When you buy a computer, it most likely comes with Microsoft Windows preinstalled.And when you need a word processor, spreadsheet, or other software, you probablybuy it from a computer store. That software is vital. Without it, a computer is just anexpensive paperweight.

But you can find free and low-cost alternatives to commercial software. Freesoftware has been available for years but has never been so accessible to everydaycomputer users. Theseprograms have long been the domain of, well, geeks - experts who were willing todownload huge programs from the Internet and who knew how to compile theprograms from source code. But free software is entering the mainstream, thanks tofaster Internet connections and easier-to-use installers that don't require a degreein computer science.

Free software appeals to those on a budget as well as anyone who simply wantsanother choice. Examples of free software include GNU/Linux, an operating systemthat replaces Microsoft Windows; OpenOffice, a word processor, spreadsheet, andpresentation manager suite; and The GIMP, an image editorthat rivals Adobe Photoshop. A PC with GNU/Linux preinstalled can cost hundredsof dollars less than a Microsoft Windows PC.

Free software takes time and money to run, and Microsoft will eagerly tell you thatthe total cost of ownership for GNU/Linux is umpteen times higher than Windows.But advocates of free software say cost is not the only issue.

"Free software means the users are in control," says Richard Stallman, founder of thenot-for-profit Free Software Foundation. "Each non-free program has an owner, afeudal lord in effect, who dominates the program and its users. The owners of non- free software often impose changes on the users, changes meant to suit them, notus."

Free software advocates say there are two kinds of free: free as in "free beer" andfree as in "free speech." They're both good but for different reasons. The mantra ofthe Free Software Foundation is "Free software' is a matter of liberty, not price."Commercial software licenses - those wordy, legalese-filled documents that no oneactually reads before clicking "I Agree" when installing software - usually imposestrict limits: You can't install the software on more than one computer; if it doesn'twork the way you want, you can't change it; and so on. Free software often has alicense too, but it's far less restrictive. Users can amend the software to make itbetter.

"The main advantage is the community of people who will continue to improve thesoftware on a voluntary basis, especially as it relates to security flaws," says IrwinTaranto, treasurer of the International Computer Users Fellowship of Rotarians. Casein point is Mozilla Firefox, a web browser that's emphasizes speed andsecurity. The program has taken a quick foothold amongst Internet users who aretired of the security flaws in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Most free software can be downloaded from the Internet. The programs aresometimes large, so a fast Internet connection helps. Some programs are sold instores. Many free software licenses allow others to sell the software. Although itmay seem ironic, free software users often opt to pay in exchange for value-addedfeatures such as printed documentation, a CD installer, and technical support.

The next time you need software for your computer, you might consider freealternatives. It may not be as free as free beer, but it can be as liberating as freespeech.

Copyright 2005 by Kevin Savetz.

Kevin Savetz is a freelance technology journalist who has written for more than 80 publications. He is the founder of FreeDownloadADay.com, which features high-quality free software. You can subscribe to the site's Free Downloads newsletter, which is also free.