Free software alternatives

To those who were thinking 'wtf' on my last post, OpenGL and Direct3D are languages used to make 3d graphics appear on your screen in an interactive mode, like for games, and 3D software like we use! DirectX is a Microsoft package, its used on some of their consoles too, and includes components made to deal with sound, graphics, input devices etc, which is nice in some ways. However it is not compatible with other OS's and not very free or open unlike open-source software. OpenGL however, which some of you know I have an interest in, is open-source software, meaning its free as in beer and free as in speech. We are legally allowed to know how it works!

Free software is very important, although its usually shrugged off as cheap or inferior, as developers choose to share it, and don't demand money to use it. I'd recommend learning a bit about the free software movement even if you have no interest in coding. I know as we're students most of us have probably just downloaded cracked versions of expensive software (lets admit it... ;) we all do it!) but there are some incredible free tools out there, believe it or not, better than ones that demand money.

So check them out sometime, instead of stealing and installing Photoshop, try out the GIMP, instead of 3Ds Max, consider downloading Blender, or get Open Office as a replacement for the MS Office package. You can even get tiny cut down versions for installing on USB keys! Keep in mind, instead of getting a tool made by a small team in an office, you get a team of thousands of developers, and as for support, instead of one company who charges a shitload for a phone call you get Millions of people and communities online that want to help you for free!

Anyway, hope I didn't bore you too much with that, just sharing the info, giving you options you might not have realised you had before.