Task 16 Open Source Software & Open Office

Task 16 Open Source Software & Open Office


I read the definition of Open Source from the "Open Source Initiative". I downloaded Open Office to a staff computer.

I think Open Office is very similar to using MicroSoft Office 2007 as far as the amenities it offers, and I actually think that it is easier to use. The tool bar and icons seem to me, better named which offers me better understanding. I tried all the elements and found them easy to use.

I created a Text Document and found that it works much like Microsoft Word. The document could be saved to files and printed. I found that I could save the document to My Network Places just like Microsoft Office 2007. This is pretty impressive considering that '07 is not even compatible with '03. Also, the databases are all listed with icons on an index. No hunting through the programs to find the Word and Excel and Publisher as in Microsoft.

After using the Text Doc, I used the Presentation. This is set up with Formats, Graphs and Tables all at your fingertips. Database allows you to create a new database in a way that seems to be fairly easy. Templates is set up well with samples geared to business or private. Open Document was easy as pie. I was able to open a document from my network places that I had written in April of 2008. Spread Sheet looks just like Excel and can be saved in My Network Places. Drawing is like Publisher. I haven't had much practice in Publisher, but the Drawing offers lots of capabilities from: Paintbrush, Hyperlink, Draw, Find and Replace, Backround Colors, and Pictures. Drawing is one place I would like to have more experience using.

As far as the ways of use and promotion of Open Software that would be useful to serving our patrons and our profession, first and foremost is that it can be a real boon to keeping expenses down for anyone who needs software. The very philosophy of Libraries is that of shared resources so that many people can benefit by shared resources. This applies from books to media to computers, to software. For instance, Microsoft Office 2007 Software is pretty expensive for an individual to buy for his own use. The Open Source sure seems to me to do everything the average person could want to do for free!




""Twas brillig, and the slithy toves"...