Free Software article discussion

Bob63

dogStar wrote: »

"the problem's that support is often limited as there are no big bucks backing it up."

This really isn't true these days. The open source industry in the UK and continental Europe is well capable of supporting consumers and businesses in there use of open source software.

I fully agree. Companies like Sun give away their software for free, but charge commercial customers for support contracts if that is what they want. However, if you don't want or need professional support then you can choose self-service support through web forums or judicious use of Google.

The real point of free software isn't always that it is free as in no-cost (i.e. gratis) but free as in the freedom to choose (i.e. libre). That's very attractive to some end users.

satmanuk

I have just joined this forum today, and i found this discussion. Over the last few weeks i have been standing at a Saturday computer market in Manchester, it amazed me, how many people have never heard or Linux or any alternative to Windows. I am taking the time to put together a list of programs that i use in Linux and compare them against the commercial counterparts.

I swear by GNU Cash as an alternative to Quick Books, with NolaPro being an excellent platform independant EPOS store site.

As already mentioned Open Office is good, but KOffice ( https://www.koffice.org ) is approaching its release of Version 2. I has Support for MS Office and uses the same Open Document Format as OpenOffice.org. I also think that because its written with kde in mind, it intergrates better and quicker.

KDE is available for windows bringing a host of Linux Software to the windows platform https://www.kde.org

Personally for people coming from a windows background i find the interface of opensuse to be more "windows" in feel so unlike "MacOS" Ubuntu , i think its easier to use. Also it has the excellent YAST Control Panel. From Installing Software to Configuring hardware it has all the options you need.

Its available from https://www.opensuse.org. I can send out DVD's if people prefer not to download.

Personally i found the ubuntu kept crashing on my PC.

superscaper

satmanuk wrote: »

As already mentioned Open Office is good, but KOffice ( www.koffice.org ) is approaching its release of Version 2. I has Support for MS Office and uses the same Open Document Format as OpenOffice.org.

Although there's no sign of it supporting the Office Open XML formats whereas Open Office will feature that support in version 3.

satmanuk

superscaper wrote: »

Although there's no sign of it supporting the Office Open XML formats whereas Open Office will feature that support in version 3.

I think the difference is sun, OpenOffice has professional developers involved whereas KDE is purely community written as far as i know.

I also know that KPresent doesn't support PowerPoint Presentations, however when MS Office switches to open document format that should no longer be a problem.

Question, has an article been written specifically on any one distribution over another? I understand with 250 or so distributions available its very difficult, but I think for business Novell Enterprise Linux (For Business) / opensuse (for everybody else) are strong contenders, and quite simply with OS Drivers and Apps in one image it gives you most of what your likely to need out of the "box" which is more than can be said for MS. Win. I don't understand what people say for MS, Pay for Sage, Pay for MS Office etc...

Get the word out "Linux Works, is FREE from Cost and is VIRUS FREE!"

Perhaps I should e-mail NASA! and give them the notes on virus free operating systems! (I believe though the only recorded linux virus was for Debian based systems (of which ubuntu is one turning them into FreeBSD). It was known as the de penguiniser virus.

Always_On_Top

ManyPaste (freeware)

Windows clipboard has the disadvantage that you can only copy once before pasting, Many Paste solves such problem by keeping track of all your copied items and giving you quick access to them.

http://www.xneat.com/many-paste/

satmanuk

Always_On_Top wrote: »

ManyPaste (freeware)

Windows clipboard has the disadvantage that you can only copy once before pasting, Many Paste solves such problem by keeping track of all your copied items and giving you quick access to them.

http://www.xneat.com/many-paste/

This problem doesn't exist in Linux, Klipper supports multi copy and paste as default.

If i remember sometime ago MS Office used to have a seperate clipboard tool which also overcame that problem, dunno if thats still available.

superscaper

satmanuk wrote: »

This problem doesn't exist in Linux, Klipper supports multi copy and paste as default.

If i remember sometime ago MS Office used to have a seperate clipboard tool which also overcame that problem, dunno if thats still available.

Yes Office Clipboard is still a part of Office and I use it daily in Office 2003 and Office 2007. Although of course you're restricted to using the multiple copy paste to office documents.

aliEnRIK

AllCooker wrote: »

I suggest FastStone Image Viewer from FastStone.org as a brilliant photo manipulation prog. I even made a donation.

That IS a good program actually. WELL recommended for general viewing of pics.

satmanuk

aliEnRIK wrote: »

That IS a good program actually. WELL recommended for general viewing of pics.

For image editing i recomend GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program. https://www.gimp.org - again included as default in most linux distros.

aliEnRIK

satmanuk wrote: »

For image editing i recomend GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program. www.gimp.org - again included as default in most linux distros.

Cheers Sat' but I use photoshop which is regarded by most to be the best you can use