Frugal Software: Open Source, Public Domain, Shareware & Freeware

A certain office suite has become the standard for offices around the world. But the package costs hundreds of U.S. dollars.

At one-to-two hundred U.S. dollars per package, new operating systems are no bargain, either.

But you don't have to sacrifice functionality or fun -- or compatibility with everyone else's software -- for the sake of thrift. There are alternatives.

The Open Source Movement

The Open Source movement evolved as a way to open up technological research and advancement, and to limit the creation of monopolies.

Open Source software is distributed with its source code -- the code that makes it tick. Developers and advanced users can make changes to that code without frying their hard drives or ending up in litigation.

Non-techy consumers also benefit, because they gain access to a wide variety of software, and passionate support communities, without paying outrageous out-of-pocket costs.

Open Source software is often -- but not always -- free. It can, for example, be packaged with purchased software or subscription services. Technical support and specialized applications may also be sold for a price, but the prices are typically far more reasonable than those you'd get from the big guys.

The original open source concept has expanded to include hardware, art and other products. The Open Source Initiative provides a great in-depth look at the movement.

Public Domain Software

Public Domain software is uncopyrighted, either because the developer never sought a copyright, or because the original copyright has expired.

So ... Isn't Public Domain the Same as Open Source?

Good question! There's a lot of overlap and plenty of debate to go with it. But most Open Source software, even though it is free to use and modify, is still licensed and owned by its developer, typically under a Creative Commons license, while Public Domain software is unlicensed.

Shareware is software that can be downloaded for free. It is copyrighted and licensed, so you can't modify the program, but you can give copies away if you like.

Not all downloads are true shareware. The program may be a "demo" -- it may have severely limited function (such as not allowing you to save your work), or it may expire after a specific amount of time or number of uses. You do get to try out a program before paying for it, and that's something.

Real shareware is functional -- you can do real work and save it -- and it does not expire. BUT ... it may be a "lite" version, and you may have to put up with ads, including reminders to pay. For a (usually reasonable) price, you can register the software, lose the ads and nags, become eligible for updates and, perhaps, gain more features and functions.

If you are able to pay, please do! Payment rewards developers for their hard work, which encourages them to issue upgrades and new applications. Which means more inexpensive or free software for everybody!

The term "freeware" has been used and misused since 1983, when the concept was first introduced by Richard Stallman in as he launched the GNU Project, a freeware substitute for the UNIX operating system.

Stallman went on to create The Free Software Foundation in 1985. The Foundation established the definition of "freeware" in its Free Software Definition.

Freeware may be under copyright and license, but is absolutely free to use and share. If copyrighted, then you are not automatically authorized to modify the software's code. Otherwise, the software should be completely functional, and should not expire.

The developer may solicit free-will donations via a "Donate" button on their website or on the program's opening screen. Or the developer may offer an upgraded "pro" version of the software, or plugins or add-ons, for a price.

You can work online and collaborate with co-workers and friends in real time. No downloads and no money needed (unless a premium edition is offered).

All you need is a browser.

Online software is popping up all over. You can find everything from games to pictures to full-blown office suites.

Zoho offers an MSOffice-compatible office suite, business management software and more. There's a free version of every kind of software, some of which can be used on your iPhone.

Google Docs is another MSOffice-ish suite. Google's popular Picasa (photo-sharing program) is part of the mix.

Thinkfree Boundless offers both free and paid premium MSOffice-compatible suites.

Online software offers the ability for real-time collaboration and automatic backup. On the other hand, if your connection goes bad, you and your work may be parted for the duration. While security may be offered, your work is still, well, online. If privacy is a serious concern, a good old-fashioned hard disk or thumb drive may offer more comfort.

Some downloaded or discount software may include extras you won't like, such as adware that can track you as you surf the web ... and maybe slow your system to a crawl in the process.

Therefore, when you visit a download site, it's wise to look for a guarantee that their downloads are adware-, malware- and virus-free.

But even with all your due-est diligence, stuff may happen. Here are a few of my favorite, free tools for prevention and cleaning. Download once, use and update often:

Adware/Malware Cleaners: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free and SpyBot Search & Destroy (I use both, one right after the other, because each one hunts down the bad stuff differently. Often, one will catch critters the other one misses. Updates for both are free.)

Anti-Virus: Avira Anti-Vir (Updates are free. I get mine automatically.)

Spam Blocker: Mailwasher (You see the spam before it reaches your In-Box. Bounce it back to the sender, if you like! Fun! Effective, too.)

May your shopping be fruitful, frugal and safe!