs, or just delete it. A lot of PCs tend to have several Java Runtime Environment Updates also (for some reason it doesn't remove old versions when it updates) and each one is usually over 120mb. If you have several, remove them all, then visit Java at this link http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp and download the appropriate version (I usually do the offline install as I find it more reliable). Then, a good 3rd party defrag and you should be in good shape (Auslogics is popular, free, and easy to use http://www.majorgeeks.com/Auslogics_Disk_Defrag_d5266.html). I may have missed it earlier, but I don't think anyone recommended this link (the Major Geeks maintenance guide) : http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=106650

Now that you're completely overwhelmed with information, I offer only this.... GOOD LUCK!!!

[dlb]
:major

 

Never overwhelmed with info - I just get overwhelmed trying to store (and later DEFRAG!!!) it all in my "Tiny" (non-USB, non-office) li'l cranium :zzz

No really, thank you very much dlb - tons of valuable info in your post here. I just need to learn :confused ... and then I often need to re-learn, and then it seems like I end-up needing to take some sort of class in "learning to re-learn", etc., etc., :cry etc. ... rolleyes

Much thanks to everyone!

 

Sorry, really don't mean to "bump" (per se) the thread, but I did want to add that I had used S. Gould's "CleanUp!" in the past - always liked it - especially the toilet flush sound ... which is EXACTLY where a lot of the CRAP that builds up on `puters belongs IMHO! (though in the past had it caused me problems I really wouldn't have known ... and seem to be only "slightly" more educated about it all now). Just ran the demo and though I use CCleaner AND Advanced WindowsCare v.2 on almost a daily (weekly at the very most) basis, "CleanUp!" is offering to remove "196.4 MB" of "junk" (though I will be logging it) on the first go-round!

The more I get to know, the more I anger over apparent MS/Windows "BLOAT" ... though I presume that it has to do (at least somewhat?) with Security and inherent MS vulnerabilities that they (we) have/share ... They (MS/Windows) still control - what - something like 75-80% of the market (please correct me if I'm wrong?), which means the bad-guys are still interested in exploiting them ("US"!) the most (?).

We (me, and my folks on their PC) really don't get very "deep" into most (the vast majority) of the apps that we have on these two PC's (especially the "Office" type progs and tools). I'm guessing that somewhere around half (at least - if not more?) of folks with PC's are the same. I simply can't see taking-up 50, 100 or more Megs of space for something when sufficient software for my purpose(s) can be had, many often times with less than 10 Megs of space used (hell, often less than 5 Megs!). "Fox-it Reader" (PDF) is a prime case in point. Rave reviews from posters to this thread, and so far, it's done everything that I've needed it to do in the (albeit relatively short) couple of months I've had it on the machine.

Now looking for my next (MS/Windows app/prog) "victim"!!! - I'm really thinking I can get by very well without Word, and perhaps the rest of MS "Works" - but I will be taking it one prog/app at a time - and seeing how it goes ...

Thanks again -