Presentation for it360, 2007

1. Open Source
Desktop Applications
it360, May 2007
Dru Lavigne

2. Audience
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●
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Anyone interested in learning more
about Open Source applications
Those looking for strategies for
encouraging the use of Open Source
within their organization
You!

3. Outline
What this talk is not
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Open Source demythified
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Why bother?
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Application Equivalents
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4. Outline
Finding Quality Software
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Surviving the Transition
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Long term planning
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Additional Resources
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5. A Quick Note on Format...
The slides are guidelines only
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Let me know if it is time to pass out these:
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7. A Quick Note on Format...
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Share your experience: successes and
flops
Don't be afraid to:

9. If your experience was a...
Explain why. Was it:
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Lack of features?
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Lack of support?
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Undocumented?
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Un-intuitive?
●
Something else?

10. If your experience was...
What made it so
great?
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The price?
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The features?
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The ease of use?
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Something else?

11. A Quick Note on Format...
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Please keep in
mind that we only
have three hours

12. A Quick Note on Format....
●
●
And to respect
others'
experiences.
After all, it is only
software....

13. What this talk is not
Since I'm not a business analyst...
...there won't be much on ROI or TCO
If you need to bring some back to your
employer, show him these:

17. What this talk is not
Since I'm not a fanatic...
...there won't be (too) much of a sales pitch
for Open Source applications.

18. What this talk is not
Since I'm not anti-commercial software...
...there won't be any commercial bashing:

20. After all, it's only software
And you should always choose the best tool
for the job at hand

21. Open Source demythified
What exactly is Open Source????

22. Open Source demythified
A definition?

23. Open Source demythified
A license?
Many licenses?

24. Open Source demythified
Shareware?
Pirated software?

25. Open Source demythified
Open Source fictions include...

26. Open Source demythified
●
Only suited for protocols and programming
languages
●
Geeks only need apply
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Developers only need apply
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Makes for a great server but a lousy
desktop

27. Open Source demythified
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Everything is command line
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GUI applications are ugly
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Applications lack features
●
There is no such thing as application
support

28. Okay if those are all myths, that doesn't
sound too bad...
...but really:

29. Why bother?

30. Why bother?
What are the benefits if I do?

31. Why bother?
What are the drawbacks if I don't?

32. Application Equivalents
Do they exist?
●
Is foo equal to bar or to FUBAR?
●

35. Finding Quality Software
There is no lack of choice....
...if anything, there is too much to choose
from
Finding software can feel like sorting
through the good, the bad, and the ugly...

41. Finding Quality Software
There is hope...
Repositories of the highest quality
equivalents do exist:

48. Finding Quality Software
There is hope...
...there are guideposts to assist you:

49. Information Week: Feb. 5, 2007
How to Tell the Open Source Winners from the Losers

53. Surviving the Transition
How painful is
it...really?
That depends....

54. Surviving the Transition
How much are you changing at once?
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What is your timeline?
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Have you done your homework?
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Do you have realistic expectations?
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55. Surviving the Transition
But my users (and/or
management) are
allergic to change!

56. Surviving the Transition
Start with baby steps
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Know what you are achieving and why
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There are software options for bridging the
gap:

60. Surviving the Transition
What resources
and checklists are
available to gauge
Open Source
readiness?

63. Long term Planning
Support options:
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Community is double-edged sword,
especially for business needs
Many Open Source projects have a
commercial support arm
Non-project specific commercial support
options also exist:

67. Long term Planning
Training options:
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Courseware and trainers are available for
most of the better known software
Many certification programs also exist

68. Long term Planning
Licensing:
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Even if you don't plan on modifying
software, understand licensing issues
before you migrate

71. Additional Resources

72. Additional Resources

75. Contact
http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/unix/bsd
dru@isecom.org