If you really want to to get rid of paid for software once and for all then you need a free operating system for your computer.

There are two main groups of free operating system available, Linux and Freebsd. Both of these will run on a wide range of hardware from an old 386 laptop via Macs and pocket PCs to the latest 64 bit harware.

Linux covers a wide range of possibilities ranging from downloadable versions, which you are very much on your own with, to boxed products in the computer stores, which come with printed manuals, telephone support and a price tag smaller than the proprietory rivals!

Below are links to the websites of some of the major Linux distributions, there are many others on the net that do a whole host of specialist things or run on very odd (or very old) hardware, a quick google search will show these up. Almost all the web sites below will offer to sell you a boxed product but will also offer you a download of virtually the same product for free. If you want support, a DVD and box you pay but if you want to do it yourself then you can download all but a few commerial applications and get playing. This isn't a full list but it should give you a good start.

www.redhat.com

www.redhat.com/fedora (the R&D version!)

www1.mandrivalinux.com/en-gb/ Mandrake Linux

www.debian.org

www.novell.com/linux/suse/index.html Suse linux

www.slackware.com

A look through the computer mags at any big newsagent will usually turn up a cover DVD with a full Linux system. And if you like the look of freeware anywhere else on here chances are your linux system will either come with somthing similar or a quick web search will turn somthing up.

Freebsd can be found at www.freebsd.org , it is free to download. I havn't used it but it has been around for a long time and is well respected around the internet. It will run on any computer with x86 compatible (including Pentium® and Athlon™), amd64 compatible (including Opteron™, Athlon 64, and EM64T), Alpha/AXP, IA-64, PC-98 and UltraSPARC® architectures.