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that I know that uses it either for his or her MAC or Linux, will say that GIMP is simply a must-have application.

4.) VLC media player is one of my second most used applications on my Linux desktop. First it is compatible with many open and non-open source operating systems. Secondly, it can handle almost any media file type, ranging from simple MPEG files, all the way to DVD and DivX. I personally chose this over applications like Kaffeine, since I found it to be much more user friendly, and the practical interface had less problems than other media players. Now if this doesn't sway you from discarding your other media player, just checkout some of the reviews for an unbiased opinion, and soon you will be one of the 2.4 downloads per second that VLC is accustom too.

5.) Konsole is another must-have application for Linux users. OK, non-open source operating system users might not grasp this, but regular users will understand the importance of a good Shell-type application. It is almost in most cases faster to do something using the console, and the Konsole application just makes it that much easier. I love the ability to open multiple sessions, and the tabbing feature, which is possibly the best feature of this application. There is plenty of custom functions, ranging from font to background or themes.

6.) X-Chat isn't MSN messenger, but it is a very handy application when accessing Internet Relay Chat (IRC) environments, which is pretty much equal to a chat room. You can access multiple rooms, talk publicly, and you can even have full private one-on-one conversations. Even file sharing is a breeze using this application, and with the stability factor that no other chat application can beat. No, you can't use your MSN with X-chat, but after dealing with years of glitches and bugs from Microsoft applications, X-Chat is simply a breath of fresh air.

7.) StarOffice from Sun Microsystems is probably one of the best word processors available for the Linux or Open-source operating systems. I must say there are many other great word processors, but StarOffice is a powerful yet versatile application to handle your word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing needs. I could only compare this application to Microsoft Office itself, but without the need for the hefty price tag that follows. It can be purchased if you want the full 8.0 suite, but there are several places to get a free trial to determine if this application is what you truly need. Sure, there is

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