© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2

Technology in ActionTechnology in Action

Technology in Focus: Technology in Focus:

Computing Alternatives Computing Alternatives

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 3

Application Software AlternativesApplication Software Alternatives

• Open-source softwareOpen-source software– Freely distributedFreely distributed– Contains the source code (the actual lines Contains the source code (the actual lines

of instructional code that make the program of instructional code that make the program work) work)

– Can be distributed to othersCan be distributed to others

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 4

Productivity Software AlternativesProductivity Software Alternatives

• OpenOfficeOpenOffice– Comparable to MS OfficeComparable to MS Office

• WriterWriter is like MS Word is like MS Word• CalcCalc is like MS Excel is like MS Excel• ImpressImpress is like MS PowerPoint is like MS PowerPoint• DrawDraw is a graphics program is a graphics program • MathMath is an equation editor is an equation editor• BaseBase is a database program like Access is a database program like Access

• Allows you to open files created in Office Allows you to open files created in Office applicationsapplications

• Documents created with OpenOffice can be Documents created with OpenOffice can be opened by other programsopened by other programs

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 5

Database Software AlternativesDatabase Software Alternatives

• BaseBase– Part of Part of

OpenOfficeOpenOffice

• MySQLMySQL– Comparable to Comparable to

SQL Server and SQL Server and Oracle Oracle Database 10gDatabase 10g

– Many books and Many books and online tutorials online tutorials are availableare available

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 6

E-mail Client AlternativesE-mail Client Alternatives

• EudoraEudora– Popular e-mail clientPopular e-mail client– Free, but feature-limited versionFree, but feature-limited version

• Mozilla ThunderbirdMozilla Thunderbird– Open-source e-mail clientOpen-source e-mail client– Add-ons available: Add-ons available:

• CalendarCalendar• CalculatorCalculator• Search toolsSearch tools

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 7

Drawing Software AlternativesDrawing Software Alternatives

• OpenOffice OpenOffice Draw Draw

• DIADIA– Comparable Comparable

to MS Visioto MS Visio– Allows you Allows you

to create to create diagrams, diagrams, graphs, and graphs, and chartscharts

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Web Page Authoring Web Page Authoring Software AlternativesSoftware Alternatives

• NVUNVU– Comparable Comparable

to Adobe to Adobe DreamweaverDreamweaver

– Don’t need to Don’t need to know HTML know HTML to generate a to generate a Web pageWeb page

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Image-Editing Software Image-Editing Software AlternativesAlternatives

• GIMPGIMP– Comparable Comparable

to Adobe to Adobe PhotoShopPhotoShop

– Windows, Windows, Mac OS X, Mac OS X, Linux, and Linux, and UNIX UNIX versions versions availableavailable

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 10

Operating System AlternativesOperating System Alternatives

• LinuxLinux– Linux versions Linux versions

called “distros”called “distros”– KNOPPIX and PC KNOPPIX and PC

Linux run from a Linux run from a CD so do not CD so do not replace your replace your current OScurrent OS

– Other distros install Other distros install Linux permanently Linux permanently

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 11

Operating System AlternativesOperating System Alternatives• 3D Linux: 3D Linux:

Mandriva LinuxMandriva Linux– 3D desktop 3D desktop

environmentenvironment– Includes Includes

open-source open-source softwaresoftware

– Includes Includes security security featuresfeatures

© 2009 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 12

Hardware AlternativesHardware Alternatives

• AppleApple– Mac OS XMac OS X– Intel platformIntel platform– Open-source Open-source

software for software for MacsMacs

– Special Special software lets software lets you run you run Windows-based Windows-based software on a software on a MacMac

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Hardware Alternatives:Hardware Alternatives:Do It YourselfDo It Yourself

Case

Power Supply

Processor

Motherboard

RAM

Hard Drive

Video card

Sound card

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Hardware Alternatives:Hardware Alternatives:Do It YourselfDo It Yourself

• AdvantagesAdvantages– Exact configuration Exact configuration

desireddesired– Choice of quality Choice of quality

componentscomponents– SatisfactionSatisfaction

• DisadvantagesDisadvantages– No technical support if No technical support if

there is a problemthere is a problem– Multiple considerations Multiple considerations

in matching in matching componentscomponents

– Often more expensiveOften more expensive