Here I am specifically looking for desktop software for Windows XP, not online versions. This is mainly because in South Africa bandwidth is still a problem and most people are still on dial-up.
When I talk about replacing more mainstream versions, I don’t mean that these free applications will do everything the commercial versions will but they may just suit you if you are not wanting to spend money on software you only use 5% of the functionality of.
Word Processing
Are you looking to replace Word or Office for that matter. Finding that Microsoft’s pricing is getting more and more exorbitant.
AbiWord is a more simplistic version
Version: 2.4.6 – File size: 5.16MB – Last Updated: 07
Platform: Windows 95b up to XP
Spreadsheet
Want to replace Excel?
Gnumeric I haven’t had a change to test it yet
Version: 1.6.3 build 2 – File size: 16.21MB – Last Updated: 07
Platform: Windows XP
Vector Graphics
Want to replace Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Xara X or the now obsolete Freehand?
Version: 0.45.1 – File size: 21.91MB – Last Updated: 20.03.07
Platform: Windows XP
Desktop Publishing – Page Layout
Want to replace InDesign?
Version: 1.3.3.9 – File size: 12.96MB – Last Updated: 06.05.07
Platform: Windows 2000/XP, MacOS X, OS/2, Debian Repository w/Instructions, Source and RPMS. See the changelog for a list of changes.
Needs a copy of Ghostscript (8.60 – 11.72MB) installed v8.53 or newer prior to installing Scribus.
Web Design
Want to replace Dreamweaver?
Version: 0.7.10 – File size: 7.6MB – Last Updated: 30.08.07
Photo Editing
Want to replace Photoshop?
Version: 2.2.17 – File size: 7.7MB – Last Updated: 07
Platform: Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP, MacOS X, Unix (including Linux)
If this is the first time you’re installing The GIMP, you will also need GTK+ 2 (2.1.13 – 6MB) Runtime Environment.
Picasa – brilliant for managing your photos and for quick and simple image manipulation. You can undo at any point in time, as long as you haven’t told Picasa to “Save Changes”.
Version: 2.7 – File size: 5.63MB – Last Updated: 07
Platform: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Office Suite
Want to replace Microsoft’s Office Suite?
OpenOffice – Used to be StarOffice, IBM now onboard
Includes: Writer – Word Processor, Impress – Presentation, Draw – Graphics, Calc – Spreadsheet, Base – Database
Version: 2.3.0 – File size: 106MB – Last Updated: 07
Platform: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista, MacOS X, Linux, FreeBSD
Date Format: dd.mm.yy
Please post a comment if you notice any of the applications are out of date or if you have others I have left out.