Configuring those new computers were a snap.

I setup an account on each with “limited” access a default in Windows XP. Not the best solution but more then adequate for the Library folk. I then used TweakUI to autologin to those accounts, so on a reset or a poweron the accounts would automatically start. Nothing worse then a person going what account should I use when one is called “admin” and the other is “GUEST-INTERNET”.

The applications that I’ve used are all Free:

Anti-Virus-

• Free AVG. nothing really to configure differently with this, I just installed and updated. (we are a non-profit, so you might have a problem if you want to use this for your work and not home use)

Spyware Protection-

• Windows Defender. Like AVG nothing except for updating.

Internet-

• FireFox. I configured Firefox to clear all private data on close. Helps out from people putting in passwords and such when they stupidly click “remember me”.

Productivity-

• Open Office. I haven’t used OOo before but it shouldn’t give us any problems. I made the icons on the desktop say, “Word”, “PowerPoint” and “Excel” though instead of the OpenOffice….

There are some other little things I had to do but this is pretty basic stuff and I’m actually pleased with not having to buy any software.