This is a small selection of the open source desktop software I use. As with most open source stuff, I believe they are all cross software to some degree and they are all really useful. Apps I’d struggle to live without now I use them regularly!
Firefox
The bestest web browser ever for starters and then the plugins launch it to another level.
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Inkscape
Vector graphic editor
http://www.inkscape.org/
GIMP
Image editing software
http://www.gimp.org/
Pidgin
Instant messenging software that is actually nice to use
http://www.pidgin.im/ -windows
http://www.adiumx.com/ – mac
Vector Magic
An raster(bitmap) to vector converter that actually works! (online tool)
http://vectormagic.stanford.edu/
Audacity
Multi-track audio editing software
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
KeePass
Secure password store and manager – just vital these days
http://keepass.info/ – windows
http://www.keepassx.org/ – linux
Open Office
A full office suite that opens and saves to MS Office or open formats.. the featureset definitely surpasses MS Office 2000 and I’ve heard the same said for MS Office 2003 (I switched to openoffice rather than pay for MS Office 2003 so can’t offer a real opinion)
http://www.openoffice.org/
