[techieMoe]

I've always preferred using free, open-source software to do things, if for no other reason than it's free and I don't feel "locked in" to a particular software company when I come to rely on it. I recently read this article:

http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS5187739446.html

In which some very valid points are made, and I've since decided to do my best to reduce (if not eliminate) my dependence on proprietary applications for my everyday work. I do most of my work at home on my MacBook Pro, and most of that work is done on OSS software. I use NeoOffice (an OS X clone of OpenOffice) for my writing, Firefox for browsing, Adium X for instant messaging, Quicksilver for launching things, and Eclipse for writing my Java software.

My biggest proprietary program right now is Photoshop Elements. I don't like that I rely on it to do my comic, and Adobe has really been taking their sweet time releasing a Universal Binary of Photoshop (meaning one that works natively on Intel-based Macs). I figure this is as good a time as any to really commit to learning an OSS alternative. I've used the GIMP in Linux and I know that feature-wise it will allow me to create my comic. The only issues I've had with it are the ways it behaves and the layout of the menus, which are not like Photoshop. They're not necessarily better or worse, just different.

I've downloaded GimpShop and I'm going to give it a fair shot. I've set a goal that my next comic will be produced using some form of the GIMP, if for no better reason than to prove that it can be done and should Adobe kick the bucket tomorrow (or discontinue/redesign Photoshop) that I can continue on undaunted. I don't know why I'm telling you all this other than to declare my intent publicly. Wish me luck.

[gtmtnbiker98]

I'm considering doing something quite similar; however, my computing needs are relatively minimal as compared to yours. I could survive using Open Office and am considering rebuilding my home network to do away with the proprietary OS from Redmond. Not trying to openly bash anybody here. The WGA tool has been the straw that broke this camel's back.

In recent months, I have grown to really enjoy Linux - using SuSE as a primary desktop/server at home and have deployed Linux where I can at work. With the release of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS I am rather torn between which distro I want to settle upon. SuSE has everything that I need on a daily basis but being a Systems Administrator, I need to work out my VPN issues prior to making the complete switch. For some reason I cannot get a VPN connection to work using PPTP. I'm trying to connect to a Microsoft VPN server but cannot seem to get it to work. Once I work that issue out then I can finally break my ties with the proprietary OS.

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by gtmtnbiker98

I'm considering doing something quite similar; however, my computing needs are relatively minimal as compared to yours. I could survive using Open Office and am considering rebuilding my home network to do away with the proprietary OS from Redmond. Not trying to openly bash anybody here. The WGA tool has been the straw that broke this camel's back.

Yes, their WPA before that was what made me vow to never buy another Microsoft OS. I got quite incensed when I changed my video card and had to call Microsoft to "bless" my installation of XP afterward. But that's another topic.

If I had broadband, Ubuntu would be just fine for me. I've actually managed to create a comic and do a few other small tasks on my home install of it, and I'm impressed that it works with my scanner. Best of luck on your OSS work.

Before someone brings it up: yes, I'm aware Apple's OS X is a proprietary operating system. I also happen to think it's quite a nice OS. I'm not however worried about being "locked in" to it because I've already proven to myself that by using OSS software I'll be able to open any work I create in OS X in Linux, and if (heaven forbid) Apple went out of business, I'm pretty sure I could run any number of Linux distributions on my MacBook Pro.

[carlosponti]

i have a RC airplane simulator that i cannot seem to find an open source replacement for. as well as some games. but with the gaming i have been find some open source games as well as proprietary ones that have linux ports. and i have the same problem with VPN support. i want to beable to connect the office VPN and cannot do so because they use Windows and PPTP. but everything else is open source. I run OpenOffice Gaim Gimp Firefox and various others. trying to get open source video editing working.

[fingal]

Good luck Moe! I'm sure that once you've got used to the Gimp you won't find it any harder than producing your comic in Photoshop. It is - after all - not a problem to produce an entire website using FOSS tools, but it takes a while to adapt to the differences.

Speaking just for myself, I tried to create a website once or twice using the Gimp as a tool, but I wasn't happy with the outcome so my efforts have gone unpublished. The things I didn't like were nothing to do with the tools I used: my ideas were just unsustainable. For the average user at least, The Gimp is very powerful: even if it has some way to go to catch up with Photoshop in a commercial environment.

At home, I use hardly any proprietary software now. There's a FOSS alternative to most things these days.

