1 Open Office – A cheaper alternate to Microsoft Office Edited by: Irfan Ilyas

2 What is Open Source Software? Computer software whose licenses permit users freedom to: Run the program for any purpose Run the program for any purpose Study and modify the program Study and modify the program Freely redistribute copies of the original or modified program Freely redistribute copies of the original or modified program(

What is open source? Two kinds of software Two kinds of software Proprietary Proprietary Open source Open source Open source software is any computer program with accessible source code. Anyone can change or share any open source program for free (legally & technically). Open source software is any computer program with accessible source code. Anyone can change or share any open source program for free (legally & technically).

Most people use proprietary software Proprietary: can’t open hood, not clear what happens, can’t change it Proprietary: can’t open hood, not clear what happens, can’t change it Open source: can open hood, can see what happens, can change it Open source: can open hood, can see what happens, can change it

Open source is like... Changing & sharing curriculum Changing & sharing curriculum Education resources Education resources Learning & Leading with Technology, May 2003 Learning & Leading with Technology, May 2003 Changing & sharing cooking recipes Changing & sharing cooking recipes Experimenting Experimenting Improving Improving Customizing Customizing Philosophically makes sense to educators Philosophically makes sense to educators

Open source is community-driven & community-serving Many programmers are corporate employees, but the community thrives on volunteers Many programmers are corporate employees, but the community thrives on volunteers Non-programmers help by filing bug reports, writing documentation, or answering questions on lists Non-programmers help by filing bug reports, writing documentation, or answering questions on lists

Why should you care? Software is constantly being improved & updated Software is constantly being improved & updated Proprietary - only the company can make change Proprietary - only the company can make change Open source - anyone can make changes; open process Open source - anyone can make changes; open process

Examples Web browser Web Filtering Filtering Office suite Image editor Course Management Web server Database Operating system Mozilla Dansquardian, Squidguard Spam Assassin OpenOffice.org The GIMP MoodleApacheMySQLLinux

9 What is Open Office? An Open Source An Open Source alternative to the Microsoft Office Suite: -Word Processor -Spreadsheets-Math-Databases-Drawings -Presentation Creator

10 Features/Benefits Effects of open source software and open office are advantageous with benefits ranging from lower costs to simplified management to superior software…

11 Features/Benefits Simplified license management Obtain software once and install it as many times and in as many locations as needed Obtain software once and install it as many times and in as many locations as needed Scaling/consolidation potential Multiple options for load balancing, clustering, and open source applications (such as ) Multiple options for load balancing, clustering, and open source applications (such as ) Gives organizations ability to scale up for new growth or consolidate to do more with less. Gives organizations ability to scale up for new growth or consolidate to do more with less. Ample support Support is freely available & accessible through the online community Support is freely available & accessible through the online community 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. Escape 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 needs Ability to customize software to meet specific needs

Open Office Software Runs well on low-cost PC hardware Runs well on low-cost PC hardware “Small footprint,” can “Small footprint,” can run on small systems

13 Costs Generally require no licensing fees Generally require no licensing fees No maintenance fees No maintenance fees Time is only cost since it needs to be designed/modified by the users Time is only cost since it needs to be designed/modified by the users Expenditures for media, documentation, and support (if required) Expenditures for media, documentation, and support (if required) Companies can be hired to design and customize software for organizations/users Companies can be hired to design and customize software for organizations/users

14 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.