However in case of most windows-based free software, (except for good-hearted programmers mentioned above), there most often is an ulterior motive for giving software away for free.

Some free software packages have advertising engines which rotate banner or text ads while you are using program and, while some of them are quite forthright and honest about this, others deliver their advertising bomb through Trojan horse back doors which sneak onto your computer without your knowledge. In most cases, this simply results in unwanted advertising that you have no idea where it came from, but in other cases you could very well end up with software that’s designed to steal your passwords, financial info or worse.

Some of more popular free software for your business, including Open Office which, unbelievable as it may seem, is an almost complete free replacement for MS-Office package, including a spread sheet and a word processor, has no strings attached. It’s just free.

FreeCRM.com, a web-based customer relationship management program, offers absolutely free fully-enabled accounts for small businesses. Larger businesses, with multiple employees requiring access to system, pay just a nominal fee.

So to sum this up -- here’s some free advice. If you are thinking about using a free software program for your small business, fire up your Internet, go to Google and look up name of free software. You will find everything you need to know, both good points as well as bad points, about that particular package. Then decide whether it’s right for your needs.

Keepad is available as a softcopy for $29.95 from www.keepoint.com. It can be upgraded from Keepoint 7, base product of recently released Keepoint 7 Series (available FREE of charge) to which Keepad also belongs. Keepad can be further upgraded to Keepoint 7 Pro, for $50.00.

Headquartered in Japan, Saora Inc., was founded in July 1999. Saora is committed to excellence in providing Internet products and services, priding itself on its products' user interfaces, which are highly sophisticated, yet easy-to-use. Saora, Inc. has been shipping English and Japanese versions of Keepoint family of products since 2000. Saora Inc. is led by Dr. Aruna Rohra, who, prior to founding Saora, was with Canon Inc. at their R&D Headquarters in Tokyo, for fifteen years.