Chapter 6: Running the Built-In Desktop Applications
In This Chapter
Writing with Notepad and WordPad for free
Mapping characters
Calculating and painting
Creating sticky notes
The tiled “Windows 8” Metro apps are coming, but it isn’t yet clear if any of them can top what you already have for free on the desktop — or what you can get for free on the Internet.
In this chapter, I introduce you to a handful of useful programs that you’ve already paid for. They aren’t the greatest, but they’re more than adequate in many situations — and when better, free alternatives exist, I tell you about them, too.
Even if they do come from a Microsoft competitor.
Keep your eyes open for new Windows Store, Metro tiled applications that can match some of the functions in these free built-in Windows programs. As time goes by, the Metro apps will get better — although it’s going to be a little difficult to beat the price on these guys.
Getting Free Word Processing
If you commonly work with complicated ...
