We are only a few weeks into the semester, and that new computer smell has not quite worn off the machines that many students brought with them to campus. In order to keep your computers running as safely, quickly and powerfully as possible, I am going to let you in on a big technology secret: Some of the best software out there today is available completely free for you to legally download and install. Don't believe me? Let me introduce you to the term "open-source," a concept that has been gaining momentum in the software industry. Unlike proprietary software developed by companies such as Microsoft, open-source software projects are created by volunteer programmers from all over the world-for free.

The source code of each project (the inner workings of the software) is released under the General Public License, so that anyone can modify the program and release it as his or her own, as long as it is also released under the GPL.

Many companies, governments and individuals are switching to open-source software because it is cheaper and often superior to their proprietary equivalents; the only problem is that not many people know about it.

Firefox is perhaps an exception, as its use is already widespread on campus. Developed by the open-source Mozilla Organization (www.mozilla.org), Firefox is a fast, free and, most of all, secure Web browser in the same category as Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Many Windows users today use Internet Explorer, which is unfortunate, because IE is extremely unsafe and prone to viruses, spyware and tons of pop-ups. Firefox is faster, has an incredible built in pop-up blocker, and has enhanced security features that make it much safer than IE. It also has great features like tabbed browsing (multiple Web sites within the same main window that you can toggle between) and RSS, a personalized electronic news feed, for those who are interested.

The only downside is that not all Web sites are compatible with Firefox yet; for example, though LTS recommends the browser, you cannot yet use Firefox to register for network access at Brandeis. Also, while it is far more secure than IE, it's not invincible. You still need to be careful about viruses and unwanted software, such as spyware.

Mozilla also makes a useful mail program called Thunderbird to compete with Microsoft's Outlook Express. Thunderbird gives you a sleek, fast interface for reading, writing and organizing your mail; it has many more features than the basic Web interface. You can get Thunderbird at mozilla.org and find instructions for configuring the program with Brandeis mail at lts.brandeis.edu, under Accounts and E-mail.

Onward to word processing: Every time someone tells me he or she paid over a hundred dollars for Microsoft Office, a little part of me dies inside. There is a completely free and equally powerful alternative to MS Office called OpenOffice.org, which can be found at the Web site with the same name.

Originally developed by Sun Microsystems, this open-source program is available for both Windows and Mac OSX completely free of charge. It has the look and feel of MS Office, with programs that mimic Word, Excel and PowerPoint. OpenOffice can also read and write all the Microsoft formats like .doc and .PPT. This is a must-have if you don't have MS Office and don't want to pay a fortune for it.

Another program almost everyone uses is AOL Instant Messanger. AIM comes with a lot of extra garbage these days, such as an AOL Toolbar, and is constantly feeding you advertisements while you talk. While many turn to DeadAIM, a plug-in program for AIM that removes the ads and increases functionality, it is not compatible with more recent versions of AIM. However, there is a free, open-source alternative known as GAIM (gaim.sourceforge.net).

GAIM has all the features of AIM (though it often has trouble with file transfers), and you get to keep your buddy list and still talk to your AIM friends, minus the annoying advertisements. It also features tabbed conversations, talking through your away message, ICQ and MSN support, aliases and the ability to read away messages by simply hovering your mouse over them.

Many of these programs will keep your computer running smoothly, so you can concentrate on adjusting to college, rather than why your computer won't work.