A gateway to useful alternative software.
For geeks and non geeks alike! Free or low cost software recommendation.
Started adding to the collection of software that most people will need from a clean install of OS (mostly windows). From browsers to media players, from spreadsheet to games. There will be something for everyone.
Alternative Software List
The basic software, at no cost!
Here is the list of software that any user can install, most of the time free of charge. Most of them are featured packed and are comparable to their commercial counterparts. I believe you will find them useful and when you do, rate this lens! Yes, I am shamelessly promoting my lens.
- Get Firefox!
- The most famous opensource project (I think!) and the most essential for most users. If you are still on IE, wait no more, browse safer and faster, NOW!
- Reclaim your inbox with ThunderBird!
- Sister project to Firefox. Great mail client as compared to costly outlook and more powerful that the compact outlook express. Look out for this to be as big as Firefox!
- Nvu: The Web Authoring System
- Finally! A complete Web Authoring System for Linux Desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Good for simple web sites.
- Gimp: GNU Image Manipulation Program
- For tasks such as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. Slight learning curve (all graphic software have learning curve! DUH!). Books supporting/teaching Gimp not as widely avaliable as those of Adobe or Macromedia.
- Inkscape: Draw freely
- Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. Verdict is still open if Inkscape can gain popularity. Meanwhile it is the only free vector software I know.
- AVG Anti Virus
- An alternative to Norton or McAfee antivirus. Work well on a whole in general scanning and virus prevention. My only issue is the slow speed it take for email attachments to be scanned.
- FileZilla FTP
- Free FTP client. All the features you need for FTP. Nothing fanciful but a comprehensive workhorse.
- Gaim : instant messaging
- Gaim is a GTK+ instant messaging application. It supports multiple protocols, including AIM, ICQ, Yahoo!, MSN, Jabber, IRC, Napster, Gadu-Gadu, Zephyr, and SILC. It has many common features found in other clients, as well as many unique features.
- Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder
- Open source audio editor. Edit mp3 and wavs, create your own sound effects and ringtones using the different special effects. Easy to learn and fun to use!
Books to get you up and running (away from M$) with alternative software
Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional)
Amazon Price: $31.49 (as of 12/11/2009) 
Firefox Secrets: A Need-To-Know Guide
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/11/2009)
The Official Blender 2.3 Guide: Free 3D Creation Suite for Modeling, Animation, and Rendering
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)
Sponsored Links
Erm, I can do with some sponsorship
- Free Classifieds
- Get your free online classifieds from ablewise.com
Other Alternative List of Software
The web is big enough for other list you know...
- Over at lifehack.org, there is a similar list and interesting discussion on the alternatives to common microsoft software.
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