Why not upgrade your computer with Linux? Linux is a free open-source operating system. It can be installed on many different types of systems including gaming consoles, computers, mobile phones and more. It’s also the operating system for the 10 fasted super computers in the world.
Linux doesn’t come with a set of tools like MS Windows but there are several popular programs that are comparable to Microsoft Office Suite and Photoshop Creative Suite. If you are a graphic designer, writer, business professional or just very creative — you will need a set of basic tools to go with Linux.
To replace Microsoft Office Suite (for word processing, Excel sheets, presentations and more) Linux users prefer OpenOffice.org. Each program is similar to and compatible with the ones found in Microsoft’s Suite, but they are all completely free.
For graphic designers and artists, Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator can be hard to replace…until now. Taking Photoshop’s place is GIMP, a free powerful graphics and photo editor. It has almost all the same functions that come with Photoshop. Illustrator is a little more difficult to replace because it is so unique, but a comparable vector design program is Inkscape. It has all the same tools, including the versatile Pen tool.
Of course, your business email is a big concern too. In the place of Outlook Express, you can download and install Thunderbird. It has all the features of Outlook and is completely free.
Lastly is a new web browser. Internet Explorer is practically part of Windows, so you’ll need a shiny new browser. There are lots of choices; Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari are just a few of the nicest.
Once you switch over to free software, you’ll notice a big difference in how your computer performs. Unlike other operating systems, Linux just installs what it needs without adding a ton of other small programs. Your computer will run better and much faster than before.