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Technology in Action. Technology in Action. Technology in Focus: Computing Alternatives. Application Software Alternatives. Open-source software Freely distributed Contains the source code (the actual lines of instructional code that make the program work) Can be distributed to others.
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Technology in Action Technology in Focus: Computing Alternatives
Application Software Alternatives • Open-source software • Freely distributed • Contains the source code (the actual lines of instructional code that make the program work) • Can be distributed to others
Productivity Software Alternatives • OpenOffice • Comparable to MS Office • Writer is like MS Word • Calc is like MS Excel • Impress is like MS PowerPoint • Allows you to open files created in Office applications • Documents created with OpenOffice can be opened by other programs
Drawing Software Alternatives • OpenOffice Draw • DIA • Comparable to MS Visio • Allows you to create diagrams, graphs, and charts
Database Software Alternatives • MySQL • Comparable to SQL Server and Oracle 9i • Many books and online tutorials are available
NVU Comparable to MS FrontPage or Dreamweaver Don’t need to know HTML to generate a Web page Web Page Authoring Software Alternatives
The GIMP Comparable to Adobe PhotoShop Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and UNIX versions available Image-Editing Software Alternatives
Operating System Alternatives • Linux • Linux versions called “distros” • Knoppix and PC Linux run from a CD so do not replace your current OS • Other distros (such as Mandriva Linux) install Linux permanently
Hardware Alternatives • Apple • Mac OS X • Intel platform • Open-source software for Macs • Special software lets you run Windows-based software on a Mac
Hardware Alternatives • Do-it-yourself Processor Video card Hard Drive Power Supply Sound card Case RAM • Motherboard Removable Storage
Advantages Exact configuration desired Choice of quality components Satisfaction Disadvantages No technical support if there is a problem Multiple considerations in matching components Often more expensive Hardware AlternativesDo It Yourself