50 Proprietary Programs We All Hate–and the OS Options
This post deals mainly with:
- proprietary
Non every proprietary program can motor a somebody disturbed, right? Some, like Norton Ghost, are brilliant instruments for anyone to utilize. But, the fact that these tools are proprietary can motor open source fiends up a paries. It’s non the monetary value of the software that makes the existent departure (although it’s a ground to transmigrate from one software to some other for plenty of citizenry); it’s the thought that proprietary software comes up with bounds that holds the exploiter experience imprisoned to...good, being the exploiter. That’s enough to motor any developer brainsick.
The postdating fifty proprietary programs are named in no particular order inside wide families along with their open source choices. In some examples you could in all likelihood compose your own book on defeats with the proprietary programs exhibited here. In early instances, you’ll detect that the open source alternative is non rather up to snuffle until now. And, in early examples still, you’ll acquire that some proprietary programs are existent treasures, but that the open source advocate can supersede those treasures with every bit glistening physical objects from the open source repertory.
Rudiments
Windows View OS to UbuntuThis is Microsoft’s operational scheme (OS), and even Microsoft fans have got disillusioned with this product. Open source OS choices have spread out; but these OS frequently are hard for the average exploiter to set up, larn, and run. Wherefore deal with it when Ubuntu has got so easy to employ that even the most information processing system illiterate can leap into this in operation scheme with very small clip exhausted on an acquisition curve? In fact, users can buy a Dingle computing device with Ubuntu already set up. Retrieve, nonetheless, that when it comes up to exploitation open source software that the open source community of interests oft focuses on practical applications that can be victimised through Windows, Mackintosh, Linux, or UNIX operating system with the bulk ostensibly devoted to Windows.
Cyberspace Adventurer Web browser to Firefox Web browser: Certain, Cyberspace Adventurer (IE) is loosed; but, that’s because it comes up packaged with Windows’ operational schemes. Free is far dissimilar from open source software, where users have more control all over how that software industrial plant. Patch you could feel more comfy with a proprietary in operation scheme, you can tranquilize use an open source web browser like Mozilla’s Firefox, an prodigious product that spreads out its use with ‘add-ons’ made by devouring users.
Business office Suites
Microsoft Business office to OpenOffice: If the cost makes you feel that Microsoft has done work you all over, then switch! If you compare Microsoft’s Business office with early wares, then you’re appearing for something that admits an email customer, a tidings mainframe, a spreadsheet tool, and a multimedia system presentment application. The only product that renders a competitory border against Microsoft is Google (that lets in Gmail, Google Medicos, Google Presentment and more). But, some would reason that Google is non genuinely open source. So, the next best bet alternative would be OpenOffice, an open source stick out that lets in everything you’d encounter in Microsoft Business office demur the electronic mail customer.
Mactopia to NeoOffice: Some other Microsoft office rooms, but this time intended for Mackintosh information processing systems. Attempt NeoOffice alternatively. NeoOffice is an entire-featured set of office practical applications, admitting news treating, spreadsheet, presentment, draftsmanship, and database programs for Mack OS X. This rooms is grounded on the OpenOffice.org office rooms, but it has incorporated wads of native Macintosh features and can spell, redact, and exchange files with early democratic office programs such as Microsoft Business office.
Business office Tools
MathWorks MATLAB to Scilab: MATLAB is an extremely ill application for numeric computer science. It furnishs a programing linguistic communication that lets users to do work with numbers in any possible manner conceivable through visual image. Scilab is the open source alternative to MATLAB, and it furnishs visual image of numeric information merely as MATLAB makes. Scilab is partially compatible with MATLAB, and both instruments are suitable for Windows, Linux, and UNIX operating system.
Microsoft Access to Kexi: Microsoft Access is a various instrument for making database-goaded practical applications and to hold office or personal information. Access incorporates an embedded database locomotive engine, but it likewise links up to former databases through ODBC. On the early paw, Kexi permits users to contrive forms to derive access to and to make information, merely like Access. Kexi besides incorporates an embedded database locomotive and it can spell information to Microsoft Access databases. Plus - Kexi is open source, whereas Access belongs to to Microsoft.
