Internet:
Web Browser:
Mozilla Firefox. The second most-used web browser in the world, and gaining!
Email:
Mozilla Thunderbird. A feature-rich email client from the makers of Firefox.
Instant Messaging:
Gaim. A multi-protocol instant messaging client for accessing AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, and others.
RSS reader:
RSSOwl. RSSOwl lets you gather, organize, update, and store information from any compliant source in a convenient, easy to use interface, save selected information in various formats for offline viewing and sharing, and much more. It’s easy to configure, available in many many languages and best of all, it’s platform-independent.
Media Players:
VLC. A very capable media player which includes most common and some less common multimedia files. DVD playback included.
Office tools:
OpenOffice. A feature-rich and Microsoft compatible office suite.
PDF Creator. A free print-to-PDF program.
Security software:
TrueCrypt. A very capable disk encryption tool. Similar to BestCrypt or PGP Disk.
OpenVPN GUI client. A graphical client for accessing the popular and open source OpenVPN server software
Sound Editing:
Audacity. An open source sound editor.
Spyware detection:
Spybot. Spyware detection and removal tool.
Video Editing:
JAHSHAKA. The worlds first Open Source Realtime Editing and Effects System. Jahshaka takes advantage of the power of OpenGL and OpenML to give its users exceptional levels of performance. We currently support Linux, MacOS X, Irix and Windows, and Solaris is on the way! Jahshaka is licenced to the public under the GNU GPL agreement.
Article comments
1 - Lindsey Rockwell
Excellent article!
There is no substitute for Linux, but if you are tied up with your arms and legs to MS-lock-in this is the second best choice!
Regards:
Lindsey
2 - Decibel
I'm glad you included PostgreSQL in this, but perhaps it would be best if you used the PostgreSQL logo instead of the MySQL one? :)
3 - Ecacofonix
Nice, useful article and introduction to open source software...I think it is a good idea to have this CD give all the details on Windows, since that will enable lots of folks enslaved by Microsoft to know linux and open source better
At eIT.in, we also have a page that provides lots of web resources for free & open source sofware . Hope this link is of help too
[Edited]
4 - Triniman
Two months since this article came out and it still shows up once in a while in the Most Popular article listing. Clearly, people are interested in alternatives to MS, especially when they are at no cost.
5 - PedroAlberto Sanchez
Eye-opener! Thanks for the update,must needed info to be had. Once again there is HOPE.
6 - Dave
Thats because open source will always have the majority vote. Where else can we get improved versions of previous softwares for free? Even phones are now coming out with Linux software :)