Thing #12

Open Source Applications - this is very interesting; saving the purchaser with the need for applications sometimes hundreds of dollars. I can't believe these licenses are not restricted by copyright laws, but apparently they are not. Most PC's do not come with office software, but that shouldn't stop you from creating spreadsheets, documents, even editing photos with apps you can access through the Wed. The cost of software licenses and new computers could be eliminated by schools because of the on-line availability of these applications. It makes sense in a world of freebies on the web today! You can download free source applications to burn cd's, to check for viruses, even to manage a CD collection! Applications from Google and Zoho offer fully functional office suites that run in Safari and other Web browsers. Check out Google Docs on Google. To use them, visit docs.google.com and click on "Get Started". The suite can also import and export Microsoft-compatible files. At Zoho, the applications are free for individuals, but there may be a fee for businesses.