Cheap is good, but free is better

Q: I've been using OpenOffice as a replacement for Microsoft Office. It's a great, free program that does everything Office does. What are some other free substitutes for software?

A: There are quite a few free open source alternatives to choose from. "Open source" can mean lots of things but, in short, open source is software created by and for the people and it is usually free and of high quality. In fact, there are so many open source alternatives to most commercial programs, that an educated consumer may never have to purchase software if he knows where to look.

Following are some alternatives to all sorts of expensive software programs:

Kiss Bill Gates goodbye by switching to Ubuntu (oo-BOON-too) instead of using XP or Vista. Ubuntu is an African word with a nebulous definition suggestive of friendship and sharing. It is an operating system similar to Windows but is based on linux. It comes loaded with most all the applications that most people need such as a Web browser, Open-Office, instant messaging and other programs. Ubuntu requires much less "horsepower" to run than Windows XP and Vista, making it an ideal choice for older systems. If you are familiar with Windows, you will find the transition to Ubuntu easy.

GIMP (an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program) is similar to Photoshop Elements or Paintshop. While not quite as powerful as its commercial counterparts, Gimp is free. Get it at gimp.org.

CutePDF (cutePDF.com) is an excellent substitute for Adobe Acrobat Professional for creating PDF documents. The free version lacks some of the advanced features, but most users would not miss those features. If you do need advanced features, you can upgrade to CutePDF Pro for $49.

Untether your iPod from iTunes with Songbird (songbirdnest.com). Think of Songbird as the Firefox of MP3. According to its Web site, Songbird is a "desktop media player mashed-up with the Web. Songbird is committed to playing the music you want, from the sites you want, on the devices you want ..."

Turbocash (turbocash-usa.com) touts itself as one of the first fully-featured open source accounting packages for small business and individuals. It's an alternative to Microsoft Money and Quickbooks/Quickpay

Winpooch (winpooch.free.fr) and Clamwin (Clamwin.com) are good alternatives to Norton and McAfee antivirus programs. The two programs work together to provide an effective security system for your computer. The setup of these two programs is a little clunky, but if you can install them, you'll have some of the best antivirus/antispyware protection available without spending a penny.

I have links to these and other free alternatives on my Web site.

Jim Fisher owns Excel Computer Services in Florence. His column is publishes every other Monday in the TimesDaily. Ask questions by visiting ExpertPCAdvice.com