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Software is one of the most important investments you'll make in building
your home business' technology infrastructure. Yet, often it is one of the
purchases that business owners spend the least time investigating and
researching before it is purchased. (If your PC costs $999 and the printer $200,
you can easily spend another $1,000 to $3,000 on SOFTWARE!) It's
just easier in many cases to purchase the software that a friend is using, you
used at a previous job or that looks attractive in its box sitting on the shelf
at the store.
At
Home
Office
Reports
we
believe
that
software
is
the
technology
investment
that
really
makes
your
business
"work".
Yes,
your
computer,
printer,
network
and
other
hardware
infrastructure
is
important
-
but
without
the
software....
That
is
why
we'll
spend
a
seemingly
inordinate
amount
of
time
(and
"bytes")
explaining
the
various
software
that
is
on
the
market
(everything
from
operating
systems
to
photo
editing
software),
the
strengths
and
weaknesses
of
the
various
packages
and
the
types
of
users
and
businesses
that
each
is
well
suited
for
(or
to
be
avoided
like
the
plague!).
So,
before
we
get
into
the
specifics
of
each
software
category,
we
thought
we'd
begin
by
outlining
the
types
of
software
we
believe
that
every
home
business
MUST
have
and
then
go
over
some
very
basic
considerations
you
need
to
remember
when
purchasing
any
type
of
software.
What
Every
Home
Business
Needs
If
you
own
a PC
(Windows
or
Macintosh)
and
you're
going
to
run
your
business
with
it
(how
can
you
do
it
without
one?),
we
at
Home
Office
Reports
think
that
you
will
absolutely
require
all
of
the
following
software
to
make
your
business
hummmm:
-
Operating
System:
This
comes
with
the
PC,
however,
if
you're
making
a
hardware
purchase
at
the
same
time
you're
buying
software,
your
choice
of
operating
system
is
key.
Some
are
more
tuned
to
"home"
or
"entertainment"
use,
others
to
the
needs
of
the
business
user.
Additionally,
not
all
software
is
compatible
with
all
operating
systems,
so
you
need
to
make
sure
that
if
you've
got
your
heart
set
on
a
particular
graphics
package,
that
it
runs
on
the
operating
system
you've
chosen.
Remember
too,
that
the
operating
system
"runs"
your
PC,
and
if
it
is
unstable,
slow
or
riddled
with
hidden
flaws
you're
going
to
be
in
for
a
rough
frustrating
time.
Finally,
remember
that
once
you've
chosen
an
operating
system,
making
a
change
later
can
be
an
interesting
exercise
in
ROM
and
driver
upgrades
as
well
as
application
incompatibilities.
-
Word
Processing
Software:
It
goes
without
saying
that
if
you
are
going
to
write
letters
or
produce
any
type
of
text
document,
you'll
need
a
word
processor.
This
usually
comes
as
part
of
an
"Office
Suite"
available
from
companies
like
Microsoft,
Corel,
Lotus
and
Sun
Microsystems.
-
Spreadsheet
Software:
Again,
usually
part
of
any
"Office
Suite",
spreadsheet
programs
are
a
big
step
up
over
accounting
paper
and
your
calculator.
Many
also
have
simple
database
capabilities
that
allow
them
to
"morph"
into
repositories
for
all
sorts
of
data
and
uses
-
from
auto
and
expense
logs
to
tracking
office
assets.
-
Presentation
Software:
Part
of
those
ubiquitous
"Office
Suites",
presentation
software
is
designed
to
help
you
look
your
best
when
you've
got
to
deliver
your
message
to
a
group
-
large
or
small.
You
might
think
you'll
never
make
a
presentation
and
don't
need
this
software
-
but
trust,
us,
the
time
will
come
and
you'll
be
glad
you
have
it!
-
Email/Contact
Software:
You
can't
live
without
email
today,
so
you'll
need
a
good
package
(even
if
you
ARE
using
AOL
or
Web
Mail
from
your
Web
hosting
company!).
Why?
If
you
are
planning
on
doing
mailings
(post
or
email),
want
to
quickly
get
in
touch
with
a
client
or
business
partner,
having
the
addresses
"localized"
and
managed
on
your
PC
is
a
big
plus
(especially
when
you
want
to
"port"
them
to
your
Word
Processing
software
to
do
a
mail
campaign!).
There
are
"light"
and
more
complex
versions
of
this
software,
we'll
look
into
all
of
them
in
our
review.
-
Web
Browser:
Surfing
is
impossible
without
it!
The
traditional
players
(Microsoft
and
Netscape)
have
been
joined
by
interesting
new
alternatives,
but
whatever
your
choice,
these
software
interfaces
to
the
Web
are
powerful
and
now
add
all
types
of
capabilities
to
make
your
Web
experience
even
more
productive.
