This post is part of the 17 Tips Series on How to Make Windows Run Faster.
Windows users generally use a lot of heavy-weight programs, which are a drain on your PC resources. You will be surprised to know, that there are lot of other light-weight software available on the Internet, which can do most of the task performed by these heavy-weight software. For an average user, these light weight programs are highly beneficial because of two reasons.
- They are open source, so FREE.
- They are light-wight and hence make your Windows run fast.
Here we are giving you a list of 50 light weight open source software, which can easily replace some of the most popular software on your PC. They not only can save you thousands of $$$ but also speed up your Windows to make Windows run faster.
Basics Software
Windows Vista can be replaced by Ubuntu OS
Internet Explorer can be replaced by Firefox
Office Suites
Microsoft Office can be replaced by OpenOffice
Mactopia can be replaced by NeoOffice
Office Tools
MathWorks MATLAB can be replaced by Scilab
Microsoft Access can be replaced by Kexi
Microsoft Word can be replaced by OpenOffice Writer
Microsoft Excel can be replaced by OpenOffice Calc
Microsoft Visio can be replaced by Dia
Productivity Tools
Blackboard can be replaced by Moodle
Box can be replaced by Cabos
Microsoft Project can be replaced by Open Workbench
Mindjet can be replaced by FreeMind
Graphic Programs
Adobe Illustrator can be replaced by Inkscape
Adobe PhotoShop can be replaced by GIMP
Adobe Premiere can be replaced by Avidemux
AutoCAD can be replaced by Archimedes
Microsoft PowerPoint can be replaced by OpenOffice Impress
Microsoft Paint can be replaced by Tux Paint
Web Editors
TruSpace can be replaced by Blender
Adobe GoLive CS2 can be replaced by Mozilla SeaMonkey
Adobe Dreamweaver can be replaced by NVU
Macromedia Flash Professional can be replaced by OpenLaszlo
Microsoft FrontPage can be replaced by Bluefish
Publishing Tools
Windows Notepad can be replaced by ConTEXT
Altova XMLSpy can be replaced by XML Copy Editor
Adobe Acrobat can be replaced by PDFCreator
Adobe Framemaker can be replaced by DocBook
Microsoft Publisher can be replaced by Scribus
Communication Tools
AIM can be replaced by Pidgin
FeedDemon can be replaced by RSS Bandit:
Microsoft MSN Messenger can be replaced by aMSN
Microsoft Outlook can be replaced by Thunderbird
Skype can be replaced by Wengophone
Media
iTunes can be replaced by Songbird
Nero Burning Rom can be replaced by K3b
Quicktime can be replaced by Darwin Streaming Server
TiVo Desktop can be replaced by Galleon.tv:
Windows Media Player can be replaced by Miro
Utilities
CuteFTP can be replaced by Filezilla
iBackup can be replaced by ZManda
Norton Ghost can be replaced by Partition Image
Rational Purify can be replaced by Valgrind
WinZip can be replaced by 7-Zip
Security Tools
Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal can be replaced by Winpooch
McAfee VirusScan can be replaced by ClamWin
Norton Personal Firewall can be replaced by WIPFW
Authorize.net can be replaced by OpenSSL
Financial Tools
Microsoft Money (Plus) can be replaced by TurboCash
Quickbooks can be replaced by Compiere
See also the other 16 tips to How to Make Windows Run Faster.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Replacing commercial software with free software will not make any Operating System run faster. Some will load faster, so you may win a few seconds in a day. Others are memory hogs and are so bad that you better stay with commercial software.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:18 am
make windows run faster by switching to ubuntu?!
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Adobe Premiere CANNOT be replaced by Avidemux. AVIDEMUX can’t even cut and paste clips. it is really, really, basic. it’s free. but it can’t do so much.
October 27th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Awesome, just awesome. A lot of these I run myself. But beware, if you install all of these, your system will slow down!
October 27th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Bookmarked!
January 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
MIRO seriouslyy get GOM
February 25th, 2009 at 2:21 am
Real nice tips, install linux version of everything, huh what a joke. Linux will never ever ever be the DESKTOP windows is, Even linux pro’s admit this why can’t the rest of you? and the most of the program you recommend don’t come close to there windows brothers
September 13th, 2009 at 8:52 am
This article should be titled ‘how to run windows slower’ with open source bloatware. We should stop comparing Linux with Windows. The gap is so wide still.