As the head of an IT company,
I get frequent requests to get "hooked up" with software. Of
course we cannot condone illegally copying software, but
rather than just saying no, I try to suggest an alternative.
Providing free open source software is a great opportunity
for us to show that there are alternatives to help meet your
needs without spending a fortune.
If someone wants Microsoft
Office, I give them a CD with Open Office and suggest they
give it a try. If they need an anti-virus, I give them a
copy of either the free Comodo or free AVG. If they need a
Firewall, I give them the free ZoneAlarm or Comodo. These
recommendations are apps that real people use everyday, at
work and at home, for all kinds of tasks. They're tried and
tested, and some of the best tools you can get. Most of
these programs are open-source, which means their source
code is available for use and modification as others see
fit. Unlike commercial software, open source authors are
eager to see their products distributed widely, and are
usually more interested in making a quality product than in
hooking customers into an assembly line process that
constantly extracts money from the users.
There are, of course, times
when you need to shell out money for a commercial product.
But it seems to me you should at least try some of the free
products before shelling out big bucks for something that
may not be any better for your purposes.
This list is my
personal pick of the "best
of the best."
