© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.1 Technology in Action.

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1

Technology in ActionTechnology in Action

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2

Technology in ActionTechnology in Action

Technology in Focus: Technology in Focus:

Computing Alternatives Computing Alternatives

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 3

Application Software AlternativesApplication Software Alternatives

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

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

– Can be distributed to othersCan be distributed to others

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 4

Productivity Software AlternativesProductivity Software Alternatives• OpenOfficeOpenOffice

– Comparable to MS OfficeComparable to MS Office• WriterWriter is like is like MS WordMS Word• CalcCalc is like is like

MS ExcelMS Excel• ImpressImpress is like is like

MS PowerPointMS PowerPoint• DrawDraw is a graphics is a graphics

program program • BaseBase is a database is a database

program like Accessprogram like Access• Allows you to open files created Allows you to open files created

in Office applicationsin Office applications• Documents created with Documents created with

OpenOffice can be opened by OpenOffice can be opened by other programsother programs

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 5

Database Software AlternativesDatabase Software Alternatives

• BaseBase– Part of OpenOfficePart of OpenOffice

• MySQLMySQL– Comparable to Comparable to

SQL Server and SQL Server and Oracle Database Oracle Database 10g10g

– Many books and Many books and online tutorials are online tutorials are availableavailable

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 6

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

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 7

Web Page Authoring Software Web Page Authoring Software AlternativesAlternatives

• 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

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 8

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

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 9

Image-Editing Software Image-Editing Software AlternativesAlternatives

• The GIMPThe GIMP– Comparable Comparable

to Adobe to Adobe PhotoShopPhotoShop

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

© 2008 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 CD Linux run from a CD so do not replace so do not replace your current OSyour current OS

– Other distros (such Other distros (such as Mandriva Linux) as Mandriva Linux) install Linux install Linux permanently permanently

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 11

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

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 12

Hardware AlternativesHardware Alternatives

• Do-it-yourselfDo-it-yourself

Case

Power Supply

Processor

Motherboard

RAM

Hard Drive

Video card

Sound card

Removable Storage

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 13

Hardware AlternativesHardware AlternativesDo 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