Living Entirely or Almost
Microsoft/Apple Free

http://msfree.tusd.us

Yes, it is possible to work productively on a computer without using Microsoft or Apple software.  While you can go entirely of mostly free from both, I'm going to recommend the "mostly" option.  Note: check with your IT department before setting up any computer on their network.

1. Entirely Microsoft/Apple OS-Free: Linux
2. Mostly Microsoft-Free: Office alternatives
 3. Mix & Match (Live CDs and Dual-boot)
 Plus: Web applications such as some listed at http://www.webapplist.com 

 


1a. Microsoft-Free on a PC

For this, the only question is what flavor of Linux you want to use.  There's a handy Linux Distribution Chooser and LinuxChooser to help you decide.  Like me, you'll probably end up with Edubuntu or K12Linux.  Both combine sold Linux distributions with Office suites and education games. 

Edubuntu is a variant of the increasingly popular Ubuntu.  For older machines, use Xubuntu.  K12Linux can be installed as a workstation, server, or thin client (to use older PCs as terminals).  Interestingly, the word is they are planning to join forces to create a single education Linux distribution. For those switching from Windows to Ubuntu, PCMechanic has a transition guide.

Edubuntu and K12Linux, and Linux in general, are always works in progress.  For schools with limited budgets, old equipment, and some time to devote to the project a wholly Linux setup may be just the ticket.  Also, the loosely-organized Tux4Kids group has some current software (TuxPaint, Tux Tying, Tux of Math Command) and projects under development (TuxWrite, TuxPrint, and Tux Alphabet Soup).

If you don't have a utility to burn the ISO images (copies of the CDs that you download) you can use the free BurnCDCC or CD Burner XP Pro. 

1b. Apple Software-Free on a Mac

Who knew you could run a Macintosh without the Mac OS.  Once again, Linux comes to the rescue.  While there's no Mac Edubuntu bundle, you can download and install Ubuntu just fine on a G3 or newer Macintosh.  For better performance on older machines, consider the Yellow Dog Linux distribution -- it will run better on an older G3 than newer versions of Apple's OSX.  Both come with a suite of Office applications, as expected.  Again, many folks are reluctant to abandon the Mac OS for an OS that is continually under development.


2a. Mostly Microsoft-Free on a PC

Here's where the fun really begins and where my recommendation lies.  With just the Windows OS you can run a suite of free applications (many ports of their Linux cousins) to rival what Microsoft can offer.

First, you do need a legal copy of Microsoft Windows.  Fortunately, the COA (certificated of authenticity) is all you need to put an available copy of Windows on a donated machine.  For older donated machines (pre-PIII, i.e. PII -- before the COE was included on the machine) you can freely install Windows 98 or Windows 2000 under Microsoft's Fresh Start program.  Note that this is only for educational settings.  I recommend Windows 2000 with all of the updates except for the oldest machines.

Then it's a matter of installing an Office suite and other applications -- all free for school use except for some of the antivirus software -- to make the computer productive and secure.  Pick and choose from below, or download the WinLibre package (a collection of titles, including OpenOffice, PDF Creator, InkScape, and ClamWin).  Also, a good resources is Top-100 Essential Downloads for XP.

Office & Productivity
OpenOffice (Version 2.0 is a full office suite that has everything you need)
AbiWord (For opening and editing Word, WordPerfect, ClarisWorks, etc.!)
PrimoPDF, PDF Creator or CutePDF Writer (Create PDF files from any document)
NVU (Full-Featured WYSIWYG Web Page Editor)
FreeMind (mind mapping similar to Inspiration)
FireFox (The best Web Browser out there?)
ThunderBird (E-mail)

Security & Utility*
AVG Antivirus (solid antivirus program for home use)
AntiVir (another solid antivirus program -- run both, for personal use!)
Avast (slow on older machines, great antivirus and firewall protection, for home users)
ClamWin (open source antivirus software -- good, but not as good as others)
ZoneAlarm (a firewall to block hackers)
Microsoft Windows Defender (Microsoft's much-improved spyware blocker)
Spybot Search & Destroy (along with Ad-Aware, block & remove spyware)
FreeRAM XP Pro (for all versions of Winndows, frees and monitors available RAM)
SandboxIE (while browsing, put all possibly harmful files in a virtual sandbox) 
ExplorerXP (file manager -- view folder sizes)
*While all of the above are free for home use, only ClamWin, Spybot and FreeRAM XP Pro can be used freely at school.  You would have to purchase one of the above or some other antivirus program such as Norton Antivirus for a school.