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by fingal

Good luck Moe! I'm sure that once you've got used to the Gimp you won't find it any harder than producing your comic in Photoshop. It is - after all - not a problem to produce an entire website using FOSS tools, but it takes a while to adapt to the differences.

That's pretty much what I've committed myself to doing. I know the GIMP can do what I need, it's just a matter of sitting down with it long enough to give it a fair chance. In the past I've played with it in spurts (usually less than half an hour), gotten frustrated because it didn't do things the way I was used to (i.e. the way Photoshop does things) and given up.

GimpShop promises to at least ease the transition by renaming some of the options to their Photoshop equivalents, so we'll see. The thing I'm most concerned about is my shortcut keys. This isn't really an issue in Linux, but on my laptop I use the Apple key for all my shortcuts, and by default the GIMP uses CTRL. Either I'm going to see if I can find a GIMP plugin for it or I'm just going to have to start getting used to the CTRL key on my MacBook. We'll see.

[antidrugue]

Originally Posted by techieMoe

I've always preferred using free, open-source software to do things, if for no other reason than it's free and I don't feel "locked in" to a particular software company when I come to rely on it. I recently read this article:

http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS5187739446.html

Very nice article, the author certainly got a point there.

It is sad to see how much some people prone the opposite :
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1856854,00.asp

[bidi]

I also try my best to use free software. Currently, I'm glad to say that there isn't a single proprietary software installed in my install of Debian (I only use the main and contrib repos).

I'm really wonder how long I'm going to be able to hold out. Currently I'm not able to play SuperTux or PPRacer (my 2 favorite games) because I don't have good support for my Nvidia card. I also haven't seen any flash movie for a while since I'm waiting for Gnash to become more stable and be in the Debian's Testing tree (version 0.7 is currently in experimental).

I've always thought that FOSS is about choice, and even though those two points are inconvinient I still choose to have it this way. I'm slowly backing down from the Nvidia issue, but I refuse to do so with flash since Gnash almost fully functional, just needs a little more testing.

[daacosta]

Originally Posted by techieMoe

I've always preferred using free, open-source software to do things, if for no other reason than it's free and I don't feel "locked in" to a particular software company when I come to rely on it. I recently read this article:

http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS5187739446.html

In which some very valid points are made, and I've since decided to do my best to reduce (if not eliminate) my dependence on proprietary applications for my everyday work. I do most of my work at home on my MacBook Pro, and most of that work is done on OSS software. I use NeoOffice (an OS X clone of OpenOffice) for my writing, Firefox for browsing, Adium X for instant messaging, Quicksilver for launching things, and Eclipse for writing my Java software.

My biggest proprietary program right now is Photoshop Elements. I don't like that I rely on it to do my comic, and Adobe has really been taking their sweet time releasing a Universal Binary of Photoshop (meaning one that works natively on Intel-based Macs). I figure this is as good a time as any to really commit to learning an OSS alternative. I've used the GIMP in Linux and I know that feature-wise it will allow me to create my comic. The only issues I've had with it are the ways it behaves and the layout of the menus, which are not like Photoshop. They're not necessarily better or worse, just different.

I've downloaded GimpShop and I'm going to give it a fair shot. I've set a goal that my next comic will be produced using some form of the GIMP, if for no better reason than to prove that it can be done and should Adobe kick the bucket tomorrow (or discontinue/redesign Photoshop) that I can continue on undaunted. I don't know why I'm telling you all this other than to declare my intent publicly. Wish me luck.

Quite frankly, I am trying to do the same but I am not picky about the program being open source as long as it is free. Recently I was looking for a linux alternative to draw chemical structures but didn't quite like what I saw. I managaed to download Chemsketch and lo and behold! I managed to draw all that I needed. See, I am finishing another paper for my PhD degree and I made it a mission to use OOo, GNUmeric (graphics from this program are just out of this world!), GIMP (My! working with layers was initially a pain but once I learned I was flying!) and Chemsketch. The paper is now finished but not yet submitted to the publisher and I am quite pleased with the results.

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by daacosta

...GIMP (My! working with layers was initially a pain but once I learned I was flying!)...

Yes, working with it last night I certainly had the hardest time figuring out how GIMP handled layers. It kept wanting to merge my pasted layers onto the background rather than making them their own separate layers by default. I read up on it in the manual and it gave me this little gem: "Pasted layers are 'temporary' and need to be anchored or transformed into a regular layer." Once I figured that out I was a lot less frustrated with the program. I'm still trying to figure out how to remap my CTRL and Apple keys.