Free Software article discussion

FrugalFriend

New school and college term starting now, so just the right time to mention a new free software app I've found. Its a note taking application called KeepNote. I've found this fast, simple to use and very useful. its completely free software (GPL licensed) and available for GNU/Linux, Windows and Mac OSX.

KeepNote complements OpenOffice, and makes it a complete replacement for MS Office, with its OneNote, note taking software.

When I initially downloaded KeepNote I was a bit confused, but its really easy. It works on the metaphor of notebooks, and within each notebook there are pages of notes, just like in a real paper notebook. You can give each notebook a different name, and save the relevant notes into it, so your notes are automatically organised.

To start just click the File menu at the top left, and click "New Notebook". Then name and save your notebook. Now you're ready to add pages by clicking the New Page button top left.

candtalan

'Open source' software does not -necessarily- bestow right of freedom to the user, although being able to read the code is a nice step forward.

The best licences for free software - free as in freedom that is - such as the GNU General Public Licence (GNU GPL), allow users freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software.

Some 'open source' software may in fact have a licence which is quite restrictive, and even if it is gratis, it would hardly be called 'free'.

Note that when distributing free software, the full freedoms have to be passed onwards, ensuring that the licensed freedom can continue. Note also that free software may be commercial software. It does -not- have to be non commercial. However, it cannot be proprietary software (which enforces secrecy).

A software licence such as the GNU GPL uses existing copyright law to allow enforcement. Interestingly, the copyright law is used in an innovative way, to ensure freedom is passed on. This is dubbed 'copyleft'.....

There are usually court cases ongoing against companies which have not respected the free software licence (GNU GPL) of a product.

More information may be found at :
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
and
http://www.opensource.org

wendylu

i have found a great free programme called SANDBOXIE - it instals itself onto a portion of your hardrive. then when you go online, or do any downloading or installing , sandboxie will only allow the install or download into that section of the hardrive and will not allow and registry changes. m its really good and safe.:j

scaffolder45

Does anyone know of a free rota / rosta / schedule software for organising staff shifts.

Ximian

Large list of Freeware available here: http://www.bestfreewaredownload.com/

rumpelstiltskin_2

If you use excel a lot this is a really useful tools adds lots of extra functionality and shortcuts to excel

www.asap-utilities.com

scaffolder45

Anyone have any knowledge of a good events / hall hire planner for a local community centre?

[Deleted User]

With the :eek: VERY HIGH cost of motoring these days, is there a free Motoring Expenses programme out there. I have an old old one but it will not let me install (from 1.44 disc) as it has been put onto 2 PC's in the past - now no longer alive - so I cannot uninstall. Have been trying to manipulate files myself to find the bit which knows, so far no good. Not really up to making my own spreadsheet.

paddyrg

Just for the record, there is a truly awesome free video editing package - not for total amateurs, but it is very powerful and lovely to use (many features you've seen have been edited with it). Lightworks. It has been open sourced in the past month, and is wonderful. You can download the lightworks public beta at lightworksbeta.com

FrugalFriend

whmf00001 wrote: »

With the :eek: VERY HIGH cost of motoring these days, is there a free Motoring Expenses programme out there. I have an old old one but it will not let me install (from 1.44 disc) as it has been put onto 2 PC's in the past - now no longer alive - so I cannot uninstall. Have been trying to manipulate files myself to find the bit which knows, so far no good. Not really up to making my own spreadsheet.

Try searching for a Google Docs spreadsheet template for this: https://docs.google.com/templates?type=spreadsheets&sort=hottest&view=public

They're great because you can download and use them in OpenOffice (ODF file type), not just in Google Docs. MS Office have templates too, but you usually need MS Office to download and use them. Also you could try searching the internet for a generic "motoring expenses" spreadsheet template, even MS ones will usually work in OpenOffice.