Free and Low CostComputer Programs  

A Users Guide to Freeware, Shareware and Open Source Software for Your Not-for-Profit, Business and Home

Terms

Software– Collection of computer programs, procedures and

documentation that perform tasks on a computer system

Open Source– Software that is freely distributed– Source code must be included or be obtainable for

free redistribution of modifications

Source of definitions and a lot of other good information - Wikipedia

More Terms

Freeware– Software available free of charge– For an unlimited time– Writer usually has a copyright on the source code

Shareware– Software obtained free of charge– Accompanied by a request for payment

Software's distribution license often requires such a payment

Source of definitions and a lot of other good information - Wikipedia

Still More Terms

Computer-based software– Installed on your computer or server– Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Word are examples

Web-based software– Stored on a server that is located remotely– Made available to you when you need it– Google Apps is an example of web-based software

Source of definitions and a lot of other good information - Wikipedia

For purposes of this presentation

Free means – Free to chose– Free from monopoly– Free to think “outside of the box”

Remember– Someone spent time, energy and effort to make this

software– This needs to be acknowledged, respected and

appreciated

Compatible vs. Comparable

Compatible– Similar– Well-matched– Work well together

Comparable– Equivalent to– As good as

Change Relationship to Software

Is enabled by a mind shift Away from rote learning to fundamentals

– What is the name of what you want to do – How do you find it

Reasons To Use

FREE or nearly freeSave a lot of MONEYShareware lets you “try before you buy”Usually written to work on older computers and

with older operating systems

Software Alternatives

OpenOffice– Alternative to Microsoft Office– Work, save and send Word, Excel, PowerPoint and

Publisher documents as if using Microsoft equivalent product

– FREE or $10 for a CD copyFirefox

– Alternative to Internet Explorer– Fewer vulnerabilities than IE and FREE

Software Alternatives

Doodle– Simple polling system– Helps people coordinate times when all can meet – Multiple languages– And did I mention it is FREE

Alternative Operating System

Linux– Alternative to Windows– May make sense for your organization

Discuss with your IT Support

– Easy to use customizable interface– Great security features – Runs most Windows applications– Not many of the games– Big plus for productivity in educational settings

Good Programs - Small Learning Curve

– AbiWord - substitute for Microsoft Word– Thunderbird - takes the place of Microsoft

Outlook– Sunbird - replaces Microsoft Outlook’s

calendaring functions– GIMP-Shop - forget Adobe Photoshop– PDFCreator – create a PDF of a Microsoft

document without Acrobat– GnuCash – accounting software instead of

Quicken or Microsoft Money– GanttPV – Project scheduling like MS Project

Free Web and E-Mail Provided by Microsoft Legal domain registration or transfer Design templates Support for multiple pages Customizable Microsoft Office Live Small Business Sample – Click here

Where To Find

Discounted software & tons of good information for not-for-profits:– Techsoup

Other useful websites:– TuDogs – Social Source Commons– SourceForge

Free and Low CostComputer Programs  

A Users Guide to Freeware, Shareware and Open Source Software for Your Not-for-Profit, Business and Home