OStatic

Macs are great for working with desktop publishing applications, but unfortunately the commercial software options like Quark and InDesign are pretty pricey. Scribus is a terrific open source alternative that will take your ideas from concept all the way to print without missing a beat.

This application will produce brochures, flyers, booklets, and more on your Mac, Linux, or Windows box -- all for the low, low price of free.

Spring is in the air and that can only mean one thing: several popular Linux distributions are getting ready for their next releases. Which distro improvements may be meaningful for you?

Let's take a look at the upcoming versions of Fedora, Ubuntu, and openSUSE to see what's new, what's improved, and what will be worth the wait.

Mac-based open source enthusiasts had plenty of great reading material to find around the Internet over the last few days. From free alternatives to expensive Mac applications and patched bugs, to free BitTorrent options and an open computer that ships with the latest version of Mac OS X, there has been much buzz.

Here's what you need to know.

Many people love Linux but aren't able to commit to it full time. Some folks use peripherals that Linux can't yet accommodate, while others need applications for which open source options don't exist. Fortunately, virtualization makes it possible to put your favorite Linux distribution right on your Mac or Windows PC.

To virtualize a computer means to section off an area of the hard drive and put a second, fully-functional operating system on it, essentially turning one computer into two. Let's look deeper.