Open Source...It's the way to go!

It's free, it's cooler, and, most imporantly, it's better. Here's some open source stuff I am using now that I am really liking right now and some basic info on them.

info | xp | mac
What is it?: Web browser
What does it replace?: Internet Explorer and Safari
Cool features: Awesome program using tabbed browsing and is very customizeable with extentions and really nice skins. Runs very well in XP and has been much more trustworthy than IE for me.
Bad points: Takes a little longer than XP to start up and does get blocked by some sites (which is usually fixed by using User Agent Switcher)
Rating out of 5:


info | xp | mac
What is it?: Email Client
What does it replace?: Outlook and Mac's Mail
Cool features: Like Firefox it has extentions and themes. I decided to use it after Outlook crashed on me for like the bazillionth time and I love it. Keeps mail well organized and has a good search feature.
Bad points: Not a whole lot, I've had trouble sending mail with it but I'm pretty sure it's not the programs fault. Some of the settings take a while to learn and get used to as it is quite different from Outlook. And, oh yeah, it can't read your Hotmail (WHO CARES!).
Rating out of 5:


VideoInspector info | xp
What is it?: Video Codec detector
What does it replace?: There is no other...
Cool features: You drop a video file onto it's icon and it tells you whether you have the right audio and video codecs which is very helpful in a world full of millions of video codecs. If you don't have the codec it helps you locate one.
Bad points: It doesn't actually tell you where to download the codec all the time. Sometimes it gives you a link to the developer but it always at least gives you the name.
Rating out of 5:

info | xp
What is it?: "Swis Army Knife of Instant Messaging"
What does it replace?: AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ, IRC, Jabber and even more with extra plugins
Cool features: I don't think it's actually "open source" meaning the source code is open for all to edit but they do let people write skins and plugins for it. It combines all of your IM profiles into one. There are no ads and it is very customizable. Very sleek look and actually does everything you tell it to (unlike AIM). It's definately WAY better than GAIM.
Bad points: Takes a pretty long time to load but probably not any longer than AIM and MSN combined. Sometimes it gets in the way and takes a while to sign on.
Rating out of 5:

Sunbird info | xp | mac
What is it?: Calendar
What does it replace?: Microsoft Works Calendar and Thunderbird Calendar
Cool features: Nice program to keep me from forgetting peoples birthdays, work events, and school projects. It's very helpful and pretty easy to use. I'd reccomend it even to the dumbest of computer people.
Bad points: Just a lot of little things. It's still a beta release so you can't expect too much. It can be a little frustrating entering events as the layout of that box isn't the best in my opinion.
Rating out of 5: