If you're not a true geek, and actually purchased a computer from a retailer such as Dell, HP, or Compaq within the last several years, you probably have since realized you got ripped off. This is because slowly over time hardware has become cheaper than the software needed to make the hardware useful. For many home users, this means they cannot use many common applications that are found in many places of work, such as Microsoft Word or Outlook, because they are too expensive, and the ungodly cost of around 200 US dollars is not practical for the majority of Earth-dwelling human beings. Though recent interviews with Bill Gates, Donald Trump, and Jim Walton show that they all agree that paying $200 - or even $200,000 -  for a program that may only use once a year, or even once a lifetime is not an outrageous amount.

The ridiculous prices of software nowadays have seemingly hit an all-time-high, and the fact that internet connections are getting faster by the millisecond, giving people the ability to download kiddie porn faster means that it's easier for people to get hold of illegal programs and applications through P2P networks, and bit torrents. This may seem like a good way to keep your costs down, especially when you are running a business - and it is. However, this practice has been deemed illegal (Unfortunately) and can lead to heavy fines, and in rare cases, will land you in a federal "pound-me-in-the-ass" prison.

There are lots of free programs out there that will do the same things that other expensive programs will do, or perhaps even more. These programs will not only keep your costs down, which is especially important if you are a business owner or manager, but they are also legal copies.

I have decided it would be best to compose a list of enterprise-level programs (Or programs that aren't for free, contain annoying ads, or aren't really 'secure' to use) and their alternatives that will benefit you, the aspiring Geek, or perhaps business owner who is looking for a cost effective computing solution).