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| The Critical Applications Starter
PackagE and Recommendations (CASPER) page is designed to supply new
users with an inexpensive best of the 'net applications package. The 32-bit apps below
represent the best apps in their class and are the most important apps to have, whether
you're just starting out or you're an experienced 'nethead. I have picked out two
categories of apps. Surfing The 'Net On A Budget offers an inexpensive ($99)
package of the best apps on the 'net for the budget-conscious user. Nothing But The
Very Best is a collection of the best apps for corporate users and those with slightly
more money to spend. Not only are these apps the best and most useful on the 'net; they
are also my personal favorites. Note: To see the full listing for a client (i.e. the version, date, size, and additional information about the client), click on the image icon for the app in question. |
| Surfing The 'Net On A Budget | Nothing But The Very Best |
Surfing The 'Net On A Budget
| The following collection of apps represents the most useful and inexpensive package of apps available on the 'net. The total package costs less than $100 and covers almost everything the beginning or even experienced 'net user needs. If you're working with a slightly larger budget, or if you're a corporate user, check out the next section, Nothing But The Very Best, too. |
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Netscape Communicator | |||
Review |
Rating | 
|
Trialware | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/communicator/cb32e402.exe | |||
| In Short | One of the elite World Wide Web browsers | |||
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Internet Explorer | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Freeware | |
| Location | http://www.microsoft.com/ie/download | |||
| In Short | Microsoft's web browser -- serious competition to Netscape? | |||
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Pegasus Mail | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Freeware | |
| Location | ftp://risc.ua.edu/pub/network/pegasus/w32-254.exe | |||
| In Short | Without a doubt, my pick for best e-mail client, and it's free! | |||
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WinZip | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $29 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.winzip.com/winzip/wzbeta32.exe | |||
| In Short | An absolute must-have file compression/decompression utility | |||
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RealPlayer | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Freeware | |
| Location | http://get.real.com/products/player/download.html | |||
| In Short | Real-time audio and video on-demand streaming for the web | |||
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NET TOOB - Stream | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $19.95 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.duplexx.com/pub/duplexx/nettoob95.exe | |||
| In Short | On-demand streaming viewer for various audio and video files | |||
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Free Agent | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Free for non-profit use | |
| Location | ftp://papa.indstate.edu/winsock-l/Win95/News/fa32-111.exe | |||
| In Short | An excellent freeware newsreader, sister sibling to Agent | |||
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Visual IRC '97 | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Free beta release | |
| Location | ftp://papa.indstate.edu/winsock-l/Windows95/virc97.zip | |||
| In Short | A great new IRC client with real-time audio chat capabilities | |||
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TextPad | |||
Review |
Rating |
 |
Shareware - $27 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.textpad.com/pub/txp32308.zip | |||
| In Short | A superb text editor that doubles as an ultra-efficient web editor | |||
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ICQ | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Free beta release | |
| Location | http://www.mirabilis.com/pub/win95/icqsetup.exe | |||
| In Short | An automated agent that notifies you when your friends get on the 'net | |||
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WS-FTP | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Free for non-profit use | |
| Location | ftp://papa.indstate.edu/winsock-l/Windows95/FTP/ws_ftp32.zip | |||
| In Short | Also one of the best File Transfer Protocol clients
available on the 'net |
|||
Nothing But The Very Best
| The following collection of apps represents the best apps on the 'net, regardless of price. Many of the apps above (including Netscape, Pegasus Mail, and WinZip) are the best applications in their category and are also the least expensive. However, there are some commercial apps listed below that, should you have the necessary funds, are better than their inexpensive counterparts. Only the apps that supersede those above will be listed here. For additional apps, check out Surfing The 'Net On A Budget. |
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CuteFTP | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $30 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.cuteftp.com/pub/cuteftp/cute1832.exe | |||
| In Short | One of the best File Transfer Protocol clients available on
the 'net |
|||
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Internet Phone | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Commercialware - $69 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.vocaltec.com/pub/iphone45.exe | |||
| In Short | Full-duplex, real-time voice communication over the 'net! | |||
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Agent | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Commercialware - $40 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.forteinc.com/pub/forte/agent/a32-15.exe | |||
| In Short | An excellent newsreader, the commercial sister sibling to Free Agent | |||
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ZipMagic | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $29 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.mijenix.com/pub/zm95-10.exe | |||
| In Short | A third generation archive management tool and definite must-have app | |||
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HomeSite | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Commercialware - $39 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.allaire.com/Evaluations/HomeSite/hs25set.exe | |||
| In Short | All the latest tags and tools in an inexpensive and easy to use package | |||
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ViruScan | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $65 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.mcafee.com/pub/antivirus/win95/v95i310e.zip | |||
| In Short | McAfee's excellent virus scanner -- now for Windows 95 | |||
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WebPhone | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Commercialware - $60 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.netspeak.com/pub/wp30-32e.exe | |||
| In Short | Full-duplex, real-time voice communication with an awesome interface! | |||
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Paint Shop Pro | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $69 | |
| Location | ftp://ftp.jasc.com/pub/psp412.exe | |||
| In Short | A great graphics application -- comparable to Adobe Photoshop | |||
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NetTerm | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $20 | |
| Location | ftp://www.neosoft.com/pub/users/z/zkrr01/nt32421.exe | |||
| In Short | One of the best terminal apps on the 'net | |||
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WebImage | |||
Review |
Rating |
|
Shareware - $39.95 | |
| Location | http://www.group42.com/applications/wi32_211.exe | |||
| In Short | GraphX Viewer on steroids -- the commercial release of the 'Viewer | |||
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