Microsoft Intelligence to OpenOffice Author: If you want to interrupt that office rooms down and commence to supersede the rooms point by point, then you can begin with this product first. Author is the news mainframe element of the OpenOffice.org software package that is alike to Microsoft Intelligence, and with an approximately equivalent range of characteristics. Author can be upon crossways a potpourri of political programs, letting in Mack OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris. Author as well lets in the power to export Portable Document Format (PDF) files with no extra software, and can too function as a WYSIWYG editor in chief for making and redaction web pages. One plus all over Intelligence is that Author transports functions and number formats in its tables from Calc, OpenOffice’s spreadsheet application.
Microsoft Surpass to OpenOffice Calc: Some other Microsoft product, Stand out still transports its productiveness assets as a spreadsheet, but it no retentive transports an air of out requirement. Google’s Medicos can convey an line, partaking ambience to your spreadsheets today. As for a really open source product that can supersede Surpass, essay OpenOffice.org Calc. This tool supplies entire spreadsheet functionality incl. a vast figure of statistical and scientific maps, pivot tables and charts.
Microsoft Visio to : Visio really is an outstanding application that lets users to go from complicated textual matter and tables that are hard to see to plot that pass info at a coup d. The only affair that spoils the context of use is the fact that this software is that it’s non open source. Or else, use , a GTK+ based diagram creative activity program for Linux, UNIX system and Windows relinquished under the GPL license. Defense Intelligence Agency was ‘roughly’ divine by Visio, that should get this tool easy for transition.
Productiveness
Chalkboard to Moodle: Chalkboard has been the Centimeters (Class Direction Scheme) ‘industry standard’ for educational intentions for a lot of months. This program lets teachers to make courses, carry off educatee work loads, and more. But Moodle has derived important anchorred as an open source alternative to Chalkboard, as it helps pedagogues to make effectual line acquisition community of interests in a scalable packet that cost nothing to utilize.
to Cabos: If you’re into file partaking, you’ve in all likelihood discovered of Loge.net, if non ill them. Non only can you share files, Box permits you to stash away your files firmly line, letting you to get at them from any computing machine, phone or mobile gimmick for a fee. Cabos, some other data file partaking in program that’s open source, renders simple sidebar exploiter user interface, firewall to firewall transfers, procurator transfers, Universal Plug and Play, iTunes + iPod integrating, “What’s Fresh?” searches, international searches, and more. All you need is Windows 2000 or posterior. Mackintosh OS X 10.2.8 or ulterior. Macintosh OS 8.6 or ulterior. Given, you do non have the data file entrepot capability, but at least you can partake in files with Cabos without that extra storehouse capability.
Microsoft Jut to Open up Bench: Microsoft permits users to command jut work, schedule, and monetary resource, and efficaciously pass protrude information to former users. But, it cost to do that with Microsoft. Or else, use open source Open Work bench to fulfill precisely the like labor inside information for free. When users need to travel beyond background programing to a workgroup, part or endeavour-wide answer, they can advance to CA’s Lucidity scheme, a labor and portfolio direction scheme that proffers bidirectional desegregation with Open Bench.
Mindjet to FreeMind: Mindmapping is a mode to partake in thoughts among somebodies and groups for productiveness. This type of action occupies time, but it relieves time. So wherefore should you give for a product when you can salvage money by victimization FreeMind? This latter product will carry out all the Mindjet makes and more. That “more” is the fact that FreeMind is open source.
Graphical Programmes
Adobe brick Illustrator to Inkscape: Adobe’s transmitter draftsmanship scheme is one of the best in the manufacture. All the same, like Photoshop, the monetary value can be prohibitory for some room decorators and creative persons. Attempt Inkscape alternatively, an open source transmitter artwork editor in chief like to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X. Inkscape uses the W3C standard Scalable Transmitter Nontextual matter (SVG) file format and it supports a lot of innovative SVG features (markings, clones, alpha blend, etc.). Eventually, the aerodynamic user interface is easy to apply to redact nodes, execute complex way of life trading operations, trace electronic images and very much more.
