PC with only freeware programs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Falcon
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Falcon

Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)

Falcon
 
Falcon said:
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)

Falcon
Click to expand...

For non-commercia use, I'd say yes, but...
1) There are some program's that are not found freeware wise, for example
- a font writing program
- An MS-Access like database
- ect....
2) you should not expect it works exactly the same way as the defacto
standards. eg Openoffice can almost exactly do as MS-office. but it is the
word Almost that you should be aware off... Not everything is equal, for
example the database. at some fronts it might be more capable (PDF and HTML
output) on other fronts it is less (The macro engine is a crime -IMH0- )
But for the daily things (Internetting, typing a letter, using s simple
spreadsheet, listening/ editing audio, video and photo's I t is very well
possible to have a freeware only PC.

Commercially, the simple answer is NO, just for the simple fact that there
is no real freeware Antivirus out there that is free for commercial use AND
protects your PC enough to be usefull.

Jeroen de Bruijn
 
MightyKitten@ said:
For non-commercia use, I'd say yes, but...
1) There are some program's that are not found freeware wise, for example
- a font writing program
- An MS-Access like database
- ect....
2) you should not expect it works exactly the same way as the defacto
standards. eg Openoffice can almost exactly do as MS-office. but it is the
word Almost that you should be aware off... Not everything is equal, for
example the database. at some fronts it might be more capable (PDF and HTML
output) on other fronts it is less (The macro engine is a crime -IMH0- )
But for the daily things (Internetting, typing a letter, using s simple
spreadsheet, listening/ editing audio, video and photo's I t is very well
possible to have a freeware only PC.

Commercially, the simple answer is NO, just for the simple fact that there
is no real freeware Antivirus out there that is free for commercial use AND
protects your PC enough to be usefull.
Click to expand...


You can, though, do it for-free if not via freeware. Computer mag cover
disks have enough free versions of commercial anti-virus and other
security progs (plus every other type of prog too) to keep you safe and
wihin the law.

Ok, you have to buy the computer mags so the progs are not absolutely
free. But then you need to pay for an internet connection to download
progs anyway.
 
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)
Click to expand...
Absolutely.

Office pack - OpenOffice.
Graphics program - GIMP.
CD/DVD burner - Deepburner lite.
Everything on my PC is freeware apart from the 3D games I play such as
counterstrike.
 
Livewire wrote:
You can, though, do it for-free if not via freeware. Computer mag
cover disks have enough free versions of commercial anti-virus and
other security progs (plus every other type of prog too) to keep you
safe and wihin the law.

Ok, you have to buy the computer mags so the progs are not absolutely
free. But then you need to pay for an internet connection to download
progs anyway.
Click to expand...


Yeah, but that would mean you'll have to reinstall or use a different
Anti-virus program each 90 days or so...
Not very productive...

Jeroen de Bruijn
 
MightyKitten@ said:
Livewire wrote:



Yeah, but that would mean you'll have to reinstall or use a different
Anti-virus program each 90 days or so...
Not very productive...

Jeroen de Bruijn
Click to expand...
Well I've had a free year a few times, and never less than every six
months. And 20 mins tops to reinstall that seldom is fine by me.
 
Falcon said:
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)

Falcon
Click to expand...

Try Linux.

http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT7798707143.html

Not only do you get (with most distros) the OS, you also get the
software for free.
 
MightyKitten said:
Yeah, but that would mean you'll have to reinstall or use a different
Anti-virus program each 90 days or so...
Not very productive...
Click to expand...

www.clamwin.com
Free software, updates are daily and lightning fast.


Regards
Gerhard
 
Absolutely.

Office pack - OpenOffice.
Graphics program - GIMP.
CD/DVD burner - Deepburner lite.
Everything on my PC is freeware apart from the 3D games I play such as
counterstrike.
Click to expand...

Basically the same as me, only I do not play games. Although my son who
is in the National Guard, has shown me some free cool games to download
(America's Army is one and he as another one like Command and Conquer
(only free).

The PC that my wife and I share (the newer one) has only freeware and
even my wife is now OK with Open Office (which was the last holdout for
us since she is (ok, was) a die hard MS Office fan.

Mozilla Suite
Open Office
Gimp
Deepburner
Xnews
DIRMS/Buzzsaw
HTML-Kit
Plus a ton of other freeware goodies. Heck, they are all listed on my
web page under the "tools of the trade" link.

--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
El Gee - www (dot) mistergeek (dot) com <><

Did you hear the one about the dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac?
He had trouble sleeping at night, wondering if there was a dog.
Remove yourhat to reply ... but it may take a while.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)
Click to expand...


With a little work and diligence, it's perfectly possible.

-- Bob
 
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
Click to expand...

Many folks have already done this, so you should be able also.
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)

Falcon
Click to expand...
Take it one step further, replace the pay OS with a free one too.

http://www.ubuntu.com or http://www.kubuntu.org

http://distrowatch.com/
 
yup - mine is 99.999% packed, plus I have about 15 or so image
editors/color/converters, etc.etc. for graphics that are freeware for my
webdesign.
 
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)
Click to expand...


Office: Open Office (soon to release version 2 with database)
DTP: RagTIME Solo
DataBase: Firebird
RastorGraphics: GIMP
VectorGraphics: Zoner DRAW 3
Document Management: Columbus
CD/DVD burner - Deepburner lite.

AV: AVast
FireWall: ZoneAlarm
Antispy: SpyBot, Adaware

Email: Pegasus Mail
Email Server: Mercury Mail
NewsGroup: XNews
Browser: Mozilla

HTML Editor: NVU
Music Making: BUZZMachine
AudioEditing: AudaCity
MultiMedia View: WinAMP
Accounting: Wings 2000

blah blah blah...


---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 0516-6, 20-04-2005
Tested on: 4/23/2005 2:35:31 AM
avast! is copyright (c) 2000-2003 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com
 
Did they ever give it a resident scanner, or is it still only good for
on-demand scanning?
Click to expand...

From the Sourceforge project page:

MS Windows front-end to Clam Antivirus (http://www.clamav.net). Includes
scheduler, virus database updates, standalone scanner, context menu
integration to MS Windows Explorer and Addin to MS Outlook. Also features
easy setup program.
 
Falcon said:
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
Click to expand...

A couple of people already mentioned Linux. A lot of desktop-oriented Linux
distributions comes preinstalled with most things you need. And even then
there's a whole lot more ready for downloading and installation. A couple of
distros has already been suggested, and there is a lot that would fit the
bill, but for instant gratification (and to bring home to whoever you made
the bet with) there's not much beating Knoppix
(http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html).

Also bear in mind that being open source, a lot of the software typically
used under Linux can also be used under Windows. This includes Open Office,
Firefox, Thunderbird, GIMP, VLC etc.
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
Click to expand...

Of course.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)
Click to expand...

Unless the bet includes any very peculiar and specific needs that needs to
be adressed with free software I'd say you have this one in your pocket,
kid.
 
Conor said:
Everything on my PC is freeware apart from the 3D games I play such as
counterstrike.
Click to expand...

Since you mention CS, there is always Enemy Territory. Team-based 3D FPS,
based on id Softwares Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Totally free, available
for multiple OSes.
 
Apart from Windows OS, is it possible to make a complete working PC
with Filemanagment, Office pack, Graphics program, CD/DVD burner prg
etc with only FREEware prgs?
And it must only be fully funtional freeware, so no trial versions or
shareware.
It's kind of a bet, so please help me win this one :-)

Falcon
Click to expand...

Yes
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/
Everything you'll need.

regards

Dud
 

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