The Best Open Source Programs for the Home Office User

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I have Microsoft Word on my computer but I use OpenOffice because I prefer it. It is a complete office suite, including presentations, spreadsheets, graphics, databases, templates, tables, etc. It is professional and there are additional extensions to make it even more customized for what you want to do with it. For example, web-based educators can download the E-Training Operating Kit, which makes it easy to create eLearning projects for online use. There are many language options (Slovenian? Latvian?) and lots of other add-ons, too, like the Mortgage Payment Calculator or Writer's Tools or more templates and clip-art.

As is on the first download, however, you're up and running with all you need to create professional documents.

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I am pretty basic when it comes to photo editing. I want to crop out the ugly stuff, lighten up the dark stuff, and take care of devil-red eyes. That's the extent of my expertise, and I can do it all quickly on the GIMP.

My husband likes to create three-dimensional drawings of skateboard ramps, brain-mapping flow charts, and all sorts of graphics. He prefers the GIMP to anything else he has used.

If you are used to doing photo editing, then you will sail through the GIMP basics and be well on your way. If you're more like me, then it will take you a few tries to figure out all the buttons, because there are a lot. Once you do, though, (and there's plenty of help both in the program and online), you'll be cropping and lightening and uploading too.

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For the podcasters among us, this is the program for you. Podcast Creator is iTunes-compatible and simple to use, making it easy for you to upload your recorded podcast to an RSS feed. When you pair Podcast Creator with another open source program, such as Wired, a complete recording and editing program, you have a podcast system ready to go.

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For the over-eager-beaver-achiever in all of us.. or for the serial procrastinator. Task Coach is a to-do manager for everything on your lists. You can pop on your simple tasks, personal tasks, or break tasks down into multiple steps. Use categories and color-coding to keep track of everything and keep yourself working efficiently, without forgetting any important item on that growing list.

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This program is great for freelancers of any kind, as it allows you the ability to track your time on different projects and create invoices for the clients you link with the projects. If you freelance, you need this program so that you don't lose your valuable minutes and end up making less than you should.

I've stayed more general in the home office computing context with these recommendations, but for every special computing need you can find an open source software program. There are more text editors, large and small, music players, and many other small business helps for the home office user.