I just wanted to leave a quick comment on here. Is there any way that you could start (even if you only do one or two) putting these up on OSAlt.com? It’s a great site, has some good things on there, and I’m currently programming an attachment to the “windows migration tool” for Ubuntu, that will be able to check the installed software on windows, and then check OSAlt for equivalents on linux, and then install them automatically, while the rest of the tool migrates over data, and settings. It should make the setup much more homey, and much easier for new users.

This all, of course, depends on people actually updating OSAlt.com. There is an easy feedback form for it, and it would really help quite a few people, (myself included) if there were a more complete resource like this.

By the way, I already updated it with everything above. They should be putting them on the site soon.

Nice list. Many proprietary software vendors rely on piracy, but why pay a lot of money (or become a pirate) when software is free to distribute and you needn’t fear the BSA police?

I note that there is no “Microsoft Visio” in the list.
I have no interest in moving to Vista and am trying out linux so see if it will meet all of my needs.
The only real sticking point seems to be Visio compatibility and a package with all of the Visio features.

I have tried DIA, Kivio and Open/StarOffice draw.

But none have the rich or even some basic features of Visio.
Even Visio under CrossOver, but it is just too slow.

Ho hum ;-(

Here’s another …

Camtasia Studio: $300

Free Version: CamStudio (and it’s open source)

http://www.camstudio.org
(full disclosure - it’s my site!)

Adobe Reader’s free equivalent is foxit reader. it is for windows only but it is a good lightweight alternative to adobe reader

AutoCAD, Autodesk Map3D 2008, and ArcGIS 9.2. Sometimes grown ups need grown up tools to get grown up jobs done. Nice blog though kid ;) I know it’s an excellent server but Linux sure looks like a neat toy for @ home.
I’m off to my grown up job now kid. You keep working on your blog son, and guess what your story got Dugg! digg.com is a great blog aggregator for children!

I’m missing Pixel image editor from http://www.kanzelsberger.com as replacement for Adobe Photoshop. It’s not free, but hell cheap … and way better for those who hate GIMP’s UI.

Don’t usually do this but.

Outlook is not free (Outlook Express is).

aMule and eMule are not comparable to Kazaa because they use different P2P networks entirely. eMule uses the ED2K (eDonkey 2000) protocol and Kazaa uses FastTrack.

Thanks for the list though!

@ nikon

The list is more for Linux equivelants to Windows apps (so even though Winamp is free on Windows, you can’t run it at all on Linux systems).

Nice list….I wonder if you could update it to add everything that everyone has added in the comments….then and get some Dell or somebody to sell completely open source PCs with Linux and all the open source software….are you 100% open source or do you use ca$h programs as well?
—-

this list is too redundant… Excel, word, power point are all part of the office suite so why do you list them as separate things?

And stop misdirecting people making them believe that “TODAY” Linux is the solution to all their needs because this is not true YET. May be one day when the stupid hardware manufacturers start doing some shit about their drivers for linux. In the mind time, too many external devices like digital cameras, cellphones, and sex toys that already connect to a computer, will not work with Linux. No one uses anymore the computer as a single piece of equipment. and also some software titles like Quickbooks, ACT, and others needed to do WORK, are not available for Linux neither.

So i will rephrase the title “Why Use Software Illegally When You Can Use Legally ….” to “Why not use Illegally downloaded proprietary softwate, and also dual bot Win/Linux to get the extra stuff that you do not find in the other?”

What about Foxit Reader for Windows as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader? Not to mention all the PDF generators out there that replace, at least the basic functions of, Adobe Acrobat?

Where oh where, EXACTLY, can I download Kmail for Windows?

The only thing worse than bullshit lists is false information.

If you want to replace WinAmp on Windows with a Linux free equivilant, check out Beep Media Player (BMP). Installable via Synaptic. If you grab the skins from their website, it’s just like Winamp, as Amarok can be a little bloated for just playing music.

But the probleme is that some softwares has not again an equivalent on freeware version like AutoCAD, 3DMAX..
Portail généraliste

I’m surprised you didn’t list quicktime alternative for quicktime. The same program can play realmedia files too.

This article is lame. There are way more alternatives than listed here not to mention GIMP doesn’t come close to matching Photoshop AT ALL. Also if you are in a creative environment how are you going to replace After Effects and the myriad of great programs adobe produces. I have been using all of their programs for a long time and I can say that without a doubt there is no replacement for most of them, the good ones anyway.

Where are the games for Linux? Until linux gets support from major game studios I can never switch from Windows. Linux is great for running servers, but until it can be installed and used without any hacking then it will never compete with Windows. I want DVDs and MP3s to just play when i put the disk in. Even support for some wireless cards does not work. Because of the nature of proprietary hardware and software linux will never have these options and be ‘free’.

