If you want to put a boatload of useful open source applications on a computer or, as I do, on a pocket USB drive so that you can have them with you at all times, there are now some very fast ways to do this. MacLibre is a great way to get tons of good free, open source apps in one download for Mac users.

Does GNU/Linux need to run Windows apps? This question resurfaced last week, when the media noticed that Google has been contributing heavily to the Wine project, which develops a compatibility layer on GNU/Linux for running Windows applications.

Ubuntu Intrepid includes easy access to some great Linux applications. These unknown, but great apps will help users be more productive, and enjoy their Linux systems more than ever before

Having covered Linux installation, running Windows XP in Ubuntu, Internet applications, and a handful of open source communications titles, Adam Overa is back with a comprehensive look at office apps for Windows users considering a switch to Linux.

Its ironic how there are so many users who cling to Microsoft Windows and then proudly tout that the first thing they do is run out and load up on free or open source applications. Every year, we see lists of "best free apps" or "essential apps" for Windows, and every year, the apps become more and more like watered-down versions of what is available on almost any Linux-based system.

One of the greatest things about Linux is that there is never a shortage of applications to meet virtually every need. Below are 3 very great educational applications that most newbie Linux users will find very useful.

VirtualBox may be free, but you still have to own a copy of Windows. If you’re not willing to shell out a few hundred dollars to Microsoft but still want to run Windows on your Intel-based Mac, there is one more alternative: CrossOver from CodeWeavers costs $40 and runs Windows applications on Mac OS X — without Windows.

Switching operating systems can be tough. When you get accustomed to certain applications sometimes it can be hard to learn how to use other ones. I recently installed Ubuntu Eee (soon to be Easy Peasy) on my Eee PC 901 and it took quite a while to find apps that cam do everything I can do within Mac OS X and Windows. Here’s a quick guide so you can make your Linux machine feel like home.

There is such a wealth of great Free and Open Source software applications it's almost an embarrassment of riches, and we're going to look at 8 of them in this two-part series.