Question of the Week: Due 1/30/09

[At least 250 words on the Question of the Week topic are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, 1/30/09 for a maximum of 25 points. In addition, you must place links to at least two other articles which you have found in your blog.]

Background: Did you know that there are free versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Excel -- colletively called Microsoft office? Yes, and it doesn't cost $150.00. It is called OpenOffice, and is installed on the computers in the ERC and in 403. Firefox is also free. These programs belong to a kind of software that is copyrighted but shared for free use called Open Source software. The operating system called Linux is also Open Source software. By using Open Source software, business and home users may save themselves thousands of dollars in costs. Many governments in Europe and China use Open Source software. Well, President Obama's administration is considering using Open Source for government computers. See this article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7841486.stm. There is more info about Open source at these links:

Definitions of Open Source:
http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source

Utah Open Source Foundation: http://blog.utos.org/

Questions: Would you use Open Source software at home? If yes, estimate how much money you would save. Would you suggest it for business use? What are some programs in addition to OpenOffice, Firefox, and Linux that are Open Source? Be sure to find two links to articles on Open Source and put them in your blog along with your response.