-
Financial/Accounting
Software:
From
very
basic
to
very
powerful,
you'll
need
a
way
to
understand
your
business'
finances
(and
report
them
to
the
government!).
Make
sure
that
package
your
purchase
meets
the
requirements
of
your
business,
if
it
doesn't,
you'll
just
pay
later
(your
accountant,
the
government,
or
your
new
software
vendor!).
-
Graphics
Package:
Graphics
software
is
extensive
in
its
capabilities,
scope,
complexity
and
price.
However,
whether
you're
a
novice
with
very
basic
needs
(business
cards,
stationary,
etc.)
or
a
professional
seeking
to
manipulate
images
or
video,
we
believe
that
a
graphics
package
of
some
type
is
an
essential
part
of
any
home
based
business.
-
Security
Software:
Don't
think
just
because
you're
a
"little
guy"
you
don't
need
to
secure
your
data.
You
DO
need
to
protect
your
PC
from
network
intrusion
and
viruses
and
worms.
A
good
security
package
is
an
absolute
must!
Anyone
who
has
had
a
virus
destroy
all
the
data
on
their
hard
drive
will
emphatically
agree!
-
Acrobat
Reader:
Acrobat
Reader
is
free
software
available
to
download
from
Adobe.
It
allows
you
to
"read"
Acrobat
(pdf)
files
available
on
the
Web.
Why
do
you
need
this?
Many,
many,
many,
documents
on
the
Web
are
now
in
Acrobat
format
-
everything
from
user
manuals
and
brochures
to
technical
support
information.
Acrobat
Reader
is
a
piece
of
software
you
just
cannot
do
without!
Although
we
believe
that
you'll
probably
want
even
more
software
applications
than
those
we've
outlined
above,
the
ones
we
chosen
are
the
absolute
necessities!
But
be
prepared,
even
at
just
the
"necessity"
level,
the
cost
can
range
from
$400
to
$800
and
will
probably
end
up
being
much,
much
more
(more
than
the
cost
of
the
PC
that
they
run
on!).
Therefore,
some
basic
things
to
think
about
before
you
purchase
any
software
package:
-
Operating
System:
What
O/S
does
the
software
run
on?
Is
it
compatible
with
not
only
your
"type"
(i.e.
Windows,
Macintosh),
but
version
as
well!
-
PC
Compatibility:
Most
software
defines
the
"minimum"
PC
requirements
to
run
the
software.
We
believe
that
if
you're
at
the
"minimum"
you
shouldn't
purchase
the
software
(or
you
should
upgrade
your
PC!).
Minimums
usually
provide
minimum
performance!
-
Features
and
Functions:
This
area
is
truly
a
"double-edged
sword".
You
don't
want
to
pay
for
features
and
functions
you'll
never
use,
however,
if
you
purchase
low-end
software
that,
as
you
become
more
and
more
proficient
using
it,
or
your
business
grows,
no
longer
can
deliver
the
functionality
you
require,
you'll
end
up
buying
the
more
expensive
software
anyway
(and
dealing
with
the
data
migration
problems
of
moving
your
existing
data/documents
to
the
new
application
as
well).
So
make
sure
you've
thought
through
what
you
need
the
software
for
now,
and
what
you
might
use
it
for
in
the
future.
-
Other
Experiences:
If
you
DO
have
friends
who
have
used
the
software,
don't
be
afraid
to
ask
them
about
their
experiences.
Word-of-mouth
is
often
an
effective
barometer
for
usability
and
stability
in
the
software
world.
-
Technical
Support:
Software
usually
comes
with
a
limited
period
of
free
technical
support
-
although
some
low
end
packages
do
not!
In
fact,
the
cost
of
technical
support
from
a
low
end
vendor
can,
in
one
call,
outstrip
the
cost
of
the
software!
So,
make
sure
you
understand
what
the
"help"
options
are
before
you
buy
-
and
what
they'll
cost
you
now
and
later.
-
Upgrade
Costs:
Once
your
business'
data
is
based
on
any
software
package,
you'll
have
to
keep
investing
in
the
software
as
it
is
upgraded.
Plan
for
that
now!
Make
sure
you've
reviewed
what
upgrades
to
the
software
currently
cost,
so
you
won't
be
shocked
by
software
upgrade
costs
in
the
future!
(Remember,
manufacturers
support
software
for
a
limited
period
of
time
only,
so,
if
you
don't
upgrade,
you'll
end
up
on
software
that
is
not
supported.
If
you
have
a
problem
then
-
tough
luck!)
So,
we've
covered
the
basics,
let's
get
down
to
"brass
tacks".
If
you're
ready
to
look
at
the
various
types
of
software,
what
they
do,
who
makes
them,
what
they
cost,
and
how
well
we
think
they
perform,
you can access software reviews using the links below:
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