Free and nearly free microsoft software alternatives, open source design and office software

An Introduction to alternatives to Microsoft and other industry standard software

Starting and running a business is a daunting task especially on a tight budget, It can be hard finding the resources to buy the software you need. Being a stony broke student can also be as just as much hassle. Students can get software licenses but these are limiting and usually way to expensive for the average student. Student licenses are next to useless when you actually get into the wider world. So I've compiled the below table showing what software is available for free or very nearly free allowing you to compete with the big boys, save your self some hard cash while not lining our friend Bill's already far too deep pockets. Click the applications title to find out more about it.Learning Linux

Why learn Linux? Because you will save yourself or your company money due to GNU license and it's ability to run on very low spec machines (it's also super stable); plus the kudos you'll get from fellow geeks when you say "well we run Linux" once finished discussing Star Trek Voyager.

*Read about the history of Linux.
*Find how to build yourself a router and firewall out your computer scrap here.

You want another windows file server but don't want to pay for another windows server license? No problem Linux can do this to. Look on google for some Samba tutorials.

Windows Server - Alternative - Debian Linux - Free if downloaded - Homepage

Microsoft Office - Alternative - Open Office Org - Free if downloaded - Homepage
Not not an alternative to Access yet, their alternative to Access was way too unstable last time I checked.

Microsoft Windows all versions - Linux - Free If downloaded - Homepage
If you do your average office stuff there is no reason not to use linux these days. Even high end graphic applications are starting to appear on it now.

Microsoft Outlook - Alternative - Gmail Free Service - Homepage
Why bother downloading youe email at all? Avoid viruses Take less of a risk by using an online service such as Gmail my personal favourite or Yahoo etc.. Google are even bringing out office tools now to rival microsoft so you don't need to use exchange to keep track of collegues and contacts.

Adobe Photoshop - Alternative - Paint Shop Pro - £20-90 - Homepage
I use this on allot of the sites I design it's brillient and saves you a bundle. You can pick up previos releases very cheaply from ebuyer.com A completely free alternative is Gimp check out http://www.gimp.org/ to find out more

Dreamweaver/Golive UltraDev - Alternative - Namo Webeditor - £30 Homepage
This is a good application if you want to get your head around web design and have a code editor. Agin allot of this site was coded using this in conjunction with Webuilder 2006 which i use to handle the PHP side of it.

Cuteftp - Alternative - SmartFTP - Free - Homepage
Better than cute FTP in my books but both are good.

3D Applications - Alternative - Animation Master -$300 - Homepage
I've created many of the 3d images on this site with AM.