Some work at home jobs require specific software. You may also want to review the current programs installed on your computer to make sure you’re up to date. Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not work for or own stock in any of the companies who offer the products mentioned here, and you should bear in mind that I am the type of programmer that cannot ABIDE programs that do everything for me including wipe my… nose. I’m what you might gently refer to as a “Power User” so I get very irritated with programs that are resource hogs that make the system run slower.
Before responding to your first ad, make sure that your anti-virus software is up to date! While there are may good programs out there, I personally use ESET Nod32 Antivirus. I had grown disenchanted with Symantec and McAfee because both of them seemed to be resource hogs, and I found myself having to repeatedly shut off useless “features” that would mysteriously turn themselves back on every time the program upgraded. An IT friend recommended ESET and I’ve been really happy with it.
A firewall is also useful. I’m currently using the Sunbelt Personal Firewall, although it doesn’t get a lot of action since my internet connection is through my router. Speaking of routers, even if you have a wireless router, you might want to use a cable connection for your main work computer–it’s more secure and you aren’t broadcasting potentially sensitive information. You should also make sure your wireless router requires a username and password to access the network and prevent others from using your internet connection. Consult your router manual for details.
Other software depends on what sort of work you do. If you’re a web designer, you will probably want some kind of html editing program. There are a number of web jobs that require you to have Dreamweaver. If you’re working on the design end of things, you’ll want image editing software. Professionals generally use Adobe Photoshop. It’s always a good idea to check out and see what they have for specials and bundles–you may be able to get several programs for a lower price than if you bought them individually.
Programmers need some sort of text editing software, although you can use plain old Notepad, there are some good text editors out there that have conveniences such as highlighting code that can let you see a mistake at a glance. I have a friend who swears by Ultra Edit, but I personally prefer TextPad.
For documents, Microsoft Office is still widely used, especially by larger companies, although Open Office is growing in popularity.
Obviously, there are lots of other programs out there that do the same job as the ones mentioned, and if you have one that works for you, there’s no need to go out and get expensive software that you don’t really need. Be aware, however, that you will need the capability to view and/or edit files generated by the more commonly used programs.