Open Source & Free Software
This is a short list of the current crop of open source and freeware which I use on a regular basis.
| • OpenOffice | - office suite |  openoffice.org |
| • Firefox | - web browser | mozilla.com |
| • Site Inspector | - cross-browser viewer | paessler.com |
| • foxit reader | - PDF viewer |
foxitsoftware.com |
| • Sumatra | - small PDF viewer |
kowalczyk.info |
| • Thunderbird | - email client | mozilla.com |
| • Clamwin | - windows antivirus | clamwin.com |
| • ClamAV | - linux antivirus | clamav.org |
| • Zone Alarm | - firewall | zonealarm.com |
| • Spybot SD | - anti-spyware | safer-networking.org |
| • Super © | - media converter | erightsoft.com |
| • Blender | - 3D content creator | blender.org |
| • Screenweaver | - RIDA creator | screenweaver.com |
| • Camstudio | - Video Screen Capture | camstudio.org |
| • FTP commander | - FTP client | ftpcommander.com |
| • Crimson Editor | - windows text editor | crimsoneditor.com |
Why open source software?
Many people (staff, students & friends) ask me why I advocate the use of open source software. The way I see it, it's better to use open source than to be a pirate. If you or your organisation can afford the license fee then great, but I find many small businessess and typically students who would rather not pay.
Only a few years ago open source applications were pale imitations of their commercially developed cousins. Now, however, there are many useful apps that are fully featured and free from the open source community. Infact the idea of a large community developing each project leads to timely updates, bug fixes and user requested features.
Am I suggesting that everyone steps across the line and installs Linux as their desktop? Not yet - although gone are the days of mounting the CD drive everytime you wanted to use it - In my opinion Linux is still not ready for the computer illiterate. Anyway, new machines come pre-installed with the latest OS so at present it's the applications that shine as open source.