With Projekt Neptun, you can buy a Lenovo or HP laptop without an OS and download Windows 10 from Microsoft Imagine (just make sure to check if it’s available for you first). Even Windows can be downloaded for free if you’re in a STEM field. For your smartphone or tablet, anyone can install Microsoft Office apps without charge. Depending on the contract between your university and Microsoft, some MS Office products may be free – most common are Office 365, Visio and Project. Getting some Microsoft software without spending a dime in a legal way can be easy if you’re a student. Unfortunately, even some large companies have adopted the policy of trying to get you to install unrelated, bundled programs. But some caution is advised: when downloading and installing freeware, always make sure to scan the download with your anti-virus program and check that no additional software like security scanning programs, browser toolbars, and so on will be installed. If you are looking for an application not listed here, just take a couple of minutes searching the Internet and you are most likely to find a download matching your needs.

There are many products out there, so this article will focus on common freeware for Windows PCs. However, there are legal ways to get costly software for free as well as numerous alternatives as freeware or open source downloads.

Software doesn’t come cheap and, depending on your needs, the cost for licenses may even be as high as the cost for your hardware, if not higher.

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