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Now in English: VALO-CD Open Source Software Collection

Posted by timothy on from the so-put-down-that-translator-gun dept.

spuguli writes "VALO-CD is an open source software collection similar to The Open CD. Version 8 is now available in English. The open source collection has been available in Finnish for several years, but now it has been translated into English and is available internationally as well. The collection contains pretty much everything a typical end user would need: LibreOffice, Inkscape, Firefox, Audacity and many other programs. The main goal is to increase knowledge about open source software. The programs are for Windows since most Linux distributions already contain most of the programs, and Linux users obviously are already aware of open source. The CD is developed collaboratively in a wiki. It is freely available as a torrent download."

9 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Do we need another one? by sourcerror · · Score: 3, Informative

    These aren't Linux distros. They're collections of Windows versions of opensource applications.

  2. True, it's not a distro, but... by IANAAC · · Score: 2
    It brings up the question:

    How is this better than what's already out there with Open CD, for example?

    Maybe "better" isn't the correct word. What does this offer that another open source compilation doesn't already offer? More up-to-date programs?

    1. Re:True, it's not a distro, but... by smi.james.th · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well for one thing, the Open CD was discontinued in 2007. A more up-to-date collection of free software would be useful for advocates distributing to their friends.

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      One thing I know, and that is that I am ignorant...
  3. Re:The Open CD is no longer maintained by fph+il+quozientatore · · Score: 3, Informative

    The latest version includes Firefox 6.0.1. 'Nuff said...

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  4. What Windows users really need... by bmo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... is a repository system of free software.

    A CDROM image does not really cut it. Sure, a handful of packages give a taste of what's available, but there's a lot out there that cannot be fit on a CD. And there is no way to keep up with updates except manually.

    One of the greatest advantages of many Linux distros is that they have repositories of software that are kept up to date, with just about everything you could ask for in F/OSS.

    Windows users are stuck crawling the likes of Tucows and Download.com and the venerable Simtel archive is not even a shadow of its former self (really, have you seen it lately?). Windows users just don't even know how nice it is to open up a software management window and get free/open source software without hassle. Signed packages in a vetted searchable mirrored database really is the way to go.

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    BMO

    1. Re:What Windows users really need... by QuasiSteve · · Score: 3, Informative

      Microsoft are planning this, more or less.. mostly less, of course, because they're Microsoft.

      That said, one site that I've seen suggested before is:
      http://ninite.com/

      It's not just open source software, and it's not even 100% free-as-in-mythical-free-beer (trial version of MS Office, for example), but it does have a great many open source applications listed and makes installing them and keeping them updated pretty simple.

      It's not a complete set, but it is probably 'enough' for the casual user - and the concept could easily grow to accommodate more applications without losing sight of the fact that having 100 applications that all do the same thing is more confusing than helpful.

  5. Re:Do we need another one? by cupantae · · Score: 2

    What kind of open source software other than perhaps LibreOffice or gimp would most people be unacquainted with already?

    All of it. I would say that about half of computer users barely know what programmes they're using. They just recognise the icons they need to double-click to do what they want (e.g. "need to open the internet" => double-click the blue "e")

    It's one thing spreading the word, and quite another posting about something like this on a site like Slashdot.

    A fair point. I imagine the point in this is that people will be able to get the less computer-savvy to install such programmes, without getting them to just download and install it. A lot of people would still associate quality software with installation from a disc. A lot of people fear every installer downloaded from the internet, with good reason. Seriously, most people are not capable of deciding what software to use and setting up their system as such. But the software these people use greatly affects us all.
    However, I personally have long since stopped trying to influence other people's habits. Make one suggestion and you become responsible for all the consequences.

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  6. Re:The Open CD is no longer maintained by cupantae · · Score: 3, Funny

    But, given the current Firefox release schedule, that's probably only a few days old.

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  7. Trinidad & Tobago Computer Society CD / DVD by jdeisenberg · · Score: 2

    The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society Open Source Software for Windows CD (and DVD) seems to have a larger selection than the VALO offering.