I've been using this for 6 months. Every bit as good as office once you get the hang of it  IMO.

www.libreoffice.org/

I use Windows. But mike will come in on the replacement for that one. I can't remember.

Only use android mobile and tablets.

Spreadsheet etc

https://www.openoffice.org/

Image processing

https://www.gimp.org/

3D software

https://www.blender.org/

Video compression

https://handbrake.fr/

We had a dual boot PC, Micro$oft Windoze and Ubuntu (Linux). There was a problem with the computer and we had to reload the operating systems. It took three days to reload the Windoze stuff (my wife did that). It took less than an hour and seven answers to reload Ubuntu (I did that).

My wife and I both did computing at uni (that's where we met)  so it wasn't lack of skill that caused the difference.

I chose the Ubuntu LTS (long term support) distribution of Linux because it was so easy to install and maintain. It has many of the applications that Whenarewethere mentions and more. it's usually easy to load other software with commands like:

sudo apt install gimp

To load gimp for example. 

Most Ubuntu software is free, is as capable as the Micro$oft software and usually takes up less memory so you don't have to keep upgrading your hardware.

The only problem is if you use software that only runs on Windoze.

Ubuntu has multiple desktop interfaces. I chose Mate because I like pull down menus. There are many more looks with some very light distributions for lighter hardware.

Security updates are regularly kept up to date by the Ubuntu community.

Ubuntu is notable from a USB stick. It used to be 2gb but I think someone said on a different topic that it's now a bit bigger.

Good luck with whatever you use.

Mobi Condo wrote:

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>I know there used to be some "Free Ware":

>operating systems

MX Linux

 

>word processing

Libre Office

 

>spreadsheet

Libre Office

 

>emailing

Thunderbird

Roundcube (Linux only)

 

>image

Gimp

Irfanview

 

>video

DaVinci Resolve

Shotcut

----

File manager

Double Commander

 

Web browser

Brave

 

Text editor

Notepad++

 

Archive

7Zip

 

PDF reader

Sumartra 

 

Audio editor

Audacity

 

Drawing 2D

LibreCad

----

 

That should get you going :)

All the above is "free" software but may have licence conditions limiting its use to non commercial only.

OpenOffice Vs LibreOffice - it is not a case of one being better than the other. There are features in both that suit different people. Those who like their apps to be kept up to date will prefer LO. Those who have very old files will gravitate to AOO, it supports many more files types than but many of them are from older suites that are no longer in existence. AOO will read the latest M$ Office files but it can not save them in the modern formats. LO reads and saves the modern file formats. AOO integrates better with Google Docs than LO but LO is more like M$ Office and looks more like it than AOO. LO only handles one language at a time, if you wish to work in several languages you need to install a copy in separate directories (folders.) With AOO you can add a second language pack to your current one you have set up with your primary language.

If you want some comparisons then go here - comparison of open office and libre office.

Still running XP on six PC's for 3D rendering, networked connected to Mac for transferring mostly Photoshop images, Mac running OS 10.6.8 because my bought version PS (now you have to rent it, they can get stuffed) is the last Mac OS it will run on.

Never had any issues running PC & Mac together, but I am careful with file names. PCs still don't have any anti virus software, have worked perfectly since 2007. They are that old.

My licence for Lightwave 3D software I run on both Mac & PC for one licence fee. Usually use one of the PCs as it was the fastest computer in 2009 dual CPU 16GB ram, it was about $9k built from all the components I wanted

I bought a new Canon 85mm f1.4 lens but I can't fully process the images on the old software. So will have to get another computer. In the meantime doing a few workarounds. It is a vicious circle, new lens, update camera, update computer, update software...

JeffRae wrote:

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There are a lot of USB plug in devices that just will not be recognized in Linux or there are no drivers for them

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That's not my experience, which devices are you thinking of?

Mike Harding wrote:

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JeffRae wrote:

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There are a lot of USB plug in devices that just will not be recognized in Linux or there are no drivers for them

---

That's not my experience, which devices are you thinking of?

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WiFi Hi Gain wireless USB adapter. They have drivers still in beta since 2018. With limited knowledge very hard to install despite instructions supplied.

Basically anything that needs an installation program.

Buzz Lightbulb wrote:

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Gundog wrote:

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I have no issues with my Windows laptop, I still run win 7 on it and  from day one I have locked out all updates, I  have a spare hdd which I connect via USB with a full ghosted image, if I make any changes to the origional setup I re image the ghost drive. In the event of a bug, virus or glitch from my ghost drive. A full reimage of the Hdd takes about 20 minutes.

I still use my owned copy of MS Office 2007, it does everything I want it to do. Along with my Adobe software.

 

 

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 Locking out updates could be licking out security patches and that could cause problems. Such as, patches to stop hackers using vulnerabilities in code.

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That's the great lie propergated by the industry, all so they can acquire more meta data.

Updater is a crock like anti virus and anti this and that, they bloat your system consume resources thus slowing your system down.

If you computer is fulfilling you needs you don't need the latest OS or Update it, if you look at the size of of Win95 and the progression to the latest version they have become larger and all consuming of disk space, full of bloatware and pay as you go programs like office.

If you afraid of getting  hacked or acquiring a virus, then you need to follow a couple of simple rules, hide your IP address, don't open emails if you don't know the sender, if you don't need to be connected to the WWW then disconnect, don't watch movies online download it and watch it off line.

Gundog wrote:

---

Buzz Lightbulb wrote:

---

Gundog wrote:

---

I have no issues with my Windows laptop, I still run win 7 on it and  from day one I have locked out all updates, I  have a spare hdd which I connect via USB with a full ghosted image, if I make any changes to the origional setup I re image the ghost drive. In the event of a bug, virus or glitch from my ghost drive. A full reimage of the Hdd takes about 20 minutes.

I still use my owned copy of MS Office 2007, it does everything I want it to do. Along with my Adobe software.

 

 

---

 Locking out updates could be licking out security patches and that could cause problems. Such as, patches to stop hackers using vulnerabilities in code.

---

That's the great lie propergated by the industry, all so they can acquire more meta data.

Updater is a crock like anti virus and anti this and that, they bloat your system consume resources thus slowing your system down.

If you computer is fulfilling you needs you don't need the latest OS or Update it, if you look at the size of of Win95 and the progression to the latest version they have become larger and all consuming of disk space, full of bloatware and pay as you go programs like office.

If you afraid of getting  hacked or acquiring a virus, then you need to follow a couple of simple rules, hide your IP address, don't open emails if you don't know the sender, if you don't need to be connected to the WWW then disconnect, don't watch movies online download it and watch it off line.

 

---

 Well, I used to work in IT for decades and I know you are wrong about that for Linux at least and I expect it could be the same for Windoze. Updates, on Linux, provide fixes for security issues.

Maybe you are thinking of upgrades to different versions of the operating system?

I do agree with you on Micro$oft being bloated. About a decade ago I compared the risk sieve needed for just the Operating Systems. Micro$oft was in the offer of ten times more disk space than Ubuntu.

Similarly with the programs. M$ Office is full unnecessary features that just now out the code.

Yes, no-one should open emails from people they don't know nor click on links within emails unless they fully trust the connection our you are trying to track down scam code.

The hackers have become more sophisticated with intercepting unencrypted emails and changing the content so people still get scammed.

You can disconnect completely from the internet and that would make your computer safe.