Celebrate Independence from Licensed Software and Computer Operating Systems

Celebrate Independence from Licensed Software and Expensive Computer Operating Systems

Break free from the chains that binds so many to the likes of Microsoft, Mac et al of the world.
Rather than waiting for years until the next version of an anticipated software release (where the average user seldom utilizes a third of the functions) to find out it does not function as promised with minor glitches at best or disables you current system at worst.

Break free from this dependency and expand your options, open your mind and learn something new by considering the expansive (not expensive) options readily available from Open Source, Freeware and Shareware as well as options provided through numerous sources including the all powerful Google with their list of free Products and Applications including the increasing popular Google Docs as well as similar products from the like of Zoho but more are being created all the time for free!

If there are so many options available for free, then why are most people still using the expensive software bundle packages?

Most common and flawed excuses:
Everyone else I or our company interacts with utilize these expensive software packages and if we don't then we can't open their documents/presentations/etc. Additionally, if I/we create something and want to share with others, they need to have the same software programs to open.

Answer- Incorrect.
There are many options available that will allow you to create and share with users of different programs as well as providing you with a way to have full access to any documents/presentations they send to you. A great example- is OpenOffice which is free to anyone to download and allows users to select to save creations as an OpenOffice document, presentation, etc or to save as a Microsoft equivalent.
OpenOffice users can also open and view documents created by other programs, edit as needed and then send back as the Microsoft program type if was originally sent to you. OpenOffice also has standard built-in features for years that are now only recent "upgrades" to other name-brand software programs such as the ability to export and document, spreadsheet, presentation to a pdf.

Free Operating Systems.
As with expensive and underutilized software programs, a similar untapped market is the value and functionality of free operating systems. Such an example is Ubuntu which is a Linux operating system. Very much like the Windows point and click (actually closer resemblance to Macs) but unlike a popular misconception- Linux operating systems do not require a use to know or perform tasks with command-lines or prompts or knowledge of computer programming.

Apple's marketing suggests that their absorbent costs (compared to PCs) is in part because of their customer service and limited programs with viruses. Yes, Macs are mush less prone to virus attacks and they do provide a greater level of customer service than nothing at all... but Linux systems usually have even fewer viruses problems, a host of 24/7 customer support forms- users helping each other rather than salespeople and if for some reason your system does go down... well, it was free and easy to replace.

Bottom Line-
As we celebrate the independence of this great country of ours we should also learn to stand on our own and open our minds (not wallets) to new opportunities that provide us with the freedom to express, create and share without the need to be hand fed and overpriced, faulty, program or Operating System that will either not perform all the tasks we want while offering tons (and consuming as much computer space) that we do not or will never use.

You are on your way to GBG...

Happy Independence Day- 4th of July, 2009.