Downloaded inkscape, it can’t load illustrator AI files. How exactly is it a replacement when it can’t even load the same file format?

I wouldn’t say OS X is a good alternative to Windows, especially if you’re trying to get a good amount of work done in a short period of time.

I have a 2GHz MacBook with 2GB of RAM running Fedora Core 6, OS X, and Vista. I can honestly say, as a software developer and Photographer that I spend 90% of my time in Windows Vista.

The desktop environments available for Linux today are still too frustrating to use in a serious development environment, and GIMP is a laughable joke in comparison to PhotoShop.

OS X, on the other hand, is ridiculously slow (even on the highest end hardware), and the “friendly” GUI designs most programs incorporate only lead to more horrendous desktop clutter and frustration (e.g., CyberDuck).

Designers always used to argue that “creative” software, like PhotoShop, etc, work much better in OS X. Then I bought a MacBook and realized that they just never figured out how to work a Windows environment. It takes 2-3 times longer to do something in PhotoShop for OS X than for Windows.

Coding in OS X, forget it. It’s unbearable.

Well, you actually did use the term “replacement” in the article.

“You can find a free replacement for most of the commercial software out there.”

Although you mentioned the “replacement” might lack some of the advanced functionality of the commercial counterpart, it’s still a bit misleading. An “alternative” is MUCH different.

I think what people in the comments area are doing is filling in the gaps you left in the article. It could certainly lead to some confusion with the novice user.

This list does not take “total cost of ownership” into consideration. For example, training or learning curve, cost to switch due to installation time, documentation or help available, and so on. I’m not saying the list is bad, or that the “free” alternatives are more expensive. Instead, I’m just saying the this is not necessarily a complete picture. It’s still a good list…

@ Steven

“Things like The Gimp and Inkscape arent bad programs, but comparing them to software that is much higher end, and production ready software is silly, in terms of user interface, features, and stability.”

Ehm, yes and no. You can do the same stuff, but its not as tightly integrated as the Adobe suite is. Nor do they all follow the same interface principles. Still, I doubt you ever really learned how to work with the Gimp. Its not a clone of Photoshop. So you have to study to really understand it (just like you did with Photoshop). It takes time, but there are several things about the GIMP that make it superior and many things in which Photoshop is still superior. I know a couple of professional graphics artists. They use both the Adobe tools and the open tools.

Also missing on this list is Xara Xtreme and Blender3D. Off course blender is not on the list because there is no viable commercial alternative that even comes close.

“Non of the softwares listed to compare to Itunes either, unless you get all your music by illegally downloading it”

Wrong. Rhythmbx is to be compared to iTunes. You can browse, listen and download music from the following music stores:
- Jamendo: all music is freely liscensed for non-commerical use. You don’t have to pay ;-) 20,000+ songs
- Magnatune: buy music and choose how much you want to pay. You get OGG or MP3 without DRM.

You can also plugin in a iPod or generic MP3 player. It will even convert the songs to a supported format when you drag them to your music player.

So, in many ways, Rhythmbox is way superior to iTunes and its iTunes store.

“Also doesnt it seem hypocritical to list an alternative to Kazaa, a piece of software thats only real use is piracy,”

Very valid point. Your only valid point though. But right on the mark. The rest of your comments are ignorant trollings though. You haven’t really tried the software. You judged based on assumptions, nor actual experience other than trying it out for 2 seconds.

illustrator and indesign is better than inkspace and scribus. they are profesional programs.
inkspace and scribus is for kids, not for profesional works ;)

@ John Rodes

“This list does not take “total cost of ownership” into consideration. For example, training or learning curve, cost to switch due to installation time, documentation or help available, and so on”

I don’t think any of these tools take more time to learn than their commercial alternatives.
However, changes are, you already learned how to use the commercial tools.

In same line of reasoning: free software isn’t cheaper than software you already own (and paid for).

Its a true, yet ridicules argument.

@ Hellmark

Inkscape is pretty nice. However, Xara Xtreme has gone opensource.
Its has a lot more features than Inkscape does. However, I still believe, for the average user, Inkscape is the better choice. Keep it simple -> low learning curve ;-)

For professionals go with Xara Xtreme. If you use Ubuntu, you can find Xara Xtreme in add/remove programs (like about 2,000 other free desktop applications).

Commercial doesn’t necessarily mean that there is exchange of a fiat-currency, such as the Euro and others. It is a possibility.

“…Why don’t you just actually buy the software?…”

“…They might lack some of the advanced functionality, but they’ll be more than enough for most people….”

Most people do not work in the design industry. Should one do work in the design industry, there is no mention, that it is forbidden to acquire Adobe Photoshop. After all, one can also been gifted Adobe Photoshop, which can be done legally.

