Did you know that most commercial applications that you run on your desktop have open source alternatives? That’s right, from your office suite to website builders and even down to video and audio editing. Still don’t believe me? That’s okay too, because we have started compiling a list of cross-platform open source alternatives for the software we use the most.

Feel free to look around the list and check out the sites for some of this software. You really can’t be no-cost, supported, open source software. Upgrades cost nothing, if you have to reinstall it you don’t have to purchase it all over again, and most of the software has very useful support forums that can answer your questions.

If you liked that, try...

1. Microsoft’s Top 25 Open Source Projects
2. Apple Open Source Still Alive
3. The Darker Side of Open Source?
4. BitTorrent Closes Source Code
5. Greatest Software Ever

2 Comments »

1. 
   Devin de Gruyl
   November 12, 2007 at 1:38 pm

   I’d like to nominate Lynx for the list, now that I think about it. It’s GPL’d, cross-platform, and despite being a text-only browser (and a rather basic one at that) is still capable of some tricks (such as text-to-speech) that the bigger boys can’t really pull off.

   Plus, it’s handy to have around; it’s very useful for investigating suspicious URLs, ones you’re afraid may contain spyware, Javascript exploits, or even Last Measure mirrors. It can also be used as a “lowest common denominator” to ensure your web content is indeed viewable by anyone. And since it takes up less than half a megabyte of HD space, why not have it around?

   Most versions are available through the link in the first paragraph. An NT/2K/XP (and Vista?) installer can be grabbed here.

   [Reply]

2. 
   Migo
   November 12, 2007 at 2:43 pm

   A Mac port isn’t out yet, that’s the only thing I’ve been waiting for before I toss it up on the list. Otherwise I’ve got to go through and compile OS-specific lists and that’d be a huge pain in the butt.

   [Reply]

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