Open Options | On a current desktop

Most schools use Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh desktop computers. Even without switching to Linux, such schools can run robust open source programs. These programs are easy and free to download, install, and experiment with, making them low threshold opportunities for saving money and/or serving more users.

Most of the programs described here are available through the GNU Win 2 project (http://gnuwin.epfl.ch/en), the freshmeat network (http://freshmeat.net), and the sourceforge network (http://sourceforge.net). There are also specialized education applications like core curriculum programs available through the Simple End-User Linux organization (http://www.seul.org) and the schoolforge network (http://schoolforge.net).

Productivity
Web browsing & email
Image editing
Databases
Specialized applications

Productivity

A computer with just an operating system is nearly useless. Most users want a suite of productivity software like Microsoft Office. Office is widely used and includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Most schools use Microsoft Office for productivity. OpenOffice.org is an open source productivity suite (and its Web address). Sun Microsystems originally created StarOffice to compete with Microsoft Office, then later released most of the source code as OpenOffice.org. As an alternative to Microsoft Office, this full-featured robust set of tools is rapidly growing in popularity.

Microsoft Office	OpenOffice.org
Word	Writer
Excel	Calc
PowerPoint	Impress

Table. Programs in the Microsoft and OpenOffice.org productivity suites.

As a discrete solution (e.g. a writing lab), OpenOffice.org is more than adequate. Furthermore, OpenOffice.org can open and save files in the Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt). However, its interoperability is currently imperfect (partly because the Microsoft formats are shifting standards). Users may find font or formatting mistakes in files created in Office, or have trouble opening templates. When saving and opening in its own compressed XML format, OpenOffice.org is flawless.

Screenshot: OpenOffice.org. The interface and functions are similiar to Microsoft Office. Click to enlarge (images courtesy of K12LTSP.org).

Interoperability may improve over time. Regardless, OpenOffice.org is an attractive low threshold opportunity for schools. The look and feel are similar to Microsoft Office, and current users report that students adjust quickly. Some stakeholders may be willing to migrate and even deal with minor glitches in order to have unlimted access to such essential, powerful tools. Some current users even burn copies of OpenOffice.org on CDs for staff and students to use at home.

Some educators also recommend Abi Word, an open source word processor.

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Web browsing & email

Microsoft Internet Explorer is the default Web brower for Microsoft Windows. The open source community offers comparable or possibly better browsers for Windows and Macintosh. For example, Netscape started the Mozilla project and continues to build their proprietary Netscape brower on the open source code. While most users may not see a need to replace a built-in product like Explorer, educators may want to experiment to find the best browser for their needs. Also, there are compelling reasons to prevent a virtual monopoly in the browser market.

Mozilla is an open-source web development project developing the program code using in the Mozilla Application Suite, which is a complete set of Web applications, including browser, email client, news client, chat client, game client, and other types of Web applications for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Apple Macintosh. It is a framework for building Web applications using Web standards like CSS, XML, and RDF.

Browsers based on Mozilla code, e.g. Netscape 6 and 7, Mozilla, Firefox, and Camino, are known to have very good Web standards support. Mozilla is the second largest browser family on the internet today, representing about 20 percent of the Internet community.

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Image editing

For image editing and graphic design, the open source community offers the GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). The GIMP runs on Microsoft Windows and the MacGIMP runs on Apple Macintosh. This is a popular, robust alternative to Photoshop. Since image file formats are relatively generic (.gif, .jpeg) interoperability isn't as much of a concern. Some current users praise the GIMP as a cheap way to teach design and engage students in more multimedia projects.

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Databases

The most popular open source database is MySQL. As a rapidly-maturing, enterprise-capable solution, MySQL can run on a wide variety of platforms including Microsoft Windows. There's an optional Control Center console for Windows. MySQL is used by Yahoo and Google, among others.

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Specialized applications

The open source community offers a wide variety of more specialized programs for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh. TuxType is a typing tutorial. TuxPaint is childrens' paint program. Jabber can be used for instant messaging. There are open source solutions for file compression, and for reading or even creating Acrobat PDF files. Open source programming languages and tools run on Windows or Macintosh, including Perl, PHP, Python, and Ruby.

The community understands that the majority of users still want or need Windows or Macintosh, so there are thousands of projects at sites like Sourceforge.net and GNU Win 2 that offer software for low threshold experimentation and incremental migration. Seul/Edu Application Index at http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/seulvw.pl? categorizes 23 education application topics, including core curriculum subjects and special skills and interests. There are currently 657 specialized applications organized under the 23 application areas.

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Open Options is a product of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. These materials are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. The following acknowledgment is requested on materials which are reproduced: Developed by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Portland, Oregon.

This Web site was developed and maintained by the Northwest Educational Technology Consortium. The federal funding for the regional technology consortia program ended on September 30, 2005, and no further updates are planned unless additional funding becomes available. However, much of the content is still useful and NWREL will continue to provide access to this site to support educators and to meet its own technical assistance needs.