I think the majority of the world uses Microsoft Products. Whether it’s Windows XP/Vista or Microsoft Office. Like a Southern Baptist Preacher, I feel it my responsibility to let the world know that there are free alternatives out there that not only does the same thing that Microsoft Products do, they do even more. The type of software I’m talking about is called Open Source Software. Open Source Software is software that is available for all to change, copy, distribute, etc.

Windows XP/Vista

Most households are familiar with Windows. Whether it’s XP or Vista, “Windows” is in nearly every home in America and probably across the world. Most businesses use Windows. Most schools use Windows. Most people don’t know that there are other Operating Systems (OS’s) out there. In the past few years, since Malware, Virii, and Spam is up, I’ve noticed that Apple have increased their sales of Macintosh computers. Apple/Mac computers do not use “Windows,” they use a Linux based OS called “OS X.” Since MAC OS X isn’t a Windows based OS, Viruses, Spyware and Malware are all incompatible. Now, don’t get confused, OS X isn’t Open Source Software. I just mentioned it because it’s an alternative to Windows. OS X, still costs you money. Now, what I use is called Linux. Linux is a Unix based OS that is yet another of the many Alternatives to Windows. Check this page out: DISTRO WATCH to learn more about the different Distro’s or Versions of Linux that’s available. Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS is probably the best to start off with. By getting rid of Windows and getting Linux, you’re saying goodbye to Spyware, Malware, and Viruses. You’re also saying goodbye to the famous “Blue Screen of Death” (BSoD).

OFFICE SOFTWARE

Another Microsoft product that people think they can’t live without is MS Office. You know Word, Excel, Power Point, etc. There are several alternatives to Microsoft Office products as well. The most known (I think) and the one I use is an Office Suite by Sun Microsystems called Open Office. You can check it out at OpenOffice.org. Open Office does everything that MS Office does and looks just as good. MS Office was required for my classes, but Open Office works just fine. And most importantly, it’s 100% Microsoft Office Compatible. So there’s no excuse for not switching NOW. Also, it’s available for Windows, Mac, & Linux.

Open Source Software is a great FREE alternative to Commercial software. For everything you do in Windows or Mac, there’s an alternative in Linux that’s just as good or better. If you have any questions on Free Alternative Software, feel free to contact me and I’ll see what I can do to help!