Open Source Alternatives to Popular Windows Apps

Posted by ttblogger on 07/26 at 06:00 AM Permalink
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When you think of Open Source software, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Linux or maybe Mozilla Firefox. One not uncommon misconception about Open Source is that the software, except for certain applications, is only available for Linux.

Obviously, that’s not true. There are countless Open Source applications for Windows (and Mac OS, too). It sounds strange creating free software for an operating system that’s not free but Open Source gives Windows users a lot of flexibility and a number of solid alternatives to popular Windows apps.

This TechTip looks at a few alternatives to some popular Windows applications. These alternatives can save you money while giving you the features and functions that that you need to get things done.

Read Full Article Click Here
    Posted by Frank  on  07/26  at  09:07 AM

  1. Thanks for the useful article.  I had heard of OpenOffice but hadn’t checked it out.  I like Office but my only real complaint (aside from MS changing things with each new version seemingly just for the sake of change) is the size limits of Outlook.  I do a lot of emailing back and forth with others on group projects the last several weeks or months.  These include some fairly big attachments.  Eventually I hit the max size of the PST file.  Does Mozilla Thunderbird have such limitations and more importantly can I easily move my Office PST file and contents over, including folders and such?  Just curious but hoping it will works. grin

    2. Posted by Marilyn  on  07/26  at  10:15 AM

  2. Hi, I just read your article on Open Source, is there anything like this that can be use for office Mac?

    3. Posted by Josh Emery  on  07/26  at  10:38 AM

  3. Thanks.  I thought this was an awesome article.  I think openoffice is great and more should know about it.  I am also a big supporter of google’s Picasa for a photo organizer (not sure how you feel about this lol).  Could you guys please do a follow up with more open source programs.  Thanks.

    4. Posted by llyndaschindler  on  07/26  at  01:22 PM

  4. thanks for keeping me informed and up to date, that one reason to only purchase from a reputable business who knows their stuff.

    5. Posted by al  on  07/26  at  02:13 PM

  5. Wow great article . i have every article that has been sent to me from tips .

    Thanks for practical information I can actually use ! 

    I was looking for an article on Unbunti - Linux .

    6. Posted by Dean-Ross Schessler  on  07/26  at  02:15 PM

  6. VLC is not available for Vista, right?
    Will Thunderbird work on Vista Ultimate?

    7. Posted by Mike  on  07/26  at  02:42 PM

  7. Having used open office for many years these open source programs that you mention are as good as most MS apps.
    .
    We ran into difficulties when we first started to “recycle” computers and needed an answer to a legal office for these less than fortunate folks that needed a computer to either get back to work or actually learn the basics.
    .
    Most of my newbie’s started off with open office are as comfortable with it as MS office after they find out bout it.
    .
    WTG .... Sun !

    8. Posted by John McFarlane  on  07/26  at  02:50 PM

  8. You Forgot the tip number in this weeks tip

    9. Posted by Carroll Schonrock  on  07/26  at  04:26 PM

  9. You guys are wild. and getting wilder as time goes on. The Tech Tip on the 26th July is truly great. One of, if not THE best that you have dispensed.  I save all of your “Tips” in a special file and the ones that interest me the most, in a more special file.

    Keep up the great work.
    CES /W6EAJ

    10. Posted by JSteff  on  07/26  at  10:07 PM

  10. You also may want to consider a great alternative to Open Office IBM Lotus Symphony.

    11. Posted by Dan LeBlanc  on  07/27  at  04:33 AM

  11. Great article as usual, however you forgot the second open source alternative to Windows media player.  You only talked about VLC.

    12. Posted by Mike Morris  on  07/28  at  02:25 PM

  12. You covered a lot of ground describing open source apps, but you might have mentioned Essential Blender.

    13. Posted by Gary  on  08/14  at  05:29 PM

  13. Marilyn, sorry for the late reply but OpenOffice is available for, and works pretty much identically on, Windows, Mac and Linux.  One reason schools like OpenOffice is that it’s so consistent that instructors can use whatever computer platform is available and instructors don’t have to retrain to deal with the hardware.  They also like (very much!) that it’s free, which has the additional benefit that students can install OpenOffice at home with no licensing issues.  Businesses like it for the same reason, and because it’s compatible with MS Office files it’s an easy upgrade.

    14. Posted by Gary  on  08/14  at  05:35 PM

  14. Re 10, 11, 12 etc—you covered a lot of good open source apps but you left out about eighty thousand others.  Hey everybody, grab a bucket—it’s rainin’ gravy!  <VBG>

    15. Posted by SgettiEddi  on  08/16  at  07:48 AM

  15. Good article- let’s take it a little further- you can try out almost every application in this article-WITHOUT INSTALLING IT if you like! Go to Portableapps.com . There are even more programs available, FREE, and to kick it up a little, you can put them on a USB drive. Use them on other PCs without leaving data behind, or interfering with the computer’s OS or drivers. One suggestion- if you are going to use Vista, set up your USB PortableApps drive on the Vista machine. Setting up the USB on an XP machine, then later using it on a Vista machine, almost always will give you error messages. Put the applications on the fastest USB drive you can!

    16. Posted by Jason  on  08/23  at  02:49 AM

  16. If someone knows what open source is, i would think they would know more than firefox and linux. Open office pops into mind right away

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