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The Online Mom provides internet technology advice and information to help parents protect their kids, encourage responsible behavior and safely harness the power of technology in the new digital world. Social networking, photo sharing, video games, IM & texting, internet security, cyberbullying, educational resources, the latest on tech hardware, gadgets and software for kids 3-8, tweens and teens, and more.
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Open Source
If you want computer software, you buy it - right? Not necessarily. There's
a (legal!) alternative. It's called open source. And, while there's
much more to the idea of open source than the price, it is usually, blessedly,
free.
A little history's in order here. (Stick with us for a paragraph or two,
and then we'll give you the skinny on what's free and where to get
it).
Once, back in the ancient mists of computing history, lots of software
was free: programmers and researchers shared each others' work, learned
from it, built on it. But in the early days of the personal computer, some folks
(we're looking at you, Bill Gates) realized you could make a fortune from
software. But only if nobody could copy it for free - or even read the 'source code' that revealed how it actually worked.
Some folks chafed at that. To put it (very) mildly. How could anyone
learn how to write better software if they couldn't read or share code?
So those folks began writing software of their own: software with source code
that would be 'open' for anyone to read, share, use, and improve.
Hence: 'open source.'
Open source advocates like to say that their software is "free as in speech,
not as in beer." And open source projects live or die based on their
ability to attract volunteers who'll help out (including non-programmers
to handle crucial tasks like writing manuals). But, let's face it, you can't
beat the price - and if you have more than one computer, you can put this
software on all of them, without buying extra copies or worrying about "activation hassles." (One thing to be aware of, though: you're not paying for
support, so it won't always be there if and when you need it. Many popular
open source programs are supported by volunteers online, through Web forums -
but there's no guarantee you'll get the answer you need. And it helps
to ask politely!)|
So, what's free? Here's a sampling of the best. (These programs run
on Windows, and most have versions for Macintosh and Linux, too.)
OpenOffice.org Almost
as good as the pricey Microsoft Office at 0% of the price, OpenOffice.org comes
with its own word processor, spreadsheet, PowerPoint-style presentation program,
and nowadays, even a database (but, unfortunately, no equivalent to Microsoft
Outlook).
Mozilla Thunderbird 2 Email software with some nifty "get organized,
get productive, stay secure" features you just won't find in Windows'
built-in Outlook Express. (While you're at it, check out Mozilla Firefox.
Yes, you already have a free browser, but lots of folks think Firefox is faster
and better.)
GIMP
Graphics software for editing and retouching photos, and working with virtually
any image. GIMP does much of what Adobe Photoshop does, and can be extended with
plug-ins that do everything from creating duotones to generating photo contact
sheets.
Audacity If you record or edit sounds, this tool isn't just free: it's
surprisingly powerful.
Plus, a few more specialized programs... the handy notetaking tool Keynote...
the podcast receiver Juice...
the 3D modeling and content creation tool Blender
(the alternatives cost a fortune)... and, last but not least, the free
anti-virus tool ClamWin.
The open source approach is beginning to catch on even outside the software industry.
Some engineers are experimenting with open source hardware designs. There are
now freely available 'open content' textbooks.
And, proving that what goes around comes around, there is now (drumroll, please)...open
source beer.
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