Open Source Vs Closed Source Software - The Great Debate

1) Open Source Software
Open source software can be defined as software distributed under a licensing agreement which allows the source code (computer code) to be shared, viewed and modified by other users and organisations.
Cost
Open source software is free. This is a huge draw card, and if your in-house capabilities are such that you are able to implement, train and support at little cost to your organization it may be an attractive option. Having said that, open source software requires a certain level of technical expertise in order to manage content. It is therefore important to take into consideration the costs incurred once the software is obtained may be substantial unless the resources are already in place to manage it. Long term costs include the cost of implementation, innovation, the opportunity cost incurred battling with service/support issues, and the costs associated with investment in infrastructure due to a general inability to scale (assuming the organisation will grow and develop and will therefore have evolving requirements). Notably, open source software providers are increasingly charging for add- ons, additional services and integration. The total cost of ownership for open source software may roughly equal some closed source options as a result.
Service and Support
Service is one of the key issues regarding open source software. Open source software relies on its online community network to deliver support via forums and blogs. While there are massive, loyal and engaged online communities that users can turn to, time-poor consumers of today are familiar with the immediate service and support that enables issues to be resolved in a timely manner, and these communities cannot guarantee the high level of responsive service and support proprietary software can offer.
Innovation
Open source software enables innovation by providing users with the freedom and flexibility to adapt the software to suit, without restriction. However, innovation may or may not be passed on to all users of the software. It is a user's prerogative whether they wish to share their innovation with any online communities, and users must be actively participating in these communities to become aware of such innovations. It has been debated whether customized changes to the original source code limit the future support and growth of the software, as these can potentially result in a limited ability to apply future updates, fixes or modules aimed at improving the software, leaving the user with a version that may have irresolvable issues. It is relevant to note that open source software providers generally struggle to attract large scale R&D.
Usability
Open source software has been highly criticized for its lack of usability, as generally, the technology is not reviewed by usability experts and does not cater to the vast majority of computer users. Open source software is generally developer-centric, and without system administration experience or the knowledge required to manipulate programming language, use of the software and ability to fix errors as they arise is often limited to those with technical expertise. Furthermore, open source software does not legally require documentation such as user manuals or guides, hindering the creation of such tools. When documentation is provided, it is often general, containing implicit jargon, inhibiting learning. Without adequate documentation users must rely on alternative means such as online communities, assuming they are capable of finding them and the problem is one others have encountered or are willing to help resolve.
Security
Open source software is often viewed as having security issues. New data from Forrester Research has shown that 58% of IT Executives and technology decision makers in large companies are concerned about the security of open source software. Open source software is not necessarily developed in a controlled environment. While big players often have a concentrated development team, oftentimes the software is being developed by individuals all over the world who may not work on the software for the duration of its developing lifetime.
This lack of continuity and common direction can lead to barriers to effective communication surrounding the software. Furthermore, open source software is not always peer reviewed or validated for use. While users are free to examine and verify source code, the level of expertise required means that it is entirely possible for a programmer to embed back door Trojans to capture private and confidential information without the user ever knowing. Adopting a reputable brand with a concentrated development team supported by a strong online community will reduce the potential risk.
2) Closed Source Software
Closed source software can be defined as proprietary software distributed under a licensing agreement to authorized users with private modification, copying and republishing restrictions.
Cost
The cost of proprietary software will vary from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of the system required. This cost is made up of a base fee for software, integration and services and annual licensing/support fees. This cost may be prohibitive for some; however what the user is paying for is a more customized product from a trusted brand that includes higher levels of security and functionality, continuous innovation, a greater ability to scale, ongoing training and support and a lower requirement for technical skills. In order to support these elements and maintain high availability websites, a mechanism must be in place to recoup the costs. As mentioned previously, increasingly open source software providers are also charging for add-ons, additional services, and integration, reducing the gap in cost between the two options.
Service and Support
If the internet is an important channel for an organisation, software is often a secondary concern, with service level and support structure requirements taking precedent in favour of maximising uptime and minimising downtime. Service is probably the greatest advantage of using proprietary software. Proprietary software providers offer ongoing support to users, a key selling point for users without technical expertise. If the user manual or guide is not enough, or if a user experiences a problem with the software, there is an immediate point of call to turn to for assistance. There is a certain reduction in the risk undertaken with proprietary software because users are working with companies that are viable, and people with intimate knowledge of the products and services being used should any questions arise. Because service is one of the main reasons users choose proprietary over open source software, many proprietary software providers compete on service, increasing the bargaining power of buyers and thereby increasing customer service levels among providers.
Innovation
Proprietary software providers do not allow users to view or alter the source code. While this may be viewed as a disadvantage to some, it ensures the security and reliability of the software. Furthermore, many proprietary software providers customize software for specific users to provide more flexibility while investing in R&D in order to regularly offer new products and upgrades. Moreover, proprietary software providers have online user communities that create value by sharing ideas, strategies and best practices through feedback mechanisms such as forums and surveys, which also foster innovation and allow the product to adapt with changing needs. This innovation comes fully tested, and is available to all users of the software.
It does not require investment in R&D or the technical understanding of source code, and assistance with implementation is generally part of the package. Because vendors must ensure their software does not become redundant, users also benefit from the type of targeted innovation undertaken- continuous investment in R&D rather than "innovation for innovation's sake", business focused rather than technology focused.
Usability
Proprietary software generally employs expert usability testing, and as the software is normally aimed at a more targeted audience, and therefore more tailored, usability is generally ranked quite high. In addition, detailed user manuals and guides are provided. This enables faster training and provides an immediate reference, allowing users to move along the learning curve more quickly. Supporting services include seminars, targeted training courses and extensive support to help maximise use of the software. It is also important to note that while many people see proprietary software as "closed", today's proprietary software offers a vast array of mechanisms for enhancement by third party systems and developers.
Security
Proprietary software is viewed as more secure because it is developed in a controlled environment by a concentrated team with a common direction. Moreover, the source code may be viewed and edited by this team alone, and is heavily audited, eliminating the risk of back door Trojans and reducing the risk of any bugs or issues with the software.

