Free Office & Other Software Article

haggai

DaveO wrote:

I still use XP Pro though for the simple reason Linux does not support my main hobby that well compared to XP, photography. While there are image editors like the Gimp the last time I looked Linux did not support ICC colour profiles and compared to the Windows environment there is a lack of image cataloguing software available.

I really like Digikam. It sounds like you do more with your photos than me but the newest version does at least support ICC profiles and has various cataloguing features.

AlanR

Superfast_Gran wrote:

Does anyone know where to get free office software for Mac's? We have 4 with licence to use on only one and, as they're all wirelessly linked, if office isopen on one it won't allow it to be opened on any of the others - nlol!

OpenOffice and Abiword both have versions for Mac OS X.

Alan

cepheus

I am looking for a freeware program which can simply print photographs onto different sized paper or place several photos on a single sheet 2 or 4 on A4. A bit like Photoshop. Any ideas?

the_mountaineer_2

Open Office is available for Mac http://download.openoffice.org/index.html all you need is to install X11 which is bundled as an option in OSX to use it. Use Clam AV as a free anti virus, also try http://www.opensourcemac.org/

mikeD

I've been using OO for some time now and find it a perfectly adequate alternative to MS Office, although I have never used Excel, prefering Lotus 123 at which I like to think I am pretty good at, as I have used it since the early '80's. However whilst I find that OO v 2.0 is compatible with Word it is in no way compatible with Lotus. For me this does not matter too much and I shall continue to learn all of OO's functions with a view to ditching both Word and Lotus. The one thing I would take issue with is OO's Help function, which is none too helpful to a non techie like me. Still why should I complain when it is free and sooner or later the techies who are programming it will realise that more and more non-techies are using it then they will simplify some of the more advanced aspects of the Help module. :cool:

BTW does anybody know of a free accounting /bookeeping programme that is as good as or preferably better than Microsoft Money?:)

YellowShark

Hello everyone out there in MSE land,

First post so bear with me.....

Just thought I'd like to point out that a lot of "free" software has to be written by someone, developed on machines that cost money and supported in some way - most of these organisations do not work for profit but still need some money to survive. Most of the download sites have a "Contributions" or "Donations" button - just put a fiver in there occasionally to keep the whole thing going or we'll all end up in MS LaLa land. It's still cheaper than accepting the products on offer by the big players and you don't have to donate until after you've tried it out.

Also, I started using Firefox because I heard it was much better able to repel viruses - or was it just that most viruses are aimed at IE - can't remember. I then found that the Firefox commmunity write a load of add-ons that really make using it a pleasure. For instance I can share my bookmarks between the three PC's on my network. Another add-on (which I'm sure no-one in the MS hierarchy would have possibly thought about because it doesn't add another $ Billion to the bottom line - bit of a rant there) is Stumble - press the Stumble button and visit a new website from your selection of interests - but beware this can be addictive.

Cheers, Shark.

gerryg_2

wolfman wrote:

I'd disagree here. I've yet to do a single Linux install where I haven't had to fiddle around with it to get things running how I want. A good example is setting up WPA, or a bluetooth device, Windows and other codecs, Xgl + Beryl, ATI display drivers, Autostarts etc... The same applies to XP, but it's much more familiar.
.

I realise that this is not a technical forum however your use of technical terms is hardly helpful

Xandros, Linspire: do sound and video including region encoded DVDs out of the box (or codecs if you prefer)

Xandros, Linspire: include ATI and Nvidia video card software out of the box

I don't think you have used newr distros recently - bluetooth is a non-issue, WPA easy enough

Xgl +Beryl are advanced video bling comparable (i.e., different, better or worse depending on your brand of fanboy) to the new Aero interface on MS Vista

remind me again how much it would cost to get Aero working on your existing PC?

wolfman

gerryg wrote:

I realise that this is not a technical forum however your use of technical terms is hardly helpful

They were just given as examples, so that I wasn't making a statement without any backup. For a technical forum bluetooth, codecs, and WPA isn't exactly the most advanced talk.

gerryg wrote:

Xandros, Linspire: do sound and video including region encoded DVDs out of the box (or codecs if you prefer)

Xandros, Linspire: include ATI and Nvidia video card software out of the box

These are much like SUSE, commerically aimed distro's with a free offering. Not the most popular or supported around. Depends what you like. I personally stick to Gentoo and Ubuntu.