Adobe brick PhotoShop to Limp: Even if you’re paid for upgrades alternatively of the original package, the monetary value for Adobe’s Photoshop can be prohibitory for some lensmen and in writing interior decorators. Attempt GIMP to realise if this open source tool ca non supply you with all the powerfulness you need for your picture taking and graphical designing needs. GIMP stands for Wildebeest Mental image Use Program, and it’s the resolution that comes up nighest to emulating the Photoshop environs.
Adobe brick Premiere to AvidemuxAvidemux furnishs Windows, Mackintosh, and Linux users with an easy-to-use open source tool for Videodisk/DivX changing over and redaction. Avidemux as well has scripting support for mechanization and even proffers Videodisc authoring with the add of the open source software, dvdauthor
AutoCAD to Archimedes: AutoCAD is an AutoDesk tool exploited by any decorator who makes design drafts - for the most part designers. Archimedes is an open source computing machine assisted designing (Hound) alternative that focuses mainly on architectural designing. AutoCAD by all odds has the gaining score thus far, but Archimedes shows promise. The latter program comprises all the draftsmanship features a decorator would need, but its interoperability is watery. Room decorators still can export scalable transmitter art, so there’s an existent marketplace for this open source tool (this persuasion is non based upon Archimedes’ fresh freeing).
Microsoft PowerPoint to OpenOffice Move: You can get a relocation away from this Microsoft tool with the usage of Google’s Presentment or with OpenOffice’s Strike. Both instruments correspond entire-featured presentment practical applications that permit users to make and qualify diagrams and icon right inside the application.
Microsoft Paint to Tuxedo Paint: Piece non a grave nontextual matter program, it is wide upon by lots of electronic computer users, for the most part kids Assay Dinner jacket Paint alternatively of Pigment, as this open source product stands apart from distinctive nontextual matter citizenry redact software (such as GIMP or Photoshop) in that it was intentional to be useable by shavers as young as 16 calendar months of historic period. The exploiter user interface is intended to be visceral, and uses ikons, audible feedback and textual intimations to assist explicate how the software plant.
TruSpace to Liquidiser: Caligari proffers an ambit of wares that enable interior decorators and creative persons to bring forth 3D mental image - at a brawny monetary value. Liquidizer, on the former manus, renders one tool that supplies total multiresolution sculpturing capableness with 2D electronic image/3D adjective copses (Paint, Smooth, Pinch, Amplify, Grab) backing up symmetricalness. And, that’s merely the commencing of Blender’s capableness. This open source software is liberated to download and use.
Entanglement Editor in chiefs
Adobe brick GoLive CS2 to Mozilla SeaMonkey: GoLive is an integral part of the Adobe brick Originative Rooms wares, so it plant with your InDesign documents and permits those documents to be reborn to Net pages. But, you could want to essay Mozilla’s SeaMonkey earlier you perpetrate to the total Adobe brick rooms alternative. The Mozilla SeaMonkey stick out lets in a Entanglement-web browser, email and newsgroup customer, Up language authoring program and IRC chat customer. The Composer is simple but it cares tables, CSS, posed bed and more without sweat. Append-ons presently let in Scribefire, the web log blog editor in chief that incorporates with your web browser and lets you easy post to your blog.
Adobe brick Dreamweaver to : Patch this tool is a down WYSIWYG (What You Realize Is What You Get) Up language editor in chief, former alternatives subsist that can relieve money.
(marked N-view, for a “fresh position”) is a complete Entanglement Authoring Scheme for Linux Background users as good as Microsoft Windows users to touch programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Use NVU to make Entanglement pages and bring off a Web site with no technical expertness or cognition of Hypertext markup language.
Macromedia Flash Professional to OpenLaszlo: Developers use Flash to make multimedia system cases on the Entanglement. Since the plan employes transmitter-based art, it furnishs a locus that locomotes beyond the Entanglement. As an open source product, OpenLaszlo supplies developers with a political program to make zero-instal Entanglement practical applications with exploiter user interface capableness of background customer software. In former language, OpenLaszlo practical applications highly on one machine will run on all conducting Entanglement web browsers on all conducting background OS. These practical applications, like Flash, furnish life, layout, information holding fast, waiter communicating and more.
