Desktop Linux Consortium

Running a Business Purely on Open Source

admin — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

When you are someone who is looking to start a business, all of those computer programs are going to start having you see dollars flying out of your wallet. There is no denying that office suites are expensive, but can you really afford to run your business off of open source software? The Linux operating system offers you a low-profile, memory efficient way to keep things rolling, but can you trust it and the programs that come with it?

For example, when you need an office suite, you will find that LibreOffice is one of the first programs that anyone will recommend.The full explanation can be found at http://www.itproportal.com/reviews/software/libreoffice-4-review/ If you just want very basic office applications, this is a great program. Professional writers use it, and it is quite intuitive.

However, what happens when you need to do more bookkeeping or you have a lot of data to keep track of? The thing to remember about open source is that you are often on your own if you hit a snag. Be ready to research your own issue and to create your own fix. To your advantage, there is a lot of information out there, but you cannot be frozen with fear.

Take a moment to think about what open source can do for you.

Don’t Feed the Beast, Support Open Source

admin — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Open source software, like the Linux operating system, have been developed and supported by communities of users in order to provide a less expensive alternative to proprietary options as well as a superior user experience. The growing popularity and user base of many of the most popular open source projects speaks volumes for the success of its development. Finding a user-friendly alternative to the more limited and expensive programs and operating systems that you have to choose from can be an important issue, one that has the potential to drastically improve your options and experiences.The whole story can be found at http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/security/security-of-open-source-software-again-being-scrutinized

Choosing the right Linux distribution, or selecting an open source program that will be better able to meet your needs is not a concern that should be left to chance. Selecting and installing the best programs will ensure that you are able to enjoy a more enjoyable and versatile experience. By learning more about the open source options that are available, what they have to offer and what must be done in order to make use of them can be the first step you take towards creating a more versatile system, one that will be able to provide you with the features and options you require.

A Brief History and Overview of Linux OS

admin — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Before the days of smartphones, clear wireless internet 4G and Windows 7, there was Linux. First released in 1991, Linux was initially developed as a cost-free operating system for Intel x86 computers. Today, it is used mostly as a server operating system for large organizations. It has also earned the support of several large corporations including HP, IBM and Sun Microsystems.

Linus Torvalds, a Finnish-American software engineer and hacker, was the driving force behind the development and growth of the Linux kernel. Torvalds, an outspoken proponent of open source software, released Linux for free on the Internet. It has become one of the most distinguished examples of free and open source software, which gives users the right to use, copy and change the Linux source code. This has allowed thousands of independent programmers to test, alter, customize and improve the software. According to Linfo.org, as of 2006, Torvalds has only written approximately two percent of the Linux kernel.

Since Linux is free and Windows is not, the growth of Linux in the late ’90s naturally caused Microsoft to feel threatened. In fact, Microsoft’s Halloween documents – released in 1998 – aimed to identify the potential threats posed by free and open source software and offer strategies to neutralize them. However, Microsoft has since chosen to accept Linux instead of oppose them. By 2011, Microsoft became the 17th largest contributor the Linux code.

Three Ways Open Source Will Save You Money

admin — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Open source operating systems are becoming more and more popular in these tough economic times, particularly for business, who have to run a large number of licenses if they want to use Windows or OS X. However, many people ask how exactly it will save them money, and here are three simple ways it does so.

We can start with the blatantly obvious way first, and that is that with open source operating systems, there is no license fee. The operating system itself is 100% free. When you are looking at hundreds of machines, the savings stack up rather quickly.

Another way that open source can save you money is the fact that, since everything is open source, anyone with programming experience can modify the code that lies underneath, and tailor any program or operating system for the exact needs that a group might have for it.

The final way that open source saves you money is the lack of viruses that are created for it. This means that when people visit malicious sites with windows viruses, it does not effect a computer with an open source operating system, and very few viruses are made for open source operating systems.

