Google Pack

The truth is Google Pack is actually a number of excellent, fair and average quality software products that are in the majority of cases free (all except Norton). Google has decided to promote these products with the aim of making your desktop computer life easier.

All the software is available separately and some of the software products are Google's own creations. Google Pack includes Google Earth, Google Desktop, Mozilla Firefox With Google Toolbar, Ad-Aware SE Personal, Norton Antivirus 2005 Special Edition and Google Pack Screensaver. Norton Antivirus comes at a price, although you do get six months' free virus definitions.

You can download the entire package, or simply select the software you actually want. This is a decent collection of free software, ideal if you are a novice computer user looking for some essential software (Media playback, antivirus and the best anti-spyware solution available).

The current Google Pack features:-

• Mozilla Firefox Browser with Google Toolbar and Autofill.
• Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer with Search Toolbar, Autofill and Pop-up Blocker for Popups.
• Picasa Photo Editing Software for Photography and photograph management.
• Google Earth - 3D Earth with many features. Is often used on TV news channels.
• Desktop Organiser - Desktop companion.
• Photo Screen Saver - Make your own screen saver from a directory of pictures.
• Norton AntiVirus with free 6-month subscription to protection updates.
• Ad-Aware SE Personal - The best anti-spyware utility from Lavasoft to detect and remove spyware.
• Adobe Reader 7 - PDF Reader.

Optional updates and add-ons include:

• Google Talk.
• RealPlayer - Media Player (Real Player) for iPods, Music and Videos.
• Video Player.
• GalleryPlayer HD Images - for High-quality Artwork, Photos and Images.

The pack is designed to offer up all the essential software a typical user might want. Google, of course, doesn't make much software of its own but what it brings to the table is an informed decision about what software you need and an integrated installer that can manage the install of each application automatically and this is where the real value in Google Pack is found.