Open Source software is created and maintained by a community of people looking to improve on the designs currently available. These programs are released under a license that guarantees the rights to read, modify, and redistribute the software freely.

Open source does not mean unsupported, many programmer's make a living creating add-ons and templates for open source projects, or maintaining projects at corporate levels developing new add-ons and functionality.

Using these programs can save you potentially hundreds of dollars per computer, and come loaded on all new computers from McMaster Technical Services.

Mozilla Firefox
The front runner in Web Browser, this is a Free alternative to Internet Explorer. Including enhanced security and privacy features, this browser can also be expanded with many useful free and available extensions.

Download: Mozilla Firefox Download Page
Extensions: Ad block Plus, Download Status bar, Coral IE Tab.

Mozilla Thunderbird
From the makers of Firefox an Email client of exceptional quality. This Free alternative to Outlook operates exactly like other email client so there is very little learning curve.

Download: Mozilla Thunderbird Download Page
Extensions: Ad block Plus, Webmail Notifier, Minimize to Tray

Mozilla Sunbird
An excellent calendar program, this program lets you keep schedules, maintain records, and has many integrated functions from outlook. An excellent low cost flexable calendar application.

Download: Mozilla Sunbird Download Page
Extensions: Google Calendar, Reminder Fox, Minimize to Tray

Open Office Suite
Developed as proprietary competition for Microsoft Office this software is now an open source project. Fully compatible with Office 2007 documents, includes Word, Excel, Power Point, and more.

Download: OpenOffice.org Download Page


GIMP (Graphical Image Manipulation Program)
This graphics and photo editing software developed as a Linux alternative to Adobe Photoshop. Now on Windows it includes all of the necessary functions for photo and picture editing.

Download: GIMP Download Page


VLC Media Player
Quite honestly the most compatible movie playing software available, this will pickup and play virtually any video file without the need for installing coddec or patches.

Download: VLC media player Download Page



Primo PDF
Create a PDF (Printable or Portable Document Format) from any printable document. An open source alternative to Acrobat this allows you to turn anything into a PDF.

Download: Primo PDF Creator Download Page



7Zip
A simple replacement for WinZip or WinRar this archiving software allows you create and edit many kinds of archived documents including rar, zip, tar, and .7zip

Download: 7zip Download Page


Infra Recorder

This low overhead alternative to Nero allows you to burn CDs and DVD's, data and audio disks, create DVD-Videos, burn images and much more. Fully compatible with all drives.

Download: InfraRecorder Download Page


True Crypt
This is an excellent military grade encryption program for securing files or whole devices. You can keep sensitive information secured on thumb drives and know that if the device is lost that your information will not be accessible.

Download: TrueCrypt Download Page


Contact us for more information about these programs.