Great Open-Source Alternatives

Open-source software has a lot going for it. It's free, it's constantly being improved upon, and it doesn't rely on proprietary formatting. (Did I mention it's free?) Unfortunately, it can also be confusing to figure out which programs are worthwhile and which ones you need to be a programmer to operate.

Now, CNET's very own Crave blog has waded through that quagmire for us and figured out ten great open-source alternatives to common applications. There are suggestions for newbies (like replacing Internet Explorer with the much more useful Firefox) and slightly more advanced users (like eschewing the pricey PhotoShop for a somewhat less user-friendly GIMP).

I bet you'll find at least one application worth downloading!