Education
StudyDog (Free reading software K-2)
Math for Kids (Basic math skills from counting on up)
MiniseBran (Toddler Activities) 
Sebran's ABC (Primary activities)
Roxie's ABC Fish (Primary actives)
GCompris (More primary activities -- fewer than the Linux version)
Tux Typing (Typing tutor)
Kiran's Typing Tutor (Typing lessons & practice)
Celestia (Astronomical model of the universe)
GraphCalc (2D & 3D Graphic Calculator - HS)
Analytic Math (Math & plotting - HS)
Algebrus (2d & 3d mathematical plots -HS)
All That Chords! (Practice with musical chords)
SmarterKid Games
 Math Quiz (Multiplication)
Site Words Buddy (Sight Words)
Kids Abacus (Counting)


Graphics & Multimedia
PC Image Editor (Automatic and basic image controls)
FastStone (Simple & powerful basic graphics editor)
IrfanView (Nifty graphics viewer and editor!)
GIMPShop & GIMP (Alternatives to PhotoShop)
Paint.NET (Powerful picture editor)
Microsoft PhotoShow (create multimedia slideshow of photos)
TuxPaint (Graphics for the younger set -- similar to KidPix)
ArtRage (Kid-friendly graphics program in free and pay versions)
WinAmp (Play sound and video)
Audacity (Record & edit sound) + LAME MP3 Encoder (to edit MP3 files)
MP3 Direct Cut (Edit MP3 files)
Finale Notepad (Compose music)
CDBurnerXP Pro (Burn CD, CD images, and limited DVD for now)
Media Player Classic (Play video)
Google Sketchup (create 3D models)
Audiograbber (rip CDs to your computer)
MP3Trim (simple MP3 editor) 
Screen Capture: Screenhunter and FastStone Screen Capture 

Extras
Acrobat Reader 6 (or the new 7 if you prefer)
Macromedia Plug-ins (Flash & Shockwave)
ZipGenius (UnZIP files)
ReadPlease Free  (PC speaks text)
Foxit Reader (PDF viewer and also type in PDF file)
BurnX Free (Burn CDs)
Beyond Remote (view and control other PCs on the network)
CoreFTP, FileZilla and miFiles (FTP program to move files)
Google Earth (explore the world using satellite photos with the click of a mouse)

2b. Mostly Apple Software-Free on a Mac

Many of the same applications available in Linux are also available on the Mac and PC. Add these to your existing Mac OSX machine for nice alternatives to the Apple and Microsoft Software.  Many of these require OS 10.3 or newer, however.

AbiWord (MS Word replacement)
FireFox (Web browser)
ThunderBird (E-mail)
OpenOffice & NeoOffice (Office suites -- both ports of OpenOffice for Linux)
GIMPShop (PhotoShop replacement, tweak of GIMP to act more like PhotoShop)
InkScape (Vector graphics editor)
TuxPaint (Graphics for the younger set -- similar to KidPix)
NVU (Full-Featured WYSIWYG Web Page Editor)
Tux Typing (Typing tutor)
Audacity (Record & edit sound)
VLC Media Player (Play audio & Video, including AAC+ audio)


3. Mix & Match

Many Linux distributions can run off a CD or a pen drive.  These "live" versions will run as long as your machine is set to boot off the CD first (hold down a key --usually the Del, Esc, F2 or some other key to get into the BIOS).  Once set, you can boot the machine from a CD.  Ubuntu has a live version for PC and Mac and an excellent, small, but complete distribution that takes up 'only' 50mb is Puppy Linux.  There are various versions, for example GrafPup bundled with graphic editing software.  You generally have to download a disk image (ISO file) and burn that image to a CD.

If you're really motivated, you can install a dual-boot system -- at login you can choose whether to boot into Windows or Linux.  On Macintosh computers, you can choose Apple OSX or Windows XP using the free Boot Camp on new Intel Macs with OS 10.4!


Plus: Online Applications

Increasingly, online applications exist that take the place of installed software.  The only requirement is a web browser and any necessary plugins (such as Macromedia Shockwave and Flash).  Here are some of the best from the website http://www.webapplist.com and http://faves.tusd.us...

Virtual Apple (emulate an Apple ][e -- play Number Munchers, Oregon Trail & more) 
ThinkFree Office & gOffice (free Office suites)
Create-a-graph (create eye-catching graphs using this online tool) 
Yahoo! Mail (multilingual web e-mail)
Dictionary (using Ajax -- the definition appears as you type) 
Visual Thesaurus (follow webs of definitions for words -- trial) 
Google Language Tools, Babelfish Translator, WorldLingo, (translate text, mail & sites)
GIFWorks.com (create and edit images and animated GIFs)
Thumbstacks.com (create and share online presentations) 
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (Math manipulatives online K-12) 
QuickMath (math solutions in Algebra, Equations, Inequalities, Calculus & Matrices) 
iRows (online web spreadsheets) 
YouSendit & SaveFile ("send" files up to 1 gigabyte in size -- mails link to file) 
Writing Sample Analyzer (enter text to find readability) 
Warning Label Generator (create warning labels to print or post) 
Periodic Table (one of many periodic tables on the Internet) 
MyBrochureMaker (create brochures online to print) 
MyNewsletter (create newsletters online to print) 
BubbleShare (online photo album with captions and audio) 
Planzo & Kiko (online easy-to-use calendars) 
Remember the Milk (online lists) 
Pixoh Image Editor (online image editor) 


Revised 9-24-2006