Open Source Versus Retail: How to Save Money

admin — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Almost everyone is looking for a great way to save money when shopping for software solutions. The fact of the matter is that fully-functional productivity programs can be extremely expensive. Businesses have to pay all sorts of bills to stay in business. Overhead costs, payroll expenses and even rent charges mean that business owners have to find a way to save money when purchasing software. The good news is that there are options available to everyone with the patience to do a small amount of research. Open source software can actually be just as reliable as expensive commercial products.Is this new to you? Catch up here

Finding open source software is simple. It is usually possible to type a few basic keywords into your favorite search engine for the best results. Just make sure that you do some research on the company in question before you download any of their software products. Unfortunately, a small percentage of free software packages contain hidden viruses and other things that might be harmful to your system. That is why it is important that you never download software from a company that you do not trust. Checking websites that are dedicated to consumer feedback on companies is always a brilliant idea.

Three Operating Systems to Get for Free

www.desktoplinuxconsortium.org — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

When Windows becomes too much of a hassle or simply looking for a different experience, Linux is a great choice. Linux is a free, open source alternative to Microsoft’s Windows operating system. There are alternatives for almost all Windows programs, and other programs that do things that just are not possible on Windows.
Ubuntu is one of the most popular choices when it comes to Linux operating systems. It is based on the stable version of Debian, and has many improvements added by Ubuntu’s developers. It comes in several different flavors. Xubuntu is a very simple version of Ubuntu. Xubuntu’s user interface is very similar to Windows. Ubuntu itself features the Unity user interface, its flagship product. No matter what flavor of Ubuntu that you choose, it comes packed with all the software that you need to surf the internet, word processing and spreadsheets.
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, but has a customized interface. It strives for a more beginning user-friendly look. Most Windows users would feel at home in Linux Mint very quickly. Both Linux Mint and Ubuntu are based on the stable version of Debian, one of the most popular server operating systems.

Fedora is another version of Linux. It is not based on Debian, but is the desktop version of the extremely popular server operating system Red Hat Linux. It differs mainly in its user interface, Fedora comes by default with the Gnome User Interface, but can be used with the all the same user interfaces that Ubuntu can, with the exception of Unity.

Keep looking, there’s more: Linux Mint 13 Release Candidate now available

Saving Money: Break Away from Per License Agreements

admin — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The best way to break away for per license agreements is to move to volume licensing. The purpose of a license is to install software on a computer. If multiple computers need the same software, the use of a volume license may be preferable to a per license agreement. A standard software typically will include a per subscriber license. If you have multiple users, a volume license may offer you more of the cost savings that are sought.

Programs that are available from software vendors will often have an option to purchase a license based on a volume or user number. A volume license eliminates that need for boxed software that includes the CD-ROM or DVD and documentation. Purchasing in volume quantities reduces your software costs.

A volume license is a preferable choice if you have five or more computers to install the software. Your pricing will more advantageous when using a volume license. The materials that are included with your volume license will be based on the vendor,. You may receive media, documentation and support based on your agreement.

Compare a volume license agreement with a per license agreement if you are looking for a good reason to save money on software licenses.

Three Open Source Business Applications You Need

admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Quite frequently business owners and managers purchase expensive software for office needs. Yet, most office needs can be met with free open source software. And, for any business owner or manager using open source technology is a great way to save money. Here are three free open source business applications for accounting, human resources and office suite.

GNUCash
GNUCash is popular and excellent for personal and small-business financial accounting. The software is freely licensed and available for cross-platform operating systems. GNUCash uses professional accounting principles for accurate reports and balanced books. Features include double-entry accounting, stock, bond, and mutual fund accounts.

OrangeHM
OrangeHM is a complete cloud-based, highly secured human resource management suite. The system has a worldwide open source community that is fast growing, receptive and knowledgeable. The suite includes employee information management, attendance, leave, holidays, recruitment, evaluations and much more.

OpenOffice
Free to download, OpenOffice is the number one open-source office suite over Microsoft Office. A similar layout to Microsoft Office, OpenOffice works on most operating systems and accommodates word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, databases and graphics. OpenOffice has several extensions available, international open standard format data storage, and the ability to recognize files from other office suite programs.