One of the perks of buying a new computer usually includes free anti-virus software. However, after the free updates run out (it must update the anti-virus definitions daily in order to keep up with new viruses coming out) you usually end up paying a monthly or yearly fee for continuing updates. The virus software is then virtually useless if you do not purchase these updates. 
 
There is a TOTALLY FREE solution to this, though. AVG Free http://free.avg.com/ is what it says - FREE anti-virus software. It continues to give you FREE daily or weekly updates of new virus definitions as they appear, keeping your computer safe from viruses. My personal computer at home has been saved a couple of times by AVG Free!  
 
Be sure you have some sort of anti-virus software that is constantly updating itself. AVG Free is a good one to get. 

Posted by: susanclark

If you don't have word processing software on your home computer you can safely download Open Office for free at http://www.openoffice.org/  
 
Open Office even allows you to save documents in .doc or .rtf format so that they can be opened by the Microsoft Word program. This way your child can start an assignment at home, bring it to school on a flash or thumb drive, and finish it in Word at school! It's great and it's TOTALLY FREE! 
 
It would also be useful for parents who need to bring work home with them occasionally. 

Posted by: susanclark