Any truly free version of Linux can't legally include such codecs without paying some form of royalties. It can be on some a bit of a pain to install, although apps such as Automatix are making it much easier/automated.

gerryg wrote:

I don't think you have used newr distros recently - bluetooth is a non-issue, WPA easy enough

Errr you think wrong. If anything it seems like you don't use Linux much. WPA doesn't work out of the box on any distribution I've used. Support is there, but you need a command line tutorial or application like NetworkManager to set it up. I'm currently sat using Ubuntu Edgy by the way.

And with regards to bluetooth. I've got an Apple Bluetooth keyboard. Doesn't work out of the box. Quite a simple device if you ask me. I do agree though, bluetooth support and tools have much improved over the last year or two.

gerryg wrote:

Xgl +Beryl are advanced video bling comparable (i.e., different, better or worse depending on your brand of fanboy) to the new Aero interface on MS Vista

remind me again how much it would cost to get Aero working on your existing PC?

Me, nothing. My pc is quite powerful.

? I like Beryl. Prefer it to Aero at least. It's still buggy though, and can be tricky to install. There are plenty of command line tutorials about though.


I think you're missing my point. Linux may be free, but it's probably a new OS to most people and it does take time to learn. And depending upon how valuable your time is (time is money) the £60 for an XP license may or may not be a better option (being familiar with most people). Just something to take into consideration. It depends upon the person.

gerryg_2

wolfman wrote:

Any truly free version of Linux can't legally include such codecs without paying some form of royalties. It can be on some a bit of a pain to install, although apps such as Automatix are making it much easier/automated.

Except that Linspire and Xandros, intended for beginners do pay those royalties

wolfman wrote:

If anything it seems like you don't use Linux much..

I didn't post to demonstate my technical prowess, (and didn't realise I'd swapped to "techie stuff") I didn't suggest you didn't know what you were talking about. On the contrary, using an earlier version would require more knowledge not less.

wolfman wrote:

WPA doesn't work out of the box on any distribution I've used. Support is there, but you need a command line tutorial or application like NetworkManager to set it up.

I did not suggest it did work out of the box - I suggested it was easy enough (after all you'd have to know what it was in the first place).

wolfman wrote:

I'm currently sat using Ubuntu Edgy by the way...

Well in your origianal postings you were talking about using Kubuntu. Looking at the menu for KDE3.5.5 (and earlier versions) check out kbluetoothd

wolfman wrote:

My pc is quite powerful.

If you want a cheap, modern software environment with all the software you need, and your hardware is a bit old - buy Xandros or Linspire - I use neither.

wolfman wrote:

I think you're missing my point. Linux may be free, but it's probably a new OS to most people and it does take time to learn. And depending upon how valuable your time is (time is money) the £60 for an XP license may or may not be a better option (being familiar with most people). Just something to take into consideration. It depends upon the person.

Except you'll save a load of time when your software never crashes and you don't keep getting redirected to pornography sites.

We have of course performed the classic Linux manoeuvre of arguing past each other. Personally I just think the world would be a better place if more people were using it

aleph_0

wolfman wrote:

It can be on some a bit of a pain to install, although apps such as Automatix are making it much easier/automated.

... but it may then ruin any attempts to upgrade to the next version, as has been demonstrated with the recent Dapper-Edgy upgrade cycle. It does rather miss the point of linux. OK, people have to go to a bit more effort to install them themselves, but one of the main strengths is the fact that you rely on a secure set of packages for installations. Automatix's recent attitude to Ubuntu, as demonstrated on their website should mean that we really shouldn't be encouraging its use.