Software Blacklist

[DaCuBaN]

Despite the fact that it's bloated, cumbersome and unreliable, Microsoft Windows continues to be the 'market leader' in desktop operating systems, and hence it's proprietary softwares are the same leaders. I felt it necessary to start a thread to collect together alternatives.

Starting with the obvious, you can actually entirely abandon Windows (http://www.linuxiso.org) but for many (especially younger denizens, who may use their personal computers for games) this is not a possibility.

As for Office Software, there is a free alternative in the form of OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org) - an open source equivelant to the Microsoft Office suite

A good place to visit if you would like to see more 'communal' software development projects, or even better if you'd like to get involved with any of them would be SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net)

Rather than making this one long rant, if people could post their recommendations, or even request in this thread, I'll continue to tidy it up.

[apathy maybe]

just pushing my own cart here

http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=25528


Some examples of Free Software include; the GNU (GNU's Not Unix) software from the Free Software Foundation, this software replicates much of the software used in commercial Unixes, and in many cases has replaced it (because it is better); Linux, the operating system that many consider the poster child of Free Software; OpenOffice, a fully featured office suite (used to write this article); Mozilla (and it's derivatives), a browser (and mail client) has become the standard for many people in browsing (and started off the idea of 'Open Source' as opposed to 'Free Software'); The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program (yes it is from the FSF)), used to manipulate images (imagine that!); and Apache, the web-server used by over 60% of websites.

If anyone has any questions about if there is a Free Software alternative for x. Ask here.

[Gunman]

Well, im using a cracked edition of windows xp (btw, most of the things i have in my pc are cracked :P), so i guess im not supporting microsoft in anyway

[apathy maybe]

You don't understand. By using Windows at all, you are supporting Microsoft. They would rather you use Windoze cracked then no Windoze at all.

Also, you can get into shit with the law by copying stuff you don't have permission to copy. You are free to copy Linux as much as you want.

[Floyd.]

Personally I want a copy of Lindows, I already have a Dell which is PERFECT for it. Harris go play on your 486 running 3.1

[Ian]

My friend had Lindows, he says it was shit and he dislikes the fact that its selling Linux commercially.

[DaCuBaN]

Pretty much all the main distro's sell them... you can download the home user versions of pretty much all of them (which are of course, free and open source) from http://www.linuxiso.org (http://www.linuxiso.org/finddistro.php). Lindows is the exception to the rule.

[Bolshevist]

I've been using GNU/Linux for about 4-5 years and Slackware about 2-3 years.

I tried Lindows once, and I can for shure say it absolute crap. If you want anything installed through the warehouse-software you have to pay. The price of software doesn't bother me, but they are developing proprietary software and labeling it as good for the GNU community. I don't like them at all. Stay clear.

[apathy maybe]

I currently have running on my Machine, Mandrake 9.2 (download) & SuSE 9.1. I did install Xandros at one stage, it is really nice for non techno people (hey la Vista you want?). Comes with only a small selection of software though (based on Debian really stable). I also tried getting Debian working, I can't install the ***** though.

[Vladimir]

I find windows more than adequate and very reliable. I doubt Microsoft care if I stop using it. It's one of the biggest, richest companies in the world. You're not going to 'hurt' it.....

Vlad,