Open source software is built and enhanced through public collaboration.  It is free in that it gives the user unrestricted access to the source code.  The source code shows how the software works in a language that programmers can understand.

Open Source Software provided to you FREE of charge.

Mozilla: A Web-browser with, pop-up blocker, advanced e-mail and newsgroup client, IRC chat client, and HTML editing made simple -- all your Internet needs in one application.

Firefox: The award winning preview of Mozilla's next generation browser.  Firefox empowers you to browse faster, more safely, and more efficiently than with any other browser.

Thunderbird: Mozilla's next generation e-mail client.  Thunderbird makes emailing safer, faster, and easier than ever before with the industry's best implementations of features such as intelligent spam filters, a built-in spell checker, extension support, and much more.

Ad-Free AOL Instant Messenger: Gaim is an all-in-one IM client that resembles AIM. Gaim lets you use AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, IRC, Jabber, Napster, Zephyr, and Gadu-Gadu, all at once. Gaim is NOT endorsed by or affiliated with AOL, Yahoo, MSN or Napster.

OpenOffice: If you're used to using other office suites - such as Microsoft Office - you'll be completely at home with OpenOffice.  However, as you become used to OpenOffice, you'll start to appreciate the extras that make your life easier.  You can of course continue to use your old Microsoft Office files without any problems - and if you need to exchange files with people still using Microsoft Office, that's no problem either.

MediaPortal: This program opens the portal to all your media. Listen, record and organize music, movies, radio, streams, pictures and even Pause TV!.  Use internet sources to enrich your media with album art or song names. Enjoy your media center or htpc as never before.