open source

Debian

version of Linux - good for older machines

Fedora

another Linux-based operating system - good for newer, high-performance machines

everything you could want to know about open source software

video of Stephen Fry giving a brief introduction to free software

not-for-profit organisation campaigning to remove the barriers to free software

open source operating system

helps you to make the switch to open source

inventor of Linux

places you can buy computers with free software already loaded

forum for open source users

stewards of the open source definition, plus lots of links

Osalt

find open source alternatives to well-known commercial software

Slackware

another version of Linux - good for older machines

software pacakges

list of open source software, on Wikipedia

software pacakges

list of open source software, on Wikipedia

SourceForge

download and develop free open source software

VLC media player

open source media player - plays absolutely anything, without the need for extra codecs etc.

information about open source on Wikipedia, the world's largest encyclopedia - itself open source

computer recycling

non-profit organisation refurbishing computers for use in developing countries

computer fairs around the UK, where you can pick up lots of bargains - software and hardware

an area-by-area UK list of organisations that recycle or refurbish old computers (on the Waste Watch website)

national computer and IT equipment recycling

other

US group working to protect individuals' digital rights, often involving court cases against government or corporations

UK group doing the same thing

freely downloadable application that reduces the energy usage of your computer