Microsoft Frontpage to Pomatomus saltatrix: Spell non as knock as Dreamweaver, Front end Page is a wide ill proprietary application victimised to make Entanglement pages. Occupy a gander at this list to realise your plenty of open source choices for Up language editor in chiefs. Attempt Pomatomus saltatrix as one choice that can salvage you money and, peradventure, time.
Windows Notepad to Linguistic context: Yes, you can get the world’s most various Up language redaction tool perfectly FREE when you purchase Windows variation 2.0 and above. But, wherefore would you want to do that when you can do work with open source Linguistic context? This application is a little, dissolute and knock freeware computer programmers textual matter editor in chief, highly to function as a secondary tool for software developers.
Altova XMLSpy: XMLSpy is one of the most democratic XML editor in chiefs on the market place today. Its redaction features and support for both scheme and DTD evolution along with XSLT, XQuery and XPath evolution get it an ultimate XML tool. As an open source alternative, XML Copy Editor in chief is a various XML editor in chief chiefly focussed on textual matter redaction with XML files. All the same, XML Copy Editor in chief renders a lot of former characteristics letting in substantiation of DTD and XML schemes - as good as XSLT and XPath with tag-free redaction. Both instruments are Windows practical applications.
Publication
Adobe brick Acrobat to PDFCreator: Yes, you have a free run to make a PDF through Adobe brick. All the same, this PDFCreator easy makes PDFs from any Windows program. Use it like a pressman in Tidings, StarCalc or any early Windows application.
Adobe brick Framemaker to DocBook: Adobe brick Framemaker software corresponds a knock authoring and publication result for technical communicators who want to author and print technical corroboration in multiple linguistic communications. Piece this software is dependable, so is DocBook, an open source publication tool. To boot, you have got at to all the free wikis and certification that shows how to instal, use, and customise the instruments and stylesheets.
Microsoft Publisher to Scribus: When it comes up to Screen background Publication (DTP) Microsoft’s Publishing firm furnishs more control all over document factor than Microsoft Intelligence through a DTP-orientated plan of attack. Notwithstanding, professional users still regard this program an unveiling-level application. Since it’s part of the Microsoft Business office Package, a lot of users will encounter its cost paltry as good. With that informated, Scribus proffers an open source DTP alternative. Scribus conveyes award-gaining professional page layout to Linux/UNIX system, MacOS X, OS/2 and Windows screen backgrounds with a compounding of “press-ready” end product and novel attacks to paginate layout. Scribus supports professional publication features, such as CMYK color, breakups, Interstate Commerce Commission color direction and various PDF creative activity.
Communication theory
to Pidgin: Afford it up. AIM, AOL’s Instant Courier, no tenacious regulations. The open source alternative is Pidgin, a multi-communications protocol Instant Electronic messaging customer that lets you to employ all of your IM accounts at in one case. Let’s break that down: No thing if you use Windows, Linux, BSD, and former UNIX operating systems. You can speak to your allies victimisation AIM, ICQ, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Courier, Rube!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Courier, QQ, Indian lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, MySpaceIM, and Gentle wind. Can Take aim do that? No? Good, then.
FeedDemon to RSS Brigand: FeedDemon for Windows invariably searches through give search railway locomotives with keyword-brought forth searches as good as generalised huntings. It besides lets offline meter reading as it ‘prefetches’ your signed gives. NewsGator too synchronises with FeedDemon so you can derive access to tidings without your computing device. Demur for the fact that FeedDemon is non open source, it’s an ideal, rich subscriber. But, for open source fiends, RSS Brigand supplies an every bit racy alternative RSS and Corpuscle subscriber that permits you to maintain track of all of the intelligence gives you postdate. Its paper view can be made and the templets are compatible with those exploited in FeedDemon. Plus, RSS Brigand permits you to sync everything with NewsGator line. Eventually, RSS Brigand as well renders access to intelligence on word waiters (alike to Google Groups) - it uses NNTP to say and post to newsgroups anyplace on the net. It incorporates to Google Groups by colligating to station on their internet site.
