When it comes to office software, as we want to fit in with everyone else, we just go with what we think everyone else will be using: Windows, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Internet Explorer. We lack individualism and we're somewhat scared that the projects or work we create won't be accessible by other companies and our company will be embarrassed as a result. Very unlikely. Most rival office suites enable you to read and write to Microsoft Office documents.

OpenOffice 2.2 is the latest version of the popular opensource Office suite. It ships with the tools you'll need for your work, including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool and more. These tools all read and write to Microsoft Office documents, so you could as easily use Writer from OpenOffice to edit your Word documents.

There are a plethora of lists out there on the web that attempt to bring all the best freeware together in one handy place. Some are certainly better than others, but none match the sheer detail and quality of Ask the eConsultant. Displaying 450+ freeware programs, all with direct download links and in a simple html file; finding the correct tool for free has never been easier. Each section is prefixed with “I want a Freeware Utility to…” which somehow helps the brain make its mind up that little bit faster.

Here.

Karl Fogel, the Open Source champion who plied his trade working on the Subversion project, has released his own free book on how to begin producing your own Open Source software. Available as a PDF download or as a simple HTML document, the 184 pages will enlighten you with detailed info on everything from technical infrastructure, packaging and development to dealing with your volunteers and getting your software released effectively. Unlike many developers and in true Open Source spirit, Mr Fogel makes sure his ideas and terms are clear and understandable, making it widely accessible to both rookies and veterans alike.

Get it here.