From FastUpFront.com comes an extremely useful list of Open Source applications. As the recession drags on, more and more businesses are looking at Open Source software as a way to reduce the amount they are spending on software licensing.
From the article:
Open source applications and online services have been generating a lot of buzz over the past few years. Many of the open source alternatives are formidable contenders to the major liscensed software programs and services out on the market. Depending on the nature and circumstances of your business, bringing in open source apps may be a cheaper and more practical option to shelling out hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars in liscensing fees for the commercial versions.
The list is reproduced here:
Accounting Software
TurboCASH. – A powerful fully-featured, multi-user accounting system.
GnuCash. – A personal and small business accounting software
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
SugarCRM.- Probably the most well-known, and powerful, CRM open source options. It is better suited to bigger businesses, however.
ConcourseSuite. – Formally CentricCRM, it is a “front office application suite to integrate Customer Relationship Management (CRM), web content management and team collaboration capabilities into a single, easy to user web application.”
vtiger.- Easy to use CRM software. Good option for smaller businesses.
Office Suite/Word Processing
Open Office. – Full-featured office suite, compatible with all other major office suites including MS Office
The Fifth Element.- Full-featured office suite, compatible with all other major office suites including MS Office
AbiWord.- Word processing software, easy-to-use version of MS Word.
Email
Thunderbird. – Open source, cross-platform email and news client developed by Mozilla
Pegasus Mail. – Less well-known email system, but offers plenty of features and easy-to-use format
Graphics
Photofiltre.- A full-featured image and photo editing program; a good Photoshop alternative
Paint.NET. – A solid image and photo editing program; a good Photoshop alternative
The GIMP. – the GNU Project’s excellent image manipulation program.
Blender 3D.- Richly featured 3D content creation and animation program. Check out the features and gallery section.
Point of Sale Software
Openbravo POS. – Popular Point-of-Sale application designed for a wide range of retail businesses.
NolaPro POS. – A Web-based accounting, inventory, POS, and business management suite.
Business Tools/Apps
Google Pack. – Download a bunch of Google applications/tools, such as the Chrome web browser and Goggle Apps, in one shot
Opera Browser.- A fast, secure web browser. There’s also a version for smartphones.
Mozilla Firefox. – A fast, secure web browser; a good alternative to Internet Explorer.
Web CEO- A collection of powerful SEO tools
CCleaner – A system optimization, privacy, and cleaning tool
A mixed bag of Windows and Linux software there. We at Jaytag heavily reccomend Ubuntu Linux for desktop computers and servers, as a fully featured office can be set up with no licensing costs whatsoever.
FastUpFront.com often has useful information for small businesses on how they can save money or improve existing IT processes. There is a full list of their technology articles here.
If like us, you try to keep the majority of the software you use open source, then Mozilla Thunderbird (with the Lightning add-on) might just be the perfect solution to your PIM (personal information manager) needs.
