Have you ever believed in the sayhere's will, there's a way", well when it comes to the world of personal computing it does have its ways to get things done. You could probably by a computer with most of the options and a good LCD for around 300$ now! But you will have to spend an equal amount as you did on your Hardware to buy your software!
With good hardware and Crappy software you are going no where. So when it comes to buying a PC from scratch, you set yourself on a mission to find the sweet spot of finding the perfect balance between Hardware and Software for the bucks you spend !! And will end up with something less than u expected.
So the focus is now on free AKA Open source software packages available on the INTERNET. The open source software family has spread its roots into most of the corners where there was only commercial software available as solutions.
What is open source software?
In it's very basic form, this means FREE software for you n me! but it's a good idea you read about this and know whats the theory of Open source.
Look at the software you use daily, you pay for them, but you cannot customize nor change major parts or reverse engineer the product, as you have accepted there terms before you install it!(it's like Renting a house, you could use it but limited rights stop you from modifying it or expanding it, and to make things clear, even though you pay heafty amounts on them you never can own them!!) For most of us the standard package is all we want.
Open source software is given free under the GNU license and you can gain access to the source code of the software as well, if you know software coding you could add features, enhance it and could redistribute your version free of charge to other Human Beings!
Let's take a look at some of the software's made by the open source community which could replace high priced commercial software.
The Application software alternatives listed here can be run on windows too
Operating systems- UBUNTU
This is a very good option to use as an operating system and will replace windows xp or vista, with less security exploits and most of the options available out of the box. Can be freely downloaded or you could order a CD which will be shipped to you free of charge at www.ubuntu.com
Photo Enhancing Raster Image manipulation- GIMP
Gimp is an option to the high priced & popular Photoshop package; the software is amazingly smaller in size when compared to Photoshop & offers a very powerful toolset which in some cases could beat Photoshop. Why use illegal Photoshop when u have free gimp! Download it here www.gimp.org
Office work - Libre office
Distributed as free downloads by Open Document Foundation , Libre office is the most effective office solution out there! Given that it's completely free, you will be amazed at the vast feature set it has to offer!
Direct to PDF out put capability, web site creation wizards, packages for presentation spread sheet, database management, and drawing and with the full compatibility to Microsoft office file formats and it also allows you to save in MS office formats. So theres nothing stopping you from stepping into green zone in your office productivity environment!
download it free at http://www.libreoffice.org/download/
Vector Graphic creation designing -Inkscape
Sure you've heard of Illustrator & CorelDraw! Open source counterpart for these packages is Inkscape, again a very small software which is capable of doing all the things its commercial versions do.
download it at www.inkscape.org
3D animation 3d visualization -Blender
Blender is the package Open Source community offers free of charge which can do everything that others can do! Take a look at there site www.blender.org and am sure you will download the 10MB package which is worth giving a try!
Audio editing! Enhancing Recording -Audacity
The software packages listed here are just a few among thousands out there... which is offered under the GNU license... and it's popular among most people who think Free! if you are tough enough to challenge your self and step into Open! this is the best time!
