Ease of Use and Compatibility

Do I have to be a computer expert to use Open Source Software? Do I have to run Linux?

Open Source Software is not only for geeks. Just as the quality of popular Open Source projects is high, so is its ease of use. Like most commercial applications, Open Source Software can be installed by simply inserting a CD or double-clicking a downloaded file. These programs feature the same easy-to-use graphical interface as their commercial counterparts.

You do not have to run Linux to use Open Source Software. Most Open Source programs will run on Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh OS X as well as Linux. Linux is an Open Source operating system that offers some considerable benefits over commercial operating systems, but you can use Open Source Software without ever using it.

The Open Source applications profiled on this site all run on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Most of them write files in standard, open formats that other applications (including proprietary applications) can read.