Alternatives to Microsoft

<head> <title>Alternatives to Microsoft</title> </head> <body bgcolor="#EEEEEE" link="#99EEFF"> <p> <img src="alticonbig.gif" width=136 height=136 hspace=4 vspace=0 border=0 align="right" alt=""> <font size="+2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Microsoft software is often pretty good.</font> </p><p> <font size="+1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">But it's expensive, its anti-piracy schemes are a hassle, and it's not as good as it's cracked up to be.</font> </p><p> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>But what else can you use? What alternative do you have? </b> </p><p> <b>Fortunately, there are <i>plenty</i> of alternatives.</b> </p><p> Understandably, Microsoft would rather you bought all of your software from them, so they configure Windows to promote their own products and services, and pretend their competitors don't exist. They can outspend all of them on advertising, thanks to the revenue they get from Windows. But the alternatives are out there. And you know what? A lot of their stuff is even better than Microsoft's. Some of it's cheaper... or even free! We live in a free society and a free market, and the wonderful thing about that is that you can seek out information, do comparison shopping, and buy whatever works best for you. And keeping the market as free and competitive as possible is the best way to keep the government out of it. </p><p> Buying non-Microsoft products does sometimes put you out of step with the Joneses. But being yourself and making your own choices is what freedom is all about. And like Mr. Frost said... taking the road less traveled really does make all the difference. </p><p> This site is intended to provide lists and some information about alternatives to as many Microsoft products and services as possible. You've already heard the hype from Microsoft, so this is an attempt to tell the other side of the story. It may come across as biased against Microsoft, but that's because it's trying to provide balance to their not-exactly-objective and not-entirely-forthcoming ad campaigns. This site isn't here to promote any particular company or viewpoint. I try to give all of the various alternatives a fair shake, and describe why you might like each one. I admit that the lists here are incomplete (the number of alternatives out there is incredible), but I hope they'll give you a place to start. </p><p> <i>Buying products from other companies isn't just good for you; it's good for the technology industry overall. Microsoft has been involved in some rather shady dealings over the years, and some of their tactics are downright harmful. For a fairly extensive account of some of these problems, see <a href="http://www.kmfms.com/whatsbad.html" target="_blank">"What's So Bad About Microsoft?"</a>.</i> </p><p> "<a href="how.html">But how?</a>" - "<a href="cant.html">But I can't!</a>" - "<a href="me.html">But why listen to <i>you</i>?</a>" </font> </p><p> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"> <a href="os.html">operating systems</a> | <a href="browser.html">browsers</a> | <a href="mailnews.html">e-mail/news readers</a> | <a href="webmail.html">web e-mail</a> | <a href="isp.html">internet service providers</a> | <a href="search.html">search engines</a> | <a href="player.html">media players</a> | <a href="appliance.html">internet appliances</a> | <a href="tv.html">digital TV recorders</a> | <a href="game.html">game consoles</a> | <a href="palmheld.html">palmhelds</a> | <a href="wp.html">word processors</a> | <a href="sheet.html">spreadsheets</a> | <a href="db.html">databases</a> | <a href="flow.html">flowchart/diagram tools</a> | <a href="dtp.html">desktop publishing</a> | <a href="present.html">presentation</a> | <a href="graphics.html">graphics</a> | <a href="author.html">web-page tools</a> | <a href="phttpd.html">personal web servers</a> | <a href="httpd.html">professional web servers</a> | <a href="nntpd.html">news servers</a> | <a href="script.html">web scripting</a> | <a href="dev.html">application development tools</a> | <a href="mta.html">mail servers / transport agents</a> | <a href="sql.html">sql servers</a> | <a href="nos.html">file servers</a> | <a href="other.html">stuff you can't buy from Microsoft</a> | <a href="spirit.html">in the same spirit</a> </font> </p><p> <font size="-2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> All logos and product names are trademarks of their respective developers or distributors.<br> This site is in no way affiliated with Microsoft Corporation<br> © 1999-2008, Rzero. </font> </p> </body>