This document summarizes cost effective open source alternatives to popular business productivity programs. It discusses Thunderbird as an alternative to Outlook for email and calendar functions. It also discusses OpenOffice/LibreOffice as alternatives to Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Finally, it discusses free and open source design programs like GIMP, Inkscape, and Scribus that can replace paid programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The document emphasizes that these open source alternatives are free to use and can provide significant cost savings compared to paid productivity software subscriptions.
2. Sub-Committee
Chamber Member Companies working together to bring you
the information on the technological topics that interest you
and can benefit your business!
Andy Kastrup, ProTronics Technologies, Inc.
Art Zemon, Hen’s Teeth Network
Beth Richter, ProTronics Technologies, Inc.
Jeff Arneson, JLJ Technology
John Coleman, Socket
Ken Tucker, ChangeScape, Inc., Co-Chair
Mark Peimann, EPC Computers, Co-Chair
Randy Downs, JLJ Technology, Archiving Valuable Assets
4. Open Source Alternatives
WORK-ALIKE options, not look-alike
Options for Office, including an Outlook
alternative
Options for more specialized packages too
Design Applications
Will all run on Windows, Mac & Linux
5. Email
Look at how you can do everything with
Thunderbird
compose and send
receive and read email
folders (remote and local)
great searching/filtering
multiple accounts/personalities
works with any IMAP email server so same
messages visible in Thunderbird, on web, and on
mobile devices
6. Calendar
Look at how the calendar is integrated into
Thunderbird
Normal calendar functions
Shared calendars work (demo with Art's & Candy's
calendars)
Google Calendar backend for this demo. Could also
be a Microsoft Exchange Server or any of several
other possibilities
works with pretty much any backend so same
calendars visible in Thunderbird, on web, and on
mobile devices
12. Open Source Design Applications
Inkscape
Vector Based Program
Alternative for Adobe Illustrator
Will open & edit PDF files
http://inkscape.org/download/
13. Open Source Design Applications
Scribus
Frame Based Design Layout Application
Alternative for Microsoft Publisher or
Adobe InDesign
Export to PDF
http://wiki.scribus.net/canvas/Download
14. Cost Comparison
All products discussed today were FREE
alternatives
Purchased price of comparison products
Microsoft $350 - $ 500
Adobe $ 600 - $ 2000
15. Cost Comparison
Other costs
Retraining
learning curve similar to switching from Office 2003 to
Office 2007
Support
narrower field of Tech help to choose from in person,
however, the
online communities and forums are very helpful &
supportive (and often free advice)
Main Cost Savings: Do It Yourself approach
16. Upcoming Events
After Hours
Thursday, May 24 5-7 pm
Sponsored by the subcommittee companies
Uncle Joe’s Bar & Grill – 204 N Main St. – St. Charles
Linux Install Party
Wednesday, May 30 3-5pm
City-County Library – Spencer Rd Branch, Rm 112
Next Month’s TechComm
Online Collaboration & CarTech
17. May 17, 2012
Cost Effective Alternatives
to Business Productivity Programs
Presented by:
Art Zemon Paul Barthel
In coordination with:
Mark Peimann Randy Downs Andy Kastrup
Ken Tucker Jeff Arneson Beth Richter
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