50 Open Source Software Solutions To Common Proprietary Programs

If you're anything like Den Den and I, you have a penchant for Open Source software, and even better yet, free software. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of knowing full well that you're buddy just paid a ridiculous amount of money for his Photoshop license when you boot up your copy of GiMP. It's akin to that feeling you get when you've flirted with the bartender enough that he blatantly gives you a free drink then charges the guy right behind you.

You probably also scour the Internets constantly looking for more Open Source software alternatives to costly proprietary programs, like we do. And believe me, there are some great apps out there, from GiMP for your Photo editing needs to Songbird for your media player needs to Ubuntu and various other Linux/Unix versions for your OS needs. But did you know there were Open Source alternatives for programs like AutoCad and even Macromedia Flash Professional?

The crew over at WHDb.com threw together a list of the Top 50 Proprietary Programs that Drive You Crazy and Their Open Source Alternatives to help acclimate you to the Open Source world for the new comers and help us "old-timers" find out about new solutions we may not have heard about yet.

One word on Open Source Software though, in particular Freeware: Know that you're are not getting a direct rip of the proprietary competitor. Open Source is built by community, usually people that create code on their free time, and in almost every case, by people that have never met. While they will work great, there is not going to be a 800 number to call when it doesn't work. No worry though, I've found the Open Source community to be very helpful to date, so make sure to visit the respective forum for the program you download if you do ever tun into a problem.

Viva la Open Source!

[via: Digg]