Also is it possible to use GIMP in the design industry. Equally not forbidden. And one can be self-employed in this industry

Okay, first off… yes, Adobe Reader is free so piracy isn’t an issue. KMail is NOT available for Windows. AutoCAD isn’t available for Linux, Windows plays all your games for you and I hear that if you rub your Windows XP or Vista install CD against your skin it miraculously cures leprosy.

The original writer of the table in this article never said “Here’s a list of “piratable” software, (s)he said “commercial.” Why limit it to the pirated software only? If there’s an alternative, then what’s wrong with listing it? Also for the KMail comment, I think you should blame the restrictions making a table gives you. The “yes” in that column refers to Thunderbird, not KMail and people would gripe just as much had (s)he put a “No” in there.

Canada Man, good for you! You’re all grown up now! Care to tell us what CAD you ran on your TI-994/A? Of *course* the Linux version isn’t going to be the same program with the same functions. Different functions are important to different people. If I need to edit a photo or make graphics for my dinky little website, I’m not going to want to spend $600 for top of the line when GIMP will do everything I want and more. If all I need to do is mail merge some christmas cards, I’m not going to buy Office 2007, I’m going to download KOffice or OpenOffice.

If you run a business and you’re not responsible enough to own legal software, that’s your problem, not the blog writer’s. It’s not about ‘kiddie’ software, it’s about downloading what you need, not paying through the nose for what you don’t. If you’re not the average user, don’t slam the average user’s blog.

I stopped using Windows entirely about 6 months ago, and I’ve never looked back. This works just fine for me. If you’re going to take a blog entry as your only point of research when deciding what to run for a business, then I recommend KOffice, that would be just fine for printing up nice bankruptcy forms and maybe

Becasue sometimes the gimp just doesn’t cut it.

“Downloaded inkscape, it can’t load illustrator AI files. How exactly is it a replacement when it can’t even load the same file format?”

Likewise a diesel car doesn’t replace a gasoline car for the purpose of driving.
Are you kidding me?

Great list! I should really get my act together and try something else than Windows.

You should be using Firefox anyway - its more secure and has an abundance of more (useful) features!

GIMP is no match to Photoshop. You can get a license of Photoshop CS2 for 350USD via eBay and that is cheap for me!

Money, Quicken, Quickbooks?

Some more additions:

Dreamweaver/Frontpage > Nvu
3D Max > Blender

Where do I even start? The open source software listed above are at best a feeble attempt at replacing the equivalent commercial software. This may work for the casual home user, and only for personal use, but for people like us who work in offices, forget about it.

MS-word is a de-facto standard, and if you insist on using OO or something else, you will be asked to take a perpetual vacation.

Take photoshop. For as long as I can remember, the design guys I work with only use Macs and photoshop. GIMP doesn’t come anywhere close to PS in terms of features and power. The user interface for GIMP was designed by three handed martians, there’s nothing even close to a standard mac or windows UI.

Support - where do I even start? I better not. I’ll be asked to “go read the source code”.

Last but not the least, there’s absolutely no semblance of integration between applications, or with the OS. This is something windows and mac apps excel at.

So yeah if you want to save some dollars go for the freeware. If you really want to work, you have no choice.

What about a decent program to replace sync software for Nokia Phones or MTP devices like Creative Zen?
So far it is cumbersome to install those devices.

Hi
I am not sure if it’s the place to leace a message.
Thanx for your email and I visited your webpage. It’s much nicer and easier than your ealrier one.. But I can’t still read stuff which is written in Danish.
Well I hope you are happy too. Your webpage is in my favorite list and will visit once in a while..I still think it’s a right place to leave this kind of greetings..
Au revoir! (my french got better haha)

“In what reality do you live in. Saying your paying for programmers when buying software is like saying your paying for potatos when buying french fries at McDonalds.”

lol, sorry Maneer, I live in the reality where I could have explained myself better. , my point was that if the supposed ‘good software’ wasn’t charged for, then the programmers of the product would leave. Yeah, reality is most of the times they don’t see half a percent of the profits made by a package, that goes to the salesmen, the management, the CEO, advertising, maybe a luxury yahct or two for those weekend business trips…. the list goes on and on, and no one wants to read my imagined ledgers, I’m sure.

And concerning the French Fries at McDonald’s? Well “meat” covers a wide spectrum of the zoological chart, so that might not be the best company to go to for that particular analogy, not even for the ketchup packets :)

hey #98,

try TurboCash.

http://www.turbocashuk.com/

can anyone tell me a replacement for windows blinds

Heh, sure those applications are not as good… yet. With some effort though we can be serious competition with commercial software - the only thing that we’re really missing are alternatives to Premiere and Flash. GIMP may not be ready for commercial use but it does pretty much everything that a home user like me would need.