Just like everybody else, I love software that is fully functional with no time limits, no feature limits and no usage constraints. Here are some of the best Free Software sites that allow you to do just that, whatever you like.
Many people just hate not being able to make a couple of legal backup copies of the proprietary software that they paid good money for because of a restrictive license agreement that they had no choice but to accept. Yes, that really sucks. For once, the choice really can be yours to make, so here are a few sites that will help you to become informed.
These sites are worth a look for any body including those who are looking for alternatives to patented software and other software purchaser/user encumbrances. No Adware, Crippleware, Limitware, Timeware etc. to be found here. You even have the right to distribute the software yourself if you have the appropriate license. Might even be of interest to some of you Internet Marketing Entrepreneurs out there.
In providing this list of Free Software sites, I am not endorsing one over the other nor am I saying that any additional Free Software sites not included in this list are unworthy. This is because I have based the selection of these Free Software sites upon the following factors:
- Variety - Sites with a broad range of software genres (one stop shop if you will) and a range of products within each genre from which to choose
- Quality - Bad software is expensive at any price and more often than not ends up costing you more than its worth to remedy the damage done
- Legality - Software that allows you to legally, do with as you please is the underlying ethos of those making, developing, distributing and promoting Free Software. By “free”, they mean “free” as in “freedom” and not “free” as in “free beer”. Pity I like free beer. The other types of “free software” which come under the monikers of Open Source Software and Freeware I will discuss in another article.
- Features - The feature set of any software is always important as the more features that the software has ultimately translates into its greater usefulness
- Usability - Not only must the Free Software be easy and intuitive to use but so must the sites from which you obtain it
- Support - Nobody likes getting the cold shoulder and being able to get a helping hand every now and then is always of great value. To this end correct, readily available and up-to-date documentation is imperative.
Most of all I think everybody should visit a few of them to find out what alternatives to “mainstream” pay-through-the-nose products and services are out there. So here they are:
The Free Software Foundation.org is all about distributing free software where the free means “free” as in “freedom” and not “free” as in “free beer”. The range of software products they offer is diverse and many are actually available free as in “free beer” but you need to verify this on a case-by-case basis. Sister sites, all of whom embody the same basic philosophy as their parent but with a regional perspective include:
No points for guessing that this Free Software Foundation sister site has a European bias particularly where issues deemed relevant or important to the EU such as privacy legislation are concerned. Still worthy of a look.
With over a billion in population India is more than just a geographic region it is fast becoming a world economic power. This manifests itself in the vast numbers of “Western” countries and corporations that are currently out-sourcing development of products and services to Indian-based organizations.
As with most things the French like to do it their way and the Free Software Foundation France.org is the Free Software Foundation's sister site based in France.
It seems that everybody is getting in on the act and if you live in Latin America then the Free Software Foundation Latin America is the site for you.
The Free Software Directory is a project of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Here you will find a huge catalog of useful free software that runs under free operating systems. The focus is squarely oriented toward the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants. I bet you will love this site, as there are over 5,000 free software packages available there just has to be something here for everyone.