Microsoft MSN Courier to aMSNaMSN, the open source Windows alternative to MSN, aims to mime its proprietary competition as lots as possible. Most of its extra features are supplied through plug-INS. You can append, at your leisure time, Protrude3 email support and rendering, vocalism clips, Webcam support, Chat logs, Conferencing support and more.
Microsoft Mind to Thunderbird: State that you distinct to switch over to OpenOffice, but you need an email customer to supersede Microsoft’s Mentality. Assay Mozilla’s Thunderbird, an application that transports an alike user interface and that is easy to utilise. To boot, you can employ Lightning to incorporate Mozilla’s Sunbird calendar application with Thunderbird.
Culture mediums
iTunes to Songster: If you’re habitual to the equality where “Malus pumila + iPod + iTunes” equals a net ton of money, then you could see an electric switch to Songster. Songster is an open source participant and a political platform attached to “acting the euphony you want + from the land sites you want + on the device you want.” Songster thereby challenges the formulas of uncovering, purchase, intake and organisation of euphony on the Cyberspace.
Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus Burning down Read to : Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus Burning down Read is a democratic instrument to fire Cadmium, DVD and Blu-ray records. This software lets in stand, cd copying, sound features and more, and it’s easy to employ. But, it’s non open source like
Quicktime to Charles Darwin Pouring Waiter: Apple’s QuickTime 7 Pro is full for everything from making podcasts to transcoding culture mediums in more than a dozen formats. And, the software is non that expensive when equated to former wares. But, wherefore non use an open source application that shares the like codification base as Quicktime Teeming Waiter? Charles Darwin Pouring Waiter is an open source jut out that’s perfect for developers who need to pour QuickTime and MPEG-4 culture mediums on political platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Solaris.
TiVo Screen background to Galleon.tv: Tivo-to-Go users were defeated to detect that their Tivo software would non work with Windows Aspect. Some replies to this job included disbursal more time and money on assorted solvents that could work to reconstruct that software’s functionality. One solvent included victimisation the open source software, Galleon, or else of nerve to “fix” Tivo or Windows View. Galleon is a free open source culture mediums waiter for the TiVo DVR that permits you to savor plenty of forms of subject matter and synergistic practical applications right on your TV. The waiter runs on your home information processing system and forms your culture mediums aggregation so that they can be reckonned on your home web. Galleon besides takes Cyberspace substance and practical applications to your TV.
Windows Culture mediums Participant to Black pine: This application looks omnipresent…no thing what you assay to open, Windows Culture mediums Participant is in your face, right? Good, supervene upon that in-your-face mental attitude with Black pine
Service corporations
CuteFTP to Filezilla: Certain, CuteFTO is cunning, but it’s non free. Certain, it’s dependable, but so are a lot of former Data file Transfer Communications protocol practical applications. Essay Filezilla, a riotous File transfer protocol and SFTP customer for Windows with lots of characteristics - easy to put in, easy to apply, very dependable, secure, and open source.
iBackup to ZManda: Who can you trust with your reliever files? It’s hard to s mind, as price alone way nothing. You want safe, dependable waiters or tools that can maintain your fills uncommitted and entire. iBackup has turned up to be worthy of that task, but you could want to appear at ZManda as good. This open source answer protects more than half a 000 000 of waiters and backgrounds taking to the woods assorted editions of Linux, UNIX, BSD, Mackintosh OS-X and Microsoft Windows operational schemes world. Non only do they relief info, they’re into convalescence as good.
