This page is mostly about how to do certain operations on your computer.
We have also listed a number of the more popular, mostly free to use - open source software applications. The programs listed under the Windows section are avaialble for you to try out on your Windows PC. This will enable you to identify, try and use programs to do the tasks you need to do at no or low cost.
This will allow you, if you wish to move to a Linux operating system quickly as you will know the programming that you need to use with free, open source computer systems, reducing your costs and removing the legal risks that you may currently be open to by using unregistered software.
Many packages are free, some may have restrictions, or low cost licencing,for use by business.
Most of the links we provide will give you all the information you need.
The list we provide is only a selection of what is available. Please let us know if you have any favourite that you would like to add.
For Everyone | Linux | Mac | Windows
Thunderbird: Good email program
Evolution: provides mail, addressbook/calendaring functionality to GNOME desktop users.
Open Office - This consists of the following:
Writer: A word processor similar to Word/WordPerfect. Can export PDF files with no additional software, and basic WYSIWYG editor for creating/editing web pages.
Calc: A spreadsheet similar to Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 with equivalent range of features. Calc provides features not present in Excel,including a system to auto define series for graphing, based on the layout of the user's data. Calc can write spreadsheets in PDF format.
Impress: Presentation program similar to PowerPoint. Can export presentations to Flash (SWF) files, to be played on any computer with Flash player installed. Can create PDF files, and PowerPoint's .ppt format. Lacks ready-made designs but templates are readily available on the 'net.
Base: A database management program similar to Microsoft Access. Base allows the creation and manipulation of databases, and the building of forms and reports to provide easy access to data for end-users. As with Access, Base may be used as a front-end to a number of different database systems, including Access databases (JET), ODBC data sources and MySQL/PostgreSQL. Base became part of the suite starting with version 2.0. Native to the OpenOffice.org suite is an adaptation of HSQL. While Base can be a front-end for any of the databases listed, there is no need for any of them to be installed.
Draw: A vector graphics editor and diagramming tool, similar to Microsoft Visio and comparable in features to early versions of CorelDRAW. It features versatile "connectors" between shapes, which are available in a range of line styles and facilitate building drawings such as flowcharts. Has similar features to Desktop publishing software such as Scribus and Microsoft Publisher.
Math: Tool creates and edits math formulae, similar to MS Equation Editor.Formulae can be embedded into other OpenOffice.org documents, eg those created by Writer. Supports multiple fonts and can export to PDF.
Want to do more with Open Office then go to:
Open Office Addons for Linux
KOffice 2.0 - The KOffice project was seemingly shut down permanently in September 2012 without any official announcement
GNOME Office - includes AbiWord, Gnumeric and GNOME-DB data access components. It is a part of the GNOME environment for X Window (on Linux, the BSDs, and other Unix emulating operating systems).
Star Office: Is Sun Microsystems' proprietary office suite software package and includes:
StarCalc - Spreadsheet .sdc
StarImpress - presentation program
StarDraw - drawing tool
StarBase - database
StarMath - formula generator
Gimp A good graphics editor
GimpShop: GIMPshop is available for many different operating systems, including Mac OS X, Windows: 98+, Linux, and Solaris.
ArtRage: Starter Edition: bitmap graphics editor for digital painting for Windows
Artweaver: freeware raster graphics editor for Windows
Brush Strokes Image Editor: freeware bitmap graphics editor for Windows.
FastStone Image Viewer: image viewer and image organizer for Microsoft Windows,
Helicon Filter Free: Edit and improve existing photos, not graphics creation
IrfanView: freeware image viewer for Win - view, edit, convert image files/play video/audio
Paint.NET: a raster graphics editing program for Windows
Picasa: software to organise/edit digital photos, now owned by Google
Pixia: freeware bitmap graphics editor program for Windows,
Project Dogwaffle 1.2 Free Version: raster graphics editor with simple animation capabilities
Xnview: free cross-platform: viewing, converting, organising editing graphical & video files
CinePaint: open source program for painting/retouching bitmap frames of movie film
KolourPaint: free, easy-to-use raster graphics editor for the K Desktop Environment
KOffice Krita: bitmap graphics editor included in KOffice suite. Painting and photo editor.
mtPaint: graphic editor geared to create indexed palette images/pixel art easy to use.
