Open Source Office Software
What is Really Free?
It's funny. We have been programmed into believing that because
something is free, that there is some kind of catch, or that it
is not as good as a paid version, or that it is riddled with
spyware and scumware.
This may be true for a lot of stuff on the Internet, but I feel
that it is not the case when it comes to this complete suite of
office software from http://www.openoffice.org.
The general belief about non free software is that it is better
than free software. Well, prepare your paradigm to be crushed
before you read this report, Free, Open Source Software is More
Reliable: http://www.gnu.org/software/reliability.html.
Open Office is the real deal Free
Open Office is distributed with a GNU License: http://www.openoffice.org/license.html. This
means that it is completely Free software. Open Office is the
choice not because people on a tight budget can get their hands
on it, but because it is rich with powerfull features found in
similar programs selling for hundreds of dollars.
If you read the GNU license, it might make you wander who came
up with this office type of software: http://www.gnu.org.
Open Office contains:
A full featured Word Processor http://www.openoffice.org/product/writer.html
A powerfull Spreadsheet program: http://www.openoffice.org/product/calc.html
A Multimedia Creator for creating animated presentations: http://www.openoffice.org/product/impress.html
An excellent drawing tool: http://www.openoffice.org/product/draw.html
Database Tools: http://www.openoffice.org/product/dbase.html
A full strength help file with a handy help agent.
Open Office is not a small download but my opinion is that it is
worth waiting for. The download page is located here: http://download.openoffice.org/index.html
I run Open Office on my laptop and on my PC and have no problems
as a result of bugs or defective programming. Hell, some tiny
programs that I have paid money for have caused me some big
problems. Another large autoresponder program which I paid over
300 bucks for refused to work on my particular version of
XP. After a period of support from the developer, I asked
for a refund. I had to stop the support process when they wanted
to take remote control over my computer.
What is Free Software?
Free software is a pretty loose term on the Internet today. The
term is used for the terms freeware, shareware and a host of
other terms. But what does free software, freeware and shareware
really mean. Is there a difference? I tell you this, there is a
lot of these types of terms and there is a difference. See them
all here: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html
Note: There are thousands of people giving away
all types of free software programs riddled with scumware which
produces undesirable effects upon the user and their PC's. This
is a topic of continual research at http://www.scumware.com. I suggest that all
who wish to use these nasty but handy little downloads getting
around the Internet to actually read the agreement before
installing.
Jealously Guarded Secrets
Why would some Internet Marketing Developer tell you about the
really good stuff that you can get for free? It would not serve
their PayPal account if they did. Furthermore, many affiliates
seem to keep these jealously guarded secrets to themselves
because they want to squeeze every dollar out of their
subscriber list. Hell, I even know of Internet Marketers who
have no outbound links on their site unless they are affiliate
links.
I myself do not mind outbound links on my site if they will
serve my readers. For example, I could be an affiliate for a
number of HTML editors out there, but I openly show my readers
where to get a fully working 100% Free HTML editor at my site:
http://www.ezau.com/latest/articles/04.shtml.
I have recently been giving support to a successful Internet
marketer in regards to this basic HTML editing tool and FTP-ing
because they have been taught to use a what you see is what
you get editor that performs FTP as well. They needed help
because they have been deliberately kept in the dark with a
non-free program that is not as good a free one.
Some developers of non-free software can hardly wait to get a
barely working stable version out there into the marketplace. As
soon as it "barely works", they send a broadcast to all their
affiliates telling them that they are the first to know and that
they should email their list immediately with this hot new
profit making, time saving software. Some affiliates recommend
software even though deep down inside they know that it is not
as "crash hot" as the sales page claims. (This of course assumes
that they even own a copy.)
Not only that, I have had the experience of reporting bugs to a
couple of developers but my emails go unanswered. They do not
seem to care because as far as the developer is concerned, the
promise is fulfilled as advertised. Their job is now to spit out
another project in order to repeat the process.
Tip: Before you buy a software program, why not do a quick
search for the term "open source _____" and add the name of the
type of software you want, just to see what results come up :-)
The author, Ed Zivkovic owns his own website which contains
articles with all sorts of tips for work at home webmasters.
Here is the site: http://www.ezau.com