Free money... or, at least, software
As a college student, money often appears to me in dreams. It has taken on a fictional, mythical quality, something that I don't actually possess but would really like to. As such, I generally attempt to avoid situations which require money to leave pockets, such as buying software for menial, required tasks.
When purchasing or (if it fits your fancy) building a new computer, the last stage is always a surprise: hundreds of dollars for software that, despite your deepest desires, you simply cannot live without. Specifically, the three biggies include an operating system, word processor and virus protection. Most people bite the bullet, either intentionally or (with pre-packaged, retail systems) unintentionally pick up Windows XP ($179, Home Edition; $279 Professional Edition), Microsoft Office ($130, Student Edition) and Norton Anti-Virus ($75). Rest assured, however, there are other options.
Before replacing the core of your digital desktop, let's tackle the second two packages. While Microsoft has successfully conquered the word processing arena (as well as spreadsheets, email and several other applications), others are trying to stick their foot in the door. Over the last several years, the open source industry has successfully developed OpenOffice.org, a free and completely compatible replacement suite for all of the features Microsoft Office supports. Writer replaces Word, Impress takes over for PowerPoint, Calc steps in for Excel and Base steps up to the plate for the infamous Access database manager.
There are several issues to consider when making the switch between the traditional option and OpenOffice.org. Most importantly, while all of your documents will transition seamlessly between the two platforms, advanced functions (such as Excel's VBA) might not function correctly. For the average user, however, moving between Microsoft Office and OpenOfficer.org will be painless, quick and—best of all—free.
Symantec (the makers of all Norton products) and McAfee lead the retail anti-virus industry almost as dominantly as Microsoft controls their territory. Two highly regarded (and free) alternatives are avast! and GriSoft's AVG Free Edition. While neither product is an open-source program like OpenOffice.org, both are competent and reliable. AVG Free Edition lacks several features that its retail and professional packages include, but it is more than enough for even the above-average user. avast! is completely free, and the same competence and reliability applies.
As with the first switch, moving to a free alternative carries a few stipulations. The most important part of an effective anti-virus program is its database. With McAfee and Symantec, you are assured access to one of the most complete, reliable and current set of virus references. Both of the free alternatives offer similar databases, and while neither can completely compare to their retail rivals, they get the job done. While this concern is not paramount—the differences between each database are trivial—it is something that should be considered.
Lastly, and of the most difficulty, is the consideration of leaving Windows behind for good. As you have likely heard from our friends in the media, the ambiguous Linux movement has made its presence known. The question, then, is whether it is a viable option—that is, for the average, non-technical computer user, can Linux successfully and easily replace Windows XP or OS X? Simply put, it cannot—but that's the easy answer. Software and possibility between the two retail platforms and the various distributions (also known as "distros") of Linux are comparable. The real difficulty comes in adjusting from the familiar interface and innuendo of Windows (or OS X, for that matter) to a completely new environment. If you are ready for the jump, or your computer mysteriously didn't ship with an operating system, then perhaps Linux is right for you.
There are two sides to the free software discussion. On one side, there's the free and the open-source and the free; on the other, there's curiosity and concern for a product backed by those who receive no monetary motivation to continue supporting and developing your product of choice. While it is perfectly safe to switch away from the market leaders, old habits die hard—it might be more than you are ready for, but some issues pull harder on the wallet than others.