Norton Ghost to Partition off Mental image: Norton Ghost is non an eaten backup man scheme, as it’s a complete tool that backs up everything but the kitchen sink. If you have a complete disk nonstarter, Norton Ghost can convey it back to living on a novel hard disk (although you do non need to get a complete relief every clip). You can occupy this fill to external drives, Cadmiums or Videodiscs. If you’re an open source advocate, all the same, Norton Ghost makes non cut the bar. You’ll want something like Partition Mental image (for Linux) or Ghost for UNIX operating system (G4U) for Windows or UNIX operating system users. Both instruments are disk cloners that act other than, but they’re as bodied as Norton Ghost. Say more at their various Entanglement sites earlier you get the leap. (For a complete rescue disk admitting Partition Mental image realise SystemRescueCd
WinZip to 7-Zip: Some of us turned up with WinZip, so it’s pitiful to tell adieu. But, we all gotta go away home at some item, and when the open source 7-Zip waves, peradventure you should heed the phone call…
Protection
Kaspersky Anti-Computer virus Personal to Winpooch: Kaspersky Anti-Computer virus in all probability is among the top merchandises on the marketplace for Windows-based anti-computer virus tools, in the main because it’s good cognized for its prominent sensing rate. It perpetrates to multiple tasks as it protects against computer virus, script computer virus, checks file archive (such as zip files) and takes away computer virus from mail. It too supplies protective covering against spyware as good as adware. As an open source alternative, withal, Winpooch besides scans files on your computing device, observes malware, and forecloses all the computer virus, trojan Equus caballus and former jobs that Kaspersky hunts down as good. Winpooch, by the style, appends an existent-time scanning capableness that ClamWin (illustrious beneath) lacks.
McAfee VirusScan to ClamWin: McAfee is swollen cognised as one of the older companionships in the anti-computer virus market. Many someones need to plow with this software fellowship, as its tools come up packaged with plenty of novel Windows OS computing device schemes. The plus face to McAfee is that it is dependable and that it proffers 24/7 support. The downside is that it’s non open source. ClamWin, on the former mitt, is a free Antivirus for Microsoft Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003. It features high sensing rate, scheduler, automatic download of computer virus database updates and a stopper-in for Microsoft Set. As celebrated above, ClamWin makes non render on access realtime scanning, but when united with WinPooch, this capableness is supplied.
Norton Personal Firewall to WIPFW: Many citizenry could work with Norton in their sleep, as this fellowship has been about that recollective. The Norton Personal Firewall for Windows will monitor and check all Net traffic and it will pass up any attack or invasion attempt. Omnipresent popups and licenses are part of the plot, as it appears that each fresh Site transports its own set of Norton no-nos. As an alternative, WIPFW is a firewall for Windows based on IPFW for FreeBSD UNIX operating system. It renders nigh the like characteristics, functionality, and exploiter user interface as Norton Personal Firewall. The big divergence? WIPFW is open source.
Fiscal
Authorise.net to OpenSSL: Given, Clear.Net’s preferable defrayal gateway connectedness, Innovative Desegregation Menthod (AIM), supplies the eminent level of customization and protection to merchandiser for subjecting proceedings line. But, wherefore give for a secure SSL when you can get an open source product for free? The OpenSSL Jut out is a collaborative endeavour to evolve a rich, commercial-grade, total-featured, and Open Rootage toolkit enforcing the Secure Sockets Bed (SSL v2/v3) and Transport Bed Protection (TLSs v1) communications protocols as good as an entire-military strength general purpose cryptanalysis depository library. A wide community of interests of voluntaries uses the Cyberspace to pass, plan, and germinate the OpenSSL
Microsoft Money (Plus) to TurboCash: Patch Microsfot Money Plus is very much more than a personal accountancy software, Turbocash can gas that claim plus more. Turbocash is open source and free to utilise. In fact, you could compare TurboCash more to Quickbooks than to Microsoft Money. Even so, as a personal finance tool, TurboCash is a great deal more exploiter-friendly to the average home budgeter than Compiere.
Quickbooks to Compiere: Few citizenry are unfamiliar with Quickbooks, as this software has got its style into lots of a little business organisation electronic computer. If you feel that few chances survive to switch over, believe over again. Compiere, brought forth by Planetary Epoch, supplies one answer to open source ERP (Endeavor Imagination Provision) and CRM (Client Human relationship Direction) results for any little to large concern. Compiere 3.0 Marks the first appearance of Compiere Professional Variation, a fresh insurance premium offer directed at bigger organisations that call for more forward service and commercial certifying from Compiere.
Maked you bask this article?
- “That is non possible. Microsoft would non let it.”
- Determination the felicitous culture medium in FOSS