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Ask Slashdot: Good, Useful Free Software For Gifts?
First time accepted submitter Jeng writes "I'm planning on sending flash drives to friends and family as stocking stuffers. Rather than just send a blank drive, I'm looking for what good useful free software that I can load on it — from system utilities and encryption software to fun little games." We've asked similar questions before, but software keeps getting better, and so do the prices on flash drives. So what would you give as a gift this holiday season?
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Yup, I was thinking it was like giving someone a free Gideon's bible out of a hotel room.
well you can use a bootable USB of course, or you could use virtualization-on-a-stick, using qemu or portable virtual-box
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/using-a-portable-virtualbox-to-run-linux-from-usb/
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/run-a-live-linux-cd-from-within-windows/
or you could use portable app's projects off of sourceforge.
---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
Works off a CD, DVD or USB flash drive. live.linuX-gamers.net
If they are using Windows, I suggest the full collection of PortableApps from http://www.portableapps.com :-)
It will runs directly from your flash drive and is really useful!
How about a big collection of free music/ebooks/movies/art, etc?
Some hints:
* http://magnatune.com
* http://dig.ccmixter.org/
* http://archive.org/
> I'd suggest Ubuntu, with a "readme.txt" written for those who will plug it into their Windows box.
And make sure you give them WUBI instead of expecting someone new to Free Software to be willing to figure out repartitioning. Sure it doesn't perform quite as well, but the benefits balance out for new users.
Democrat delenda est
You should fill it full of stuff from PortableApps. Tons of great programs there. Plus they don't have to install anything. No worry about messing up their computer.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
The portable apps suite is a powerful free toolbox useful for any user and admin alike.
You can also customize each flash drive to the recipient of the gift. There's tons of apps available including games.
www.portableapps.com
They're using their grammar skills there.
There exists such a project currently:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDisc
Couple this with the selection from OSS-WIN solves your dilemma significantly: http://osswin.sourceforge.net/
http://ttcsweb.org/osswin-cd/index.htm
Games: FrozenBubble, Neverball, Vertigo, Zaz, Supertuxkart, Some form of tetris, Gweled, Blobby Volley 2, LBreakout 2, Frogatto, armagetron, xmoto, PokerTH, trackballs. Others: Cryptkeeper (hide directories), audacity(bundle mp3 support), openshot, desktop recorder, clementine-player(music), smplayer (if everyone has vlc), cherry--tree(note taking app, http://www.giuspen.com/cherrytree/), tasque, focuswriter and virtualbox to run ubuntu.