One of the most prevalent objections to switching from Windows to Linux is the familiarity of the Windows software. A common statement is something like "I'd switch to Linux, but all my programs run on Windows." The solution of course is to adopt programs which perform the tasks equally well, but which don't run exclusively on Windows.
Most software that runs on Linux and similar operating systems is itself open source, meaning, it's free. The fact is, these browsers, word processors, multi-media programs, etc. usually also run on Windows. Users can install and become acquainted with all the software they're likely to need before they switch operating systems. By adopting the new programs one at a time, users can take their time to learn each one before moving on to the next.
Free Alternatives to Internet Explorer
Starting with a new web browser is an easy first step into the world of open source. Firefox, from the Mozilla, is probably the most well known free browser. Opera is another free alternative. Firefox is open source. Opera is not open source, but is free to install and use on any personal computer. Both Firefox and Opera are considered by many to be more standards-compliant and safer than IE from malware infection.
Another alternative is Safari, from Apple. It's a great browser and it runs on Windows just fine, but it doesn't run on Linux. Users planning to migrate to a Mac might try it out, but those considering a move to Linux should pick Opera or Firefox instead.
Another browswer getting a lot of attention these days is Chrome, from Google. It is fast, sleek, and free. Right now it is available for Windows. For Linux, Chrome is only available as a development release, but fully supported Linux versions should be available soon.
Replacing Outlook and Outlook ExpressOpera, the free browser, also functions as an Email client, replacing the need for Outlook Express. Thus users learning Opera can replace two Windows programs at once, killing two birds with one stone. Users needing more advanced Email functionality can adopt Thunderbird from Mozilla. Thunderbird and Opera both support POP3, IMAP, and SMTP. If Exchange Server is configured to support POP3 or IMAP, then either of these programs can be used in place of Outlook.
Windows Media AlternativesFor those who like to watch movies or listen to music on their computers, there are some great products. Amarok for example is a free music player with an advanced interface that provides play lists, a graphic equalizer, and the ability to listen to streaming music over the Internet. For a media player compatible with Windows media, QuickTime, and most other audio and video formats, VLC Media Player also makes an excellent choice.
There are also powerful multi-media editing programs for professionals and aficionados looking for an alternative to Windows Movie Maker. Avidemux supports video capture (with a free plug-in), format conversion, dubbing, and DVD authoring. MythTV is a Free and Open Source alternative to Windows Media Center or Tivo. It supports watching / recording live TV, parental controls, commercial filtering, and scheduled recording. On a Windows PC, MythTV is best run from a live distribution CD like Knoppmyth.
Open Source Office Software
Also known as productivity software, this is probably the most important category for most users. The open source community has provided a wealth of options to choose from. For a completely free suite of office programs, check out OpenOffice. OpenOffice, sponsored by Sun Microsystems, provides Microsoft-compatible word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing, and database software. Together, these programs take the place of Word, Excell, PowerPoint, Visio, and Access.
Office users wanting a lighter-weight solution who don't need a complete productivity suite can choose from a variety of smaller, single-purpose tools. AbiWord is a free but powerful word processing program. Gnumeric is a tight spreadsheet program. Both these tools support importing and exporting Microsoft compatible documents. For many users, this combination of free software completely meets their productivity software needs.
Another option for productivity software - one that would actually require no re-installation of anything when switching from Windows to Linux - is Google Docs. Google Docs is a hosted productivity suite, including a word processor, a spreadsheet program, and presentation software. The documents and software are accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. For more information see Google Docs are a Free Online Educational Tool or Why Everyone Should Be Using Google Docs.
Transitioning to Open Source
The free software mentioned in this article have similar interfaces to their commercial counterparts, so users making the switch should have little trouble. By adopting open source one step at a time, users can learn at their own pace, picking up something new only once they're comfortable. Once they're fully productive with all the free software they need, users can transition to Linux, confident that these programs will work just as well as they did on Windows.
References
Joe Poniatowski - I've been an IT consultant for over 20 years, and in that role I've written product reviews, training documentation, technical ...
