First
the soapbox, then the links! I have wanted to move away
from Windows as an operating system and from Windows-based
software for quite a few years. Unfortunately, my employers
were so heavily invested (or, dare I say, mired) in that
venue that the shift to Linux was simply not feasible. Now,
I find
myself free to choose my OS platform
and most of my application software.
My
workstation is a new Pentium 4 with lots of RAM and hard
drive space.
(Linux, of course, runs very well on an old PC -- at home
I use both a P-II and a P-III with limited RAM, and both
are faster than my P4 running Win2K!) Best of all,
I'm running Linux as the operating system and only tolerate
Windows (in any form) as a guest OS under VMWare. That's
because a couple of my courses are tied to specific Microsoft
products. But for
day-to-day use, it's GNU or Open Source software! At every
opportunity, I plug Linux, GNU, and Open Source software
(even for Windows-based software) with my students.
So
this page is borne of my conviction that an operating system
need not be a resource hog, contain the names of every
person who ever walked through the development rooms, or
be a constant security hole. Also, I believe that the
basic concept of the GNU Project
(i.e.,
that "free"
software means "free to choose") represents the only
honest future for computing. The Open Source Foundation, while
not entirely in concert with GNU ideals, does produce excellent
software for, at most, a really fair price. Together, GNU and
OSF have made it possible for non-techies to choose Linux as
their primary operating system. Thank you! And thanks to Linux
Torvolds and the people working with him to maintain and develop
the Linux OS.
The
package listed here are well worth examination! Some are commercial,
but all are worth their price and will turn your Linux
computer
into a true powerhouse.
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