Issue 27.10
The cost of owning and using a computer is much less than it was many years ago. We can buy the computer, operating system and needed programs for hundreds or even thousands less than was possible even 20 years ago. However, it is still very expensive to buy the programs that most businesses and individuals consider “necessary”.
Windows 7 can range from $150-$300, the Microsoft Office Suite (depending on version) can range from $150-$400, and the Adobe Suite of Programs (such as Photoshop, In-Design, Flash, etc.) can range from $100 for a single element to $2500 for the complete suite. All of that doesn’t include the cost of the hardware that you load it on to use.
Is it any wonder, then, that people have decided to create alternatives. One concept that is growing very fast and is providing for people’s needs in this area is called Open Source Computing. This includes programs that are free (may include a small fee if you need assistance) and many that are alterable if you have programming experience. The programs are created by individuals or groups and provided freely for download and alteration by other individuals or groups. The programs are continually evolving and adding new features as people add new ideas and those ideas are accepted by the users.
Linux is an Open-Source Operating System that many use instead of or side-by-side with Windows. There are many versions of Linux available. The one I use is called Ubuntu but there are many others. There are not as many bells and whistles as with Mac or Windows, but it is serviceable and in many ways more user-friendly than the expensive systems. You can create a boot disk that will allow you to try this system without damaging your files or removing your existing system by going to http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
In place of Microsoft Office, many people (including me) have downloaded the free Open Office Suite. It is available at http://www.openoffice.org/ . In place of Adobe Photoshop, some people like Gimp, available at http://www.gimp.org/ and a lot of people are using Firefox and Thunderbird from Mozilla instead of Outlook Express and Internet Explorer from Microsoft. They are available at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
Another great resource for free programming is Google. Their new browser, Google Chrome, is my personal favorite and, even though it is not strictly an open source program (you can’t change their programming), it is very user-friendly and fast. We will look at this and other Google-based programs in another article.
In the meantime, remember to be safe – and always have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has been in the computer industry for 29 years (locally with Musicomp & Bits ‘N’ Bytes) and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions, you can reach him at 668-7118.