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Open Office – A cheaper Open Office – A cheaper alternate to Microsoft Officealternate to Microsoft Office

Edited by:Edited by:

Irfan IlyasIrfan Ilyas

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What is Open Source What is Open Source Software?Software?

Computer software whose licenses permit Computer software whose licenses permit users freedom to:users freedom to:

Run the program for any purposeRun the program for any purpose Study and modify the programStudy and modify the program Freely redistribute copies of the original or Freely redistribute copies of the original or

modified programmodified program

(http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_refs.html)(http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_refs.html)

What is open source?What is open source?

Two kinds of softwareTwo kinds of software ProprietaryProprietary Open sourceOpen source

Open source software is any Open source software is any computer program with accessible computer program with accessible source code. Anyone can source code. Anyone can changechange or or shareshare any open source program for any open source program for free (legally & technically) .free (legally & technically) .

Most people use proprietary Most people use proprietary softwaresoftware

Proprietary:Proprietary: can’t open hood, not clear can’t open hood, not clear what happens, can’t change itwhat happens, can’t change it

Open source:Open source: can open hood, can see what can open hood, can see what happens, can change ithappens, can change it

Open source is like...Open source is like...

Changing & sharing curriculumChanging & sharing curriculum Education resourcesEducation resources Learning & Leading with TechnologyLearning & Leading with Technology, May 2003, May 2003

Changing & sharing cooking recipesChanging & sharing cooking recipes ExperimentingExperimenting ImprovingImproving CustomizingCustomizing

Philosophically makes sense to educatorsPhilosophically makes sense to educators

Open source is community-Open source is community-drivendriven

& community-serving& community-serving Many programmers are corporate Many programmers are corporate

employees, but the community employees, but the community thrives on volunteersthrives on volunteers

Non-programmers help by filing bug Non-programmers help by filing bug reports, writing documentation, or reports, writing documentation, or answering questions on email listsanswering questions on email lists

Why should you care?Why should you care?

Software is constantly being improved Software is constantly being improved & updated& updated Proprietary - only the company can make Proprietary - only the company can make

changechange Open source - anyone can make Open source - anyone can make

changes; open processchanges; open process

001001101101100000100110110110000010011011011000001001101101100000100110110110000010011011011000001001101101100000100110110110000010011011011000001001101101100000100110110110000010011011011000001001101101100000100110110110000010011011011000001001101101100000100110110110000010011011011000001001101101100000100110110

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ExamplesExamples

Web browserWeb browserWeb FilteringWeb Filtering

e-mail Filteringe-mail FilteringOffice suiteOffice suite

Image editorImage editorCourse ManagementCourse Management

Web serverWeb serverDatabaseDatabase

Operating systemOperating system

MozillaMozillaDansquardian, Dansquardian,

SquidguardSquidguardSpam AssassinSpam AssassinOpenOffice.orgOpenOffice.orgThe GIMPThe GIMPMoodleMoodleApacheApacheMySQLMySQLLinuxLinux

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What is Open Office?What is Open Office?

An An Open SourceOpen Source alternative to the alternative to the Microsoft Office Microsoft Office Suite:Suite:-Word Processor-Word Processor-Spreadsheets-Spreadsheets-Math-Math-Databases-Databases-Drawings-Drawings-Presentation Creator-Presentation Creator

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Features/BenefitsFeatures/Benefits

Effects of open source software Effects of open source software and open office are and open office are

advantageous with benefits advantageous with benefits ranging from ranging from lower costslower costs to to simplified managementsimplified management to to

superior softwaresuperior software……

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Features/BenefitsFeatures/BenefitsSimplified license managementSimplified license management Obtain software once and install it as many times and in as many locations Obtain software once and install it as many times and in as many locations

as needed as needed

Scaling/consolidationScaling/consolidation potentialpotential Multiple options for load balancing, clustering, and open source Multiple options for load balancing, clustering, and open source

applications (such as email)applications (such as email) Gives organizations ability to scale up for new growth or consolidate to do Gives organizations ability to scale up for new growth or consolidate to do

more with less.more with less.

Ample supportAmple support Support is freely available & accessible through the online community Support is freely available & accessible through the online community

via the Internet. via the Internet. Many tech companies now supporting open source with free Many tech companies now supporting open source with free

online and multiple levels of paid support. online and multiple levels of paid support.

Escape vendor lock-inEscape vendor lock-in Exists as a declaration of freedom of choice. Exists as a declaration of freedom of choice. Ability to customize software to meet specific needsAbility to customize software to meet specific needs

Open Office Open Office SoftwareSoftware

Runs well on low-cost PC Runs well on low-cost PC hardwarehardware

““Small footprint,” can Small footprint,” can

run on small systemsrun on small systems

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CostsCosts

Generally require no licensing feesGenerally require no licensing fees No maintenance feesNo maintenance fees Time is only cost since it needs to be Time is only cost since it needs to be

designed/modified by the usersdesigned/modified by the users Expenditures for media, documentation, Expenditures for media, documentation,

and support (if required)and support (if required) Companies can be hired to design and Companies can be hired to design and

customize software for customize software for organizations/usersorganizations/users

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Why choose Open Office?Why choose Open Office?

$$$ Free $$$.$$$ Free $$$. Easy to learn and teach.Easy to learn and teach. It runs on most operating Systems.It runs on most operating Systems. Small file sizes.Small file sizes. Great tools and features.Great tools and features. Same features as Microsoft Office.Same features as Microsoft Office.