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Linux and Its Software

Linux is more and more popular. Hundred of thousands of people do use it as an every day operating software. There are also overa hundred different Linux distributions. The easiest ones are:

• Mandriva
• Ubuntu

Complicated are:

• Slackware
• FreeBsd
• Gentoo

I know that some people would say something different, but I had beginners in mind. Linux will be perfect for a normal duties like:

• text and spreadsheet editing
• OpenOffice
• email and browsing
• Mozilla Firefox
• Easy bitmap editions
• Gimp
• Easy 3D modeling
• Blender
• Easy animation like flash
• flash4linux

OK, these are easy things you can perfectly use Linux for. There are also other things like:

• hosting and server services (Apache server for example)

What I found confusing is that despite I could use stated software some formatting couldn't be retrieved on Windows OS. You can see that when you will be working in open office for example. You make formatting like colors, bulleting and others. Some of these won't be visible on widows office text editor.
In my opinion, if you work on the things which must be transferred to the windows later one, don't use linux. At first everything might be OK, but there will be one time, where you can get lost very easy and there will be no way back.
What I am missing on Linux:

• Adobe Suite

I completely agree with people who say that Linux is so cool. I know that. There is more and more drivers for the Linux. Linux is widely used in the internet technology. There are hosting professional solutions based on Linux. If you don't do on anything fancy I would definitely advice you to switch to Linux.
Some people might be scared seeing screen shots of the command line. Well, don't be. Distributions like Ubuntu or Mandriva allows you to use graphical user interface (GUI). The you will just click on every single setting you want. And in the time, once you will get used to the Linux you will learn commands and that's it.

Like I said before, more and more people are using Linux. Ask your friends and family. Quite often there are people already using Linux in your neighborhood. They can help you. And it's free.

