TheOpenCD 2.0 - All Narfed Up

TheOpenCD 2.0

In Open Source, Software, Windows on 12 December 2004 3:31 pm with 3 comments
(ID: #177)

Daniel pointed out TheOpenCD in my forums yesterday. I’ve never heard of it before, and frankly, I wish I would’ve seen it before. The people at TheOpenCD compile the best and most stable OSS (Open Source Software) on a single ISO image, which you can freely burn onto CD and install from a few simple menus. I’ve been using Firefox, Filezilla, 7-Zip, Gimp, and Gaim. It’s there to show people new to this that although the software is Open Source, they’re created with the same care as the more popular programs that cost money.

I’ve been using Firefox since it was Phoenix 0.5, and we know how it’s doing now - it’s awesome. Filezilla has been doing its job fantastically as a simple FTP client (it can be a server, too). 7-Zip lets me compress & decompress ZIP and RAR archives with ease, without having to fork money for WinZip or WinRAR. Gimp is interesting, but I’m starting to like it. At least I don’t have to buy Photoshop if I get used to it. And I’ve been using Gaim for a couple years on and off, and I’ve just decided to use it as my primary IM client, dumping AIM and the others.

3 Comments

I like a lot of Open Source Software, but I’m not one to use something because it’s open source.

I like Filezilla though. It’s a great program.

I like Firefox, and see why so many people like it, but it just isn’t the browser for me.

Same goes for GAIM.

As far as GIMP… Well… I’m not very good at any image editing program to start off with, but GIMP just seems way too messy for me. Of course at $200 or what ever it is for anything else I can see why people use GIMP.

I guess I should check out 7-Zip bearing your reply Bryan. Is 7-Zip (I your own view of course) better then WinRAR?

Posted by Anthony on 12 December 2004 @ 9pm

It’s not for everybody, but the least people can do is be aware of the possibilities, testing each one out, and making an informed decision. I know I won’t wish evil on anybody that doesn’t want to use Firefox. There’s also Opera. If anything, keep Windows patched and use common sense in web browsing.

I can’t exactly give an informed opinion between WinRAR and 7-Zip. However, I don’t compress my files too often. I do more decompressing, and it’s nice to see that 7-Zip supports all the popular formats.

Actually, a comment by Mike on this WinZip 9.0 review page on November 23rd, 2004 might help with promoting 7-Zip:

“I’m not a 7-Zip promoter, this is just something I thought noteworthy: the Firefox 1.0 installer from Mozilla.org uses 7-Zip LZMA compression. A default build uses regular Zip compression, and the size ends up at about 6.2-6.8 megs. The 7-Zip build comes out to 4.7 megs. And 7-Zip is open-source, too.”

Posted by Bryan on 12 December 2004 @ 9pm

That doesn’t do much for me. Between the ZIP format just sucking in the first place, and not being impressed with WinZip since I started using WinRAR.

I suppose I could try it. I don’t do much compressing either.

I guess it would come down to which one has the better compression/time ratio (Since when I compress files it tends to be several 500 MB files).

Posted by Anthony on 13 December 2004 @ 8am

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