Migrate to Free Open Source Software (FOSS): Part 5 - Cross-Platform Applications

It's been a long time since I wrote Part 4 of my Migrate to Free Open Source Software series, but rest assured, I haven't forgotten about those of you that have been waiting on the next chapter.

To get back in to the swing of things after such a long intermission on this series, I'd like to start the ball rolling with just a simple list of FOSS applications known as "cross-platform", meaning that they will install and run natively on multiple operating systems such as Windows, OS X and/or Linux. If you've been following this series, then you'll be familiar with some that I already covered in detail. As this series continues, I plan to use this list as a sort of outline for the applications that I will be covering in future articles.

Information Technology as a Career

Information Technology. What is it? It is the use of computers, computer software and computer networks to transmit, process and store information (or data). It is happening all around us every day. From the cash registers at your local department store to your favorite restaurant. It is on the job in your cell phone and your car's GPS. It helps us travel as tools to control traffic lights and air traffic schedules. We even rely on it to manage our money within our financial institutions.

So, with so much Information Technology in the world around us, what does it take for a growing young person to make a career out of it? I'll tell you.

Mount Windows Shares on Linux (at startup)

So you can't use Linux because you have to operate in a Windows world, huh? Well, guess what... so do I. As a matter of fact, I have one of only two Linux laptops operating in our almost entirely Windows-based company. I get along just fine.

Recently, however, I made the switch from the Gnome desktop environment to XFCE. I was looking for something a little lighter and quicker, plus, I like to try new things whenever possible. Unfortunately for me, Thunar (the XFCE file manager) does not include an option to "connect to server" like it's Gnome counterpart Nautilus does. I thought, for a while, that I'd just have to suffer through the loss of the network shares that are hosted by Windows for the rest of the company.

10 Useful 1-liners for the Linux Command Line

During my time as a Linux admin, I have collected a list of useful one-line commands that I could use from the command line to increase efficiency by reducing repetitive work load. I've also found that it was useful to document commands that are very necessary, but not on a daily basis, for easy access to their syntax.

Here are 10 of those such commands:

Migrate to Free Open Source Software (FOSS): Part 4 - The Email Client

In Part 4, we're going to take a look at the installed application that most people are probably using on some level, the Email Client. In this series, I'll be listing what I would consider everyday-use, closed-source software for the home user, and what the open-source packages are that fulfill the same purpose. I will only list software here that I have first-hand experience with, because I don't plan on this being some pointless software review post. I hope that this information is actually useful to those of you who have heard of, or would like to consider open-source software.

Migrate to Free Open Source Software (FOSS): Part 3 - The Web Browser

Here it is, part 3 of my Migrate to Open Source series. In this series, I'll be listing what I would consider everyday-use, closed-source software for the home user, and what the open-source packages are that fulfill the same purpose. I will only list software here that I have first-hand experience with, because I don't plan on this being some pointless software review post. I hope that this information is actually useful to those of you who have heard of, or would like to consider open-source software.

It seems like, more and more, that every day is one day closer to leaving installed applications behind in favor of web-hosted applications that can be accessed from any computer with a web browser and an internet connection.

Migrate to Free Open Source Software (FOSS): Part 2 - The Operating System

It's time for part 2 of my Migrate to Open Source series. In this series, I'll be listing what I would consider everyday-use, closed-source software for the home user, and what the open-source packages are that fulfill the same purpose. I will only list software here that I have first-hand experience with, because I don't plan on this being some pointless software review post. I hope that this information is actually useful to those of you who have heard of, or would like to consider open-source software. Read on after the jump to discover the truth about the availability of quality open-source software.

First and foremost, every computer needs to have an operating system. The operating system is responsible for managing the person's interaction with the hardware of the machine. It's the tool that interprets and translates the user's commands. Without it, a computer is just a paper weight that can plug in to the wall.

Migrate to Free Open Source Software (FOSS): Part 1

So, you've reached the realization that computer software is very expensive, at least if you want to get the "good" stuff that everyone else is using. What if that isn't entirely true? What if the makers of said software wanted you to believe that you had to pay their high prices for quality software (or get an illegal copy) just to make sure that you would continue buying and using their software? As a matter of fact, that is exactly the case.

What many software development companies don't want you to know, is that there are cost free alternatives to their software that functions as well as, and in many cases better than, the software that they require you to pay hundreds of dollars for.

Life

At some point in our existence, we all find time to contemplate the meaning of our own lives. We ask ourselves questions like: Am I doing the right thing? Am I spending enough time with the people that are truly important to me? Am I a good husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, friend, etc.? Have the decisions that I've made in my life brought me to a place that I'm happy with? Of all the things that I am living for, are any of them worth dying for?

Life, is one of those things that we all experience, but rarely every really understand through our own eyes.

With that in mind, I decided that today, I'd take some time to try to see life through others' eyes.

Telecommuting: Is it better to work from home?

Think about your work environment. Now take a look at the picture to the right and think about how much more work you could get done if that was your desk; at your home. Would your stress be reduced? Would you be able to focus more on the projects you're working on? Would the elimination of typical "office" distractions actually allow you to become a better employee to your company? Obviously, this is from an office-type job(like mine) perspective.

If you've answered yes to those questions, then it's very possible that telecommuting is perfect for you. However, is it also perfect for your employer? This debate has gone on for years in many corporations that seem to have a hard time letting go of their old-fashioned beliefs that are based around the "perception is reality" philosophy.

Compassion

So today, I take a look at "Compassion". With the changing of the guard, so to speak, of this week's Presidential Inauguration and all of the changes taking place in Governmental Office as a result, I think that compassion is a fitting topic of choice.

"Compassion is the basis of morality."
-- Arnold Schopenhauer

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth."
-- Benjamin Disraeli

Free Open Source Software

I am a firm believer that there is a high-quality (maybe even higher-quality), Free Open Source Software (FOSS) alternative for nearly every application that you've ever spent your hard-earned money on. Think back to how many programs you've purchased (or had to pirate) in order to do simple, everyday tasks on your computer such as write a letter, create a spreadsheet, listen to your MP3s, watch a DVD, edit an image or photo, etc. What fun and useful things could you buy if you had all of that money back. All of those $9.99, $19.99, an $29.99 programs that you've downloaded or purchased from your local department store generally have Open Source alternatives that you can download and use for no cost at all.

But can a free (as in beer) software package really match the quality of something that you pay money for?