How To Install Ubuntu Via a USB Flash Drive

If you want to install Ubuntu to another computer, at times that computer might not have a working CD-rom drive to install via a CD. This happens in older computers as well as netbooks that don't come with optical drives. One option is to connect the computer to an external CD-rom via a USB, but there is a feature in Ubuntu that will let you install via a USB.
Normally you have to burn a CD using a second computer. In this case you are "burning" Ubuntu onto a USB drive. There is a tool in Ubuntu that does this for you making the process extremely easy.
Go to System > Administration > USB Startup Disk Creator. Put in a USB stick making sure that it's at least 4 gigabytes and follow the directions. Make sure you don't have anything on it that you want to keep because it can erase all the data. Once the program is done you have Ubuntu on your USB that you will be able to use on any computer that can boot from the USB drive.
Plug this into the other computer that you want to install Ubuntu to and turn the computer on. Boot from the USB. You have two options here. First is that you can just run Ubuntu off the USB stick entirely. Some do this with netbooks not touching the default operating system when wanting an alternative operating system.
The other option is to click on the install icon on the desktop to take what's on the USB and install it to that computers hard drive. This is the exact same process that would be there if you were using the Live CD.
Once done, keep the USB stick on hand because you can boot to Ubuntu from any computer that way and reinstall Ubuntu on other computers when you need to.

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6 Things All Prospective Ubuntu Linux Users Must Know

Ubuntu Linux is the world's most popular and fastest growing Linux alternative to Windows. More people are seeking better, reliable and cost effective ways to keep in touch both at school, home and the office across all popular device platforms. That is where Ubuntu Linux comes into the picture. If you have heard about Ubuntu but are still doubting whether to migrate to it or not, then the following six basic points should help you decide.
Desktop
Ubuntu is a perfect desktop OS that has all the functions that you may be used to in Windows. It is powerful enough for home or office use and has all the productivity suite you may need in your enterprise setting as well. More and more OEMs are now beginning to offer a range of Ubuntu desktops. Notable among the OEMs is Dell, ZaReason and System76. It is also very customizable and free to use without any licensing hassles. It is also safe and reliable in terms of security and other threats that Windows is easily susceptible to.
Virtualization and servers
Ubuntu is also a perfect server client that has been certified to run on HP's Proliant Server ranges and on roughly 45 other server configurations from IBM, Lenovo, Dell among others. ISVs like Alresco and Openbravo also have enterprise class products built on Ubuntu server edition. There is also the Canonical-IBM Virtual Bridges partnerships that aims at virtualizing Ubuntu desktops on Linux servers. Indeed there is no shortage of Ubuntu server deployment options.
Cloud
Cloud computing is a new and evolving technology area that can transform how IT environments deliver services. Ubuntu has an Enterprise Cloud service which aims at helping corporate entities migrate their existing IT services into the cloud.
Mobile
There is a flavor of Ubuntu for Mobile Internet Devices. Dell, ZaReason and System76 all sell netbooks preloaded with UNR. HP also has a customized version of UNR for its Mini1000 netbook edition.
Training
There is training for Ubuntu by Canonical available for both individuals and corporate users. You get the requisite skills from the maker of the OS.
Support
There is a vast array of support available, be it for home or enterprise users. Notable amongst them is the Ubuntu Forums and the new commercial service from Canonical. You will never be alone in your usage of Ubuntu knowing there is always some form of support available to you.

The author is the owner of Ghabuntu, a popular Open Source blog from Africa. Please stop by to join the effort in making Open Source Software the preferred choice of computer users. You can also reach me here at sinaisix@gmail.com.

Linux Vs. Windows

This article will not attempt to advocate the use of Linux over Windows or vice versa. I will try to present the differences and similarities between Linux and Windows in a fair manner.




Overview:



Both Linux and Windows (2000, NT, XP, Vista) are operating systems. Linux was inspired from Unix, while Windows was inspired from VMS.



While no single company "owns" Linux, Windows is owned by Microsoft. Various distributions (often referred to as "distros") of Linux come from different companies (e.g. Red Hat, Novell SuSE, Mandrake etc.), while all Windows flavors (95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista) come from Microsoft.



Both Linux and Windows come in Desktop and Server editions.



Cost:



As far as cost is concerned, Linux is very cheap or free. I used the word "very cheap" for enterprise users. While anybody can download, install and use Linux, the distribution companies usually charge for technical support.

Windows is expensive. You first pay for the copy of the software and then again for the technical support if you ever want it.

There is another catch though; Windows enforces you to use a single copy on a single computer. This is not the case with Linux though, once you purchase Linux, you can run it on an unlimited number of computers.



GUI:



Both Windows and Linux are GUI based operating systems.

