Great technology doesn’t need to drain your bank account. There are lots of options for computers, devices, and software that are both fully functional and affordable.

• One solid option for a computer is a Google Chromebook. A Chromebook is a laptop running the Chrome operating system. It is designed to run with an Internet connection (though not required), and uses Google Drive for file storage. Google Sheets and Docs provide office program functionality to create documents and spreadsheets. There are high end Chromebooks, but you can pick up a decent one for around $200.

https://www.google.com/chromebook/

New Chromebooks also come with the Android app store, so you can load your computer with all of your favorite apps. If you want to take full advantage of the app store, make sure to get a laptop with a touch screen.

You can even install a Linux desktop operating system on your Chromebook so that you have the best of both worlds – the quick and lightweight (limited) Chrome operating system, and the fully featured Linux operating system that will run more programs and applications. Installing Linux isn’t very hard for the technologically inclined or those who like to experiment and try new things. Here is a blog article that makes the process pretty straightforward.

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-install-linux-on-a-chromebook-and-unlock-its-ful-509039343

• If you already have a computer but need office software and don’t want to spend $400 on Microsoft Office, you can use LibreOffice. It is a free and open source office suite that can create documents, spreadsheets, and slide show presentations. It also has a desktop publishing program that is similar to Publisher. This program is compatible with Microsoft Office and will do anything you need it to.

https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/

• If you need a PDF program and don’t want to spend $300 on Adobe Acrobat, try out PDF X-Change Editor. There is a free version that will let you use lots of features to edit pdfs. If you find that you need some of the licensed features, you can purchase the regular license for $43.50 or the plus license for $54.50.

https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-editor

Make sure to share this post with any friends who want to save money and enjoy good technology.

This blog post was brought to you by a Chromebook running Linux and LibreOffice.

Have you tried out any free or low cost alternatives to the expensive mainstream software? What were your experiences? Leave a comment below.