A place to talk about MS Windows alternatives. Information on getting ready to move over to GNU/Linux. Info on Linux/Unix and other Free/open-source apps you can use to replace your favorite MS Windows and other proprietary software.
The main purpose of this group is to help people remove their dependence on Windows ONLY software. I will try to compile a list of alternatives that Windows and Linux users can use. Free your computer! Free yourself! All for Free!
Want to add something to the list? post your recommendation and I will add it. (Software recommendations must work in Windows and Linux.) |
| These Programs Work in MS Windows, Linux and most other BSD variants | These Programs are Linux Only |
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| Web Browser | |
-Now free with no ads! |
E-Mail Client |  | Also try Evolution |
| MS Office replacement |
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| OR | |
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| Instant Messager |
 | Also try Kopete |
| Multi-Track sound editor |
 | Also Try Rosegarden |
| Audio Recording and Playback Resources |
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| Raster Graphic editor (Photoshop) |
 More Info at GIMP Myspace Group |
| Vector Graphic Editor (Illustrator) |
Inkscape
OR
FOSS only on *NIX |
| Audio/Video conference |
 |
| Video Player |
 OR
 RealPlayer
VLC Media PlayerFlash 9.0 Plugin (Final Version Released) | Also try Xine |
| Text Editors |
OR
 Emacs | |
| WYSIWYG HTML Editors |
 Nvu (Based on Mozilla Composer) | Also try Quanta Plus |
| Calendar |
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| PDF Reader |
| Adobe 7.0 now available for linux. | |
| Web Server |
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| Peer-to-Peer File Sharing |
giFT
OR
OR
ALSO
Azureus is my current favorite torrent client. Please remember to open and port forward port 6881, in your firewall to get speeds higher than 5k/s. With 6881 portforwarding I get 70K/s downloads AVG over my home DSL. Click Here for more info on setting a torrent client. | |
| 3D Studio Max / Maya replacement |
POV-Ray | |
| Java Runtime and SDK |
The latest JRE is Suns Java v. 1.5.0.09
Java is now Open Source Software (GPL)
Watch the Press conference (Flash Required).
Linux users might want to use Blackdown's version of Java v. 1.4.2 instead of Suns version. (Blackdowns version is reported to be less of a RAM hog than Sun's version.)
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| Wine under Linux (Run MS Windows programs under Linux) |
I am excited to say that Getting Wine to run your Windows programs is easier than ever. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't quite compare to Codega or Crossover office (commercial variants of wine) but it is pretty darn good. After installing Wine you can use the lastest Winetools to automatically install IE 6, Windows Media player, and Quicktime 6 and alot of other programs. If you just want to get IE 5, 5.5, and 6 (7 coming soon) running using WINE, then make sure you use IE4LINUX It also installs Flash 9 | |
| My Linux Distro Recommendations |
Ubuntu -- If you like Gnome [Info on Gnome]
Kubuntu -- If you like KDE (I use this) [Info on KDE]
Xubuntu -- If you want a lightweight desktop. [Info on xfce]
ALL these "Ubuntus" can be used as LIVE CDs. So you can try them by running them directly form the CDROM -- no installing required. | | |
| Learn more about open source and Linux |
| There is a documentary created in 2001 called Revolution OS now available on Google video (requires flash 7 or higher to view). This video concisely lays out the history of Open Source and Linux by interviewing the "Founding Fathers of FOSS." (including Richard Stallman, Michael Tiemann, Linus Torvalds, Larry Augustin, Eric S. Raymond, Bruce Perens, Frank Hecker and Brian Behlendorf. ) It is 1 hour and 25 minutes long and is distributed under the GPL; so you can copy it and give it out to your friends if you like. It has just come to my attention that there was another video called The Code Linux(this extra closing tag is due to a myspace glitch) that is a finish film (mostly in english but there are some interviews in other languages) made in 2002. It is 1 hour long and is available on Google Video as well. It is full of interviews just like "Revolution OS." In addition, if you would like to learn more about Open Source Licensing check out the Open Source Initiative's Open Source approved licenses. | | |