I tend to stick to free software whenever I can. I started using Linux as my primary OS in college, probably around 2003 or so. I loved that everything for it was free. If there was a piece of software I liked, I knew that I could (legally) own it for free. After Jon Hohle got a Mac (sometime in 2003?) I realized how awesome it was. It wasn’t until a year after graduation that I was able to afford my first Mac. But since I got my MacBook in 2006 I have been hooked.

One thing I learned about the Mac community is that there was a lot of freeware readily available. In the (nearly) three years I have been a Mac user I have purchased approximately 20-30 non-Apple applications, but most of those were purchased via software bundles like MacHeist. I found that a majority of the things I need to do can be accomplished by good freeware applications.

The thing is, these developers still work hard. And at times provide great support. And so I feel that at times you have to give back for all the free stuff you get. So I created what I call the February Freeware Fund. The idea is, take $100 and spread it out over your favorite free content. It doesn’t have to be just software, it can be any free internet contentl. There is personal catch though. I will not donate to companies that sell a version of the same software. So if I am using the lite version of an app, I won’t donate for it. Because if I wanted to support that company I would buy the regular version. I am not going to disclose the individual amounts, but here are the places I am donating to this month:

Get on the bandwagon and donate to your favorite free internet places and software companies!