I'm afraid but, Windows has better GUI than Linux and it will get far better with the upcoming Windows Vista release. Linux has two GUIs: Gnome and KDE. Linux is fast catching up and is evolving from a server operating system to a desktop operating system.



Command Line:



Both Windows and Linux comes with command line interface. Windows calls it the "DOS prompt", while Linux refers to it as the "shell". Linux's shell is far more superior than Window's DOS prompt. It can do a whole lot of things that are not possible in Windows. Linux support various command line shells such as BASH, Bourne, Korn, C shell and many other.



Third Party Application Software Availability:

Both Windows and Linux run third-party applications. Windows, compared to Linux, has far greater number of third party applications available for use. A program written for Windows will not run under Linux (although it can be made to emulate, but it will be very annoying and hence not recommened).



Linux's application base is, however, increasing threefold. On a more close examination, the average computer user uses the following applications 90% of the time: Word Processor (Office suite), E-mail client, Web browser, Media software, and Instant Messenger. Linux has all these applications and in fact has many flavors for each.



Like Linux, all third party applications are very cheap or free. Whereas, Windows applications can cost a leg and a limb.



Security:



Simply put it this way, Windows is not secure. If you are using Windows and don't have Antivirus, Anti Spyware, and firewall (memory and resource eating applications), your computer can get affected by a virus in less than 10 minutes. I remember restoring a fresh copy of Windows XP on my Toshiba A40 notebook. I was browsing the Internet with Microsoft Internet Explorer and my machine got infected with loads of spyware in less than 15 minutes!



Microsoft came up with Firewall and Anti Spyware products, but these programs run in the background and eat up your computer's precious memory.



Linux, on the other hand, doesn't have these issues. I'm not aware of any spywares for Linux. One can safely run a Linux distro without ever worrying about installing Anitvirus or Anti-Spywares.



Windows also has more security flaws than Linux. By security flaw, I mean a hacker can compromise the Windows operating system and break into your machine and destroy your files. But, flaws on Windows are quickly fixed and patches are often made available almost instantly after the flaw is reported.



Supported Hardware:



Windows was originally designed for Intel based machines. Earlier version of Windows NT also ran on RISC and Alpha architectures, but not anymore.

Linux run on a wide variety of hardware. And can support some very old legacy hardware. I've seen a Linux distro running on a 486 based machine.



Diver Availability:



As one author once said, "Windows is a bag of drivers". I think that is quite true. Installing a new hardware device is a piece of cake in Windows, whereas it can be a nuisance on Linux especially for average Joe. I can't in my wildest dreams imagine my dad installing a sound card successfully in Linux.



Things however will not stay the same for long. Manufacturers are also offering Linux drivers for their hardware, which will simplify the process.



Network Support:



Linux beats Windows bad in this area. Windows was never designed for the Internet. Unix, on which Linux is based, was designed for Internet (or Network) and is far more efficient compared to Windows. A senior Network Administrator working for a Fortune-500 company, recently pointed to me that if we monitor the traffic between exchange Windows based Exchange Server and Client, we can see that hundreds of packets are going to and from even when both are idle. He said that such is not the case with Linux.



However, our average Joe will never see or feel any difference. Windows Internet is good enough for him.



File System:



Windows Vista will use a new file system called WinFS. Earlier version used FAT (FAT16 and FAT32) and NTFS file systems, with NTFS being the preferred choice. Linux supports ext2 and ext3 file systems.



FAT file systems were mediocre, but NTFS can be compared with the Linux file systems.



Both file systems allows us to create directories, sub directories and file. Linux file systems are case-sensitive whereas, NTFS is not.



Normally, Linux systems cannot access NTFS file systems, but with the help of add-on software, it can.



Help and Documentation:

Linux help and documentation is quite good, accurate and to the point compared.



I've been using Windows for well over 8 years now. Frankly speaking, I hardly ever checked the accompanying documentation or the help file because everything is so simple that nobody needs to venture in the help file.



What should I buy?



OK. Truth hurts, but let it be. If you are average Joe, that extra $300 on Windows are worth spending. If you are looking an OS for your server, never even think about Windows. Buy Linux.