Pixen: interface similar to Adobe Photoshop. ses a unique left/right tool system.
Seashore: image editor for Mac OS X, influenced by the GIMP
Tile Studio: editor for graphics of tile-based games
Tux Paint: free/open source bitmap editor create/process raster graphics) aimed at children.
Blender(3d design software) - many of people compare this to 3D Studio Max
Maya (3d design software) - a computer program for creating 3D graphics
POV-Ray Persistence of Vision Raytracer high-quality, free tool for creating 3D graphics
Players / Editors
VLC media player: an open source player, encoder and streamer, supports a wide variety of audio / video codecs in addition to DVD support.
Amarok: - an audio player
Audacity: free, open source software for recording and editing sounds.
Avidemux is a free video editor designed for simple cutting, filtering and encoding tasks. It supports many file types, including AVI, DVD compatible MPEG files, MP4 and ASF, using a variety of codecs
Jahshaka is a video and film compositing, editing and special fx system
Calendar / Appointment Manager
Mozilla Sunbird cross-platform calendar application, built on Mozilla Toolkit.
DTP
FTP
Project Management
OpenProj: free, open source project management solution replacement of MS Project etc.
File Compression
Anti Virus / Security
ClamWin is a Free Antivirus program for Microsoft Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 and Vista
Security desktop tools
Instant Messaging
Jabber is an open instant messaging (IM) technology that anyone can use
Pidgin - Instant Messaging client to use all your IM accounts at once. Runs on a number of platforms
Finch is a text-based version of Pidgin supports same IM networks, can run in console window. You can use it on Linux, BSD,and other Unixes.
HTML editors
There are other programs to add to this list. If you know of a program you wish to recommend for new Linux users, please use this FORM.
They come in different distributions, known as flavors or platforms.
Ubuntu: Very good to start with and indeed go on with
Fedora: Is free for anyone to use, modify and distribute.
Knoppix: Bootable live system on CD / DVD, Use as a Linux system for the desktop, educational CD, rescue system. Not necessary to install on hard disk, due to on-the-fly decompression.CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software installed or over 8GB on the DVD "Maxi" edition.
Debian: We use Debian for a range of our machines.
OpenSUSE a free and Linux-based operating system for your PC, Laptop or Server.
Ability Office: Low cost alternative: Consists of Write, Presentation, Database, Photoalbum, Spreadsheet,Photopaint,Draw and Launcher and support MS file imports
Celframe Office Low cost supports MS Office and OpenOffice file formats, Not simply an office suite, but a productivity suit
EasyOffice free for non-commercial personal use
Framework historical but still supported for Windows by the present developer.
Gobe Productive Originally written for BeOS by developers of the original ClarisWorks, A lightweight integrated Works-like office suite with generous "Hassle-Free License."
IBM Lotus SmartSuite - Includes Lotus 123 spreadsheet and renamed word processor and recently IBM Lotus Symphony (freeware word, spreadsheet and presentation suite).
Open Office Free Office Suite of programs. We use this for our own work.
StarWriter‚ word processor .
StarCalc‚ spreadsheet
StarImpress‚ presentation program
StarDraw‚ drawing tool
StarBase‚ database
StarMath‚ formula generator
Want to do more with Open Office then go to:
ArtRage: Starter Edition: bitmap graphics editor for digital painting for Windows
Artweaver: Freeware raster graphics editor for Windows
Brush Strokes Image Editor: Freeware bitmap graphics editor for Windows.
FastStone Image Viewer: Image viewer and image organizer for Microsoft Windows
Helicon Filter Free: Edit and improve existing photos, not graphics creation
IrfanView: Freeware image viewer for Win - view, edit, convert image files/play video/audio
Paint.NET: A raster graphics editing program for Windows
Picasa: Software to organise/edit digital photos, now owned by Google
Pixia: Freewarebitmap graphics editor program for Windows,
Project Dogwaffle 1.2 Free Version: raster graphics editor with simple animation capabilities
Xnview: freecross-platform viewing, converting, organising editing graphical &video files