Free Computer Software - this is no joke!

I just wanted to share my experience of using free open source computer software compared with using Microsoft Windows.

I am using a pc which is over 6 years old and it is still running fast and never crashes. I started using an Operating System call Ubuntu about 12 months ago and have't looked back since.  

Ubuntu is free, includes word processing, spreadsheet, power point and email software out of the box and you get lifetime upgrades free too!  You will never need to pay for any computer software ever again because there is an Ubuntu equivalent for all your Windows based software.

Ubuntu is designed to be quick, lightweight, bug free and stable. Whereas Windows drains your hardware, costs a significant amount of money and you will sooner or later get infected with a virus.  Oh did i forget, Ubuntu cannot be attacked by Windows virus's so your computer is much more secure!

I would certainly recommend trying Ubuntu out before you throw away your old pc, because for a small amount of time spent installing Ubuntu, you'll extend the life of your pc and save yourself some serious £££'s

Don't get me wrong, Windows is great too, but if you'd like to be free from purchasing computer software forever, why not give Ubuntu a go? If you don't like what you see, simply stick the pc on ebay, sell it to an Ubuntu lover and then put the money towards another Windows pc, just like you originally planned, no harm done.  I'm not a rep or anything like that, I just thought some people out there might like to save some money. Go an read the Ubuntu website and i'm sure you'll enjoy discovering what all the fuss is about! www.ubuntu.com 

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Neal Barker @ Etesia uk on April 27, 2012 at 23:20

all linux based op systems are great at reviveing that old pc but there is a catch, on this type of system you have no windows compatibility which means you will not be able to install anything, although the up side is that with op systems like ubuntu / fedora or open susie they are all pritty much open source which means some cleave guy/girl out there has probably writen a program to run on that op system which would pritty much do the same as the windows.

 

another very good thing is that ubuntu can be burnt to dvd and your pc can run the operating system from this meaning if you get a virus etc you can still get to you files to back up and the virus cant touch the linux system as 1; its on the cd rom drive and 2 the virus etc is writen for windows so cant move into the linux system,

 

something always worth doing


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd on April 28, 2012 at 8:41
Ubuntu is brilliant except it won't run the programs I need like Sage therefore I use windows.

I used to dual boot but can't be bothered, life is too short!!
Permalink Reply by Julius Bell on April 28, 2012 at 9:46

you could always use quickbooks online.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on April 28, 2012 at 16:59

Ive been using Linux since i was 16 - Gentoo and UBUNTU all the way. Currently run UBUNTU 12 and run PHPBMS to run my business (automates most billing and quoting) and GNUCASH to do my accounts.

For windows compatibility I use WINE - which allows me to run all MS Office software on Linux as you would any other software. You can also run windows as a whole application in its own right using a Virtual machine if you need to.

Permalink Reply by Justin Hemming on April 28, 2012 at 18:06

I tried a Ubuntu partition to move away from Windows for the reasons you said. I couldn't get the wifi to work so eventually removed the partition.  I'm sure there is a fix but, although there is a lot of online help available, it can take time to find and be complex to carry out.

I do use opensource software on Windows though - OpenOffice, Kompozer (Dreamweaver equivalent), GIMP (Photoshop) and have just found one called GNUCash I was going to look at doing accounts with.

Anyone else got any good opensource recommendations?

Justin Hemming


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on April 28, 2012 at 18:35

GNU Cash is good and if you can get your head around the reporting bit its really good for making monthly / weekly and customer based reports.

Justin, I would look at PHPBMS as well, good for Organization and invoicing.

Permalink Reply by Justin Hemming on April 28, 2012 at 20:05

Cheers David, just looking at PHPBMS, I now know what I'm spending my Saturday night doing now!

Permalink Reply by John on April 28, 2012 at 20:40

 Lol 

  Shouldn't they be paying Phil to advertise on this site ?

I can't wait to see how much important imput they make towards

the site and its members during the next few weeks...........   

  Seen it all before so many times !!!

 

Paul @ PPCH Services said:

"I'm not a rep or anything like that,"

Perish the thought lol, your just posting a sales pitch out the goodness of your heart!


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on April 28, 2012 at 23:49

Worth clarifying that all OPEN source software is available free so needs no reps - but comes with the catch:

There is no one but you to deal with if it goes wrong and F***s up your business life. So back up constantly!

Permalink Reply by John on April 28, 2012 at 23:56

Worth checking out Michaels site.....    lol 

   http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/profile/AdminTeam

David Cox said:

Worth clarifying that all OPEN source software is available free so needs no reps - but comes with the catch:

There is no one but you to deal with if it goes wrong and F***s up your business life. So back up constantly!

Permalink Reply by Michael on April 30, 2012 at 8:11

Well who would have thought that the open source software world would come under so much criticism?

I was merely passing on my good experience with using Ubuntu, just one distribution of many available in the Linux world. As other comments have said there is Fedora, Mint, OpenSuse and I also use another version of Linux on a really old laptop called "Puppy" Linux. This is such a lightweight version that it runs perfectly on my 1.7ghz Pentium III, 256mb ram laptop.  I can use all the office software i need to and it saved me forking out for a new laptop.

The Linux world isn't for everyone, but i just thought i'd share my experience. Ubuntu will be coming to Smartphones, Tabletsa dn even Smart Tv's in the next few years, so i'm sure more of you will begin the see the name appearing more often.

Thanks for all the responses!

Permalink Reply by Michael on April 30, 2012 at 8:13



Justin Hemming said:

I tried a Ubuntu partition to move away from Windows for the reasons you said. I couldn't get the wifi to work so eventually removed the partition.  I'm sure there is a fix but, although there is a lot of online help available, it can take time to find and be complex to carry out.

I do use opensource software on Windows though - OpenOffice, Kompozer (Dreamweaver equivalent), GIMP (Photoshop) and have just found one called GNUCash I was going to look at doing accounts with.

Anyone else got any good opensource recommendations?

Justin Hemming

 

Draftsight is another good free piece of CAD software, but i'm not certain it's open source. It's free never the less!

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