About the Author:



Umer Mansoor is a software engineering student. He is a mild-mannered, soft spoken and non-violent kind of guy. He is inspired by God, Dad and Mom. He has written an open source scripting language, an open source SSH implementation and an open source security audit tool for cisco routers. His projects are hosted at: [http://www.pegsol.com/newdesign/development.htm]



He can be reached at: umer.mansoor-at-gmail.com

Linux for Windows Users

SHIFTING to the Linux operating system can be pretty daunting for long-time Windows users who have grown accustomed to doing things a certain way.
Some months ago, we looked at the challenges that Windows users face when first using Mac OS X. The challenges are somewhat different on Linux, but can also lead to a fair amount of frustration for first-time users.
Unlike Windows or Mac OS X, there are many flavors of Linux. I use a distribution called Ubuntu Linux Version 6.06, but this is by no means the only one available. It is, however, one of the more user-friendly distributions around. Also unlike Windows and Mac OS X, you can get Linux free--without breaking any laws.
But free software also comes at a price. There's a lot less hand-holding and there are more things you'll have to figure out on your own. Most of the answers to questions that newbies ask are tucked away in forums and mailing lists, but these require some dogged Web searching to ferret out. If you've just started using Ubuntu, a good place to start is the Absolute Beginner Talk in the Ubuntu forums.
The tips in this column are by no means as comprehensive, but they answer some of the questions I had when I first moved from Windows to Linux. I've also included a list of software that I've found to be indispensable.
How do I install programs? As a Windows user, I was so used to downloading software from a Web site and running an EXE file to install it. Things aren't that simple in Linux because programs are often dependent on other programs that also have to be installed. Package managers keep track of these dependencies to make sure the programs run properly. On Ubuntu Linux, there are two easy ways to install software. Use Add/Remove from the Applications menu or the Synaptic Package Manager (System> Administration> Synaptic Package Manager), both of which will download an updated list of software available.
Why does Linux keep asking me for a password? One reason Linux (and Mac OS X, which is also based on Unix) is relatively safe from viruses and spyware is that the user needs to type in a password every time a new program is installed. This means it's much harder to accidentally install malicious software from the Internet.
But where are my files? Linux uses the same directory structure as other Unix-based operating systems like OS X. The root is reserved for system files and contains folders with cryptic names such as bin, boot, dev, and etc. You generally do not want to touch these files, and every time you try to change something here, you will be asked for a password. On the other hand, you can write data files to your home folder (Places> Home Folder) without such restrictions. In the root, this folder is found in the "home" directory.
There are two powerful tools to help you find programs and files: Beagle Search and Gnome Deskbar.
Beagle Search indexes the contents of your hard disk so that you can find what you need quickly. To add the program, go to Add/Remove, click on Accessories and scroll down till you find Search. Check the box next to it and click on the Apply button. When Beagle is installed, you can find it in Places> Search.
Deskbar is a very efficient launcher. To make it available, right-click on any desktop panel, choose Add to Panel and choose Deskbar from the Accessories section. Click the Add button.
Deskbar works like Spotlight on the Mac. Just type in the first few letters of your search term and a menu will drop down showing possible choices. In this way, you can quickly launch a program without moving the mouse through nested menus.
A useful tool for organizing and finding scraps of information is Tomboy Notes, a notepad that allows you to create links to other notes that you create. You can think of it as a Wiki on your desktop.
Why won't my video files play? Out of the box, Ubuntu Linux will not play AVI and other proprietary multimedia formats. The easiest way to solve this problem is to install and run EasyUbuntu or Automatix (System> Administration> Synaptic Package Manager). After they are installed, you ought be able to find these programs in Applications> System Tools.
The default multimedia player on Ubuntu is Totem, but I prefer VLC Media Player, which you can also install using Add/Remove. For music files, I like XMMS Music Player, which looks a lot like WinAmp. Others swear by Amarok, which also maintains a database of your music.
Can I work with files created in Windows? Unlike Windows or Mac OS X, Linux comes with a complete office suite that's compatible with MS Office. OpenOffice.org will let you load files created in MS Word and MS Excel and save them back in that format so your colleagues who are still using Windows can read them back. Another useful tool is Wine, which lets you run some Windows programsI use it to run Adobe Photoshopin Linux. Setting up Wine isn't easy, however, and it's usually better to simply find Linux counterparts that work like your favorite Windows programs.
Making the shift to Linux isn't as easy as some people make it out to be. But there's a lot of helpand cool, free software available, if you know where to look.

From Digital Life by Chin Wong
http://www.chinwong.com

5 Easy Steps to Become an Ubuntu Power User For Newbies

More and more people are migrating to Ubuntu Linux on an unprecedented scale. However, most if not all, of these new users are people who have no prior knowledge of Linux whatsoever. The road to being a power Ubuntu Linux user can be summed up in five simple steps that every new user in whatever category will find easy and fun to implement. Using Ubuntu is more than just running an OS, it is about joining an ideological movement of freedom that in my view is symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in the US. Read on to become the next Mark Shuttleworth.
Step 1- Join the Ubuntu Forums.
The first thing you should do as a new user of Ubuntu is to join the Ubuntu Forums. It is a very helpful place where you can get to introduce yourself, make friends with newbies like you and more experienced geeks, ask any question you have about Ubuntu or Open Source in general, join any ongoing conversation and more. I also advice that you take time everyday to visit. Be an active participant. If you like, you can even subscribe to the feeds of the Forums. But whatever the case, please make it a note to join the Ubuntu Forums and you will be amazed at how much you get to learn for free..
Step 2- Get your own personal reference manuals.
It is highly recommended to get your own reference manuals about Ubuntu and Linux in general. Linux is more of a subject to be learned than something to just use. With Ubuntu Linux, you always have something to learn and it is very much worth the effort given the fact that Linux is poised to be the future of computing. You also improve your computing skills when you get to learn as much as you can about Linux. You will also be surprised at the kind of exhilaration that you experience when you successfully troubleshoot your own system the very frist time without the help of anybody. Two of my personal favorite reference manuals on Ubuntu Linux are Ubuntu 9.04 and Kubuntu 9.04, 4-disks DVD Set Includes Linux Training Library, "Introduction to Linux" video-DVD, also includes printed Quick Reference Card of Linux commands, 32-bit Set and Ubuntu Linux Toolbox: 1000+ Commands for Ubuntu and Debian Power Users. They are very powerful reference guides you must have at home or the office.
Step 3- Ask, ask, ask.
Whatever problem you might be facing in using Ubuntu Linux, be sure to know that someone out there has encountered that problem before and all you need to do to get it solved will be to ask. This brings us to the first step of joining the forums. You should also be using Google a lot. Just Google your question and get millions of suggested results in seconds. Do not shut your mouth when you have a problem and run back to Windows simply because you had a problem with Ubuntu Linux. You must ask to get help. To even get more specific suggestions on the forums, you should make it clear that you are a newbie. Most people are willing to help more newbies than others. Don't let your Windows friends tease you with the age old phrase of " that's Linux for you" just because you did not ask. The solution to every single Ubuntu Linux problem is as simple as asking at the right place.
Step 4- Experiment with your system.
The only sure fire way to be a Linux geek is to practice, and what better practice is there than to experiment with your own system. Always have a backup of your system and experiment with other ways of using Ubuntu. Do not just settle for the default setup of your installation. Apply the skills and tips you learn in the above books as much as you can, read about other methods of getting things done and apply them. Read wide and apply more. Be sure to always backup your system though. Try using other utilities like Compiz and a host of others. Experiment with how to make your system unique and you will be surprised at how much you get to learn by doing.
Step 5- Help others out
This is the most important step of all the five. Ubuntu Linux users are a worldwide community of people that believe in "humanity to others" and as such, you should endeavor to help others out as much as you can. If all you know is how to run a LiveCD, share that knowledge with someone. Anytime you visit the Ubuntu Forums, be sure to seek out new users like you and share your little experience with them. Help as much as you can. Go out of your way to be very helpful to new users with every single bit of knowledge you have. Over ten million people are using and benefiting from a very powerful, reliable and secure OS because one man believed in giving back to others. The least you can also do is to share your experience with those in need. You will be amazed at the level of knowledge you gain sharing yours with others.
Practice these simple but powerful points and in no time you will be on your way to being a geek that others will look up to for help and support.

The author is the owner of Ghabuntu, a popular Open Source blog from Africa. Please stop by to join the effort in making Open Source Software the preferred choice of computer users. You can also reach me here at sinaisix@gmail.com