Technology Recycling for Excellence in Education
The Seamless Software Marketplace
For some reason I've recently been finding myself in conversations about various aspects of open-source software. Not just Linux specifically, but other open-source programs and free software in general. I know that there are multiple points of view regarding free and open-source software, and there are those who are philosophically opposed to closed-source or proprietary software. While I respect that view, my own view is that there is room for a spectrum of software, software providers, and licenses in the software marketplace. When I work on a website, I appreciate the ease of use and powerful features of a program such as Dreamweaver. Not that there aren't good open-source alternatives, but Dreamweaver's stability and utility is worth enough to me in my work that I don't mind paying for it. On the other hand, when the hard drive became corrupted on my son's laptop, I was glad that I could outfit him with a Linux distro, OpenOffice, and a variety of programs at no cost. To replace everything he had lost with proprietary software would have cost more than the value of the laptop. He's doing everything he needs to with his laptop, and Dad's a hero!
Maybe I'm naive and a bit optimistic, but I would love to see a technology marketplace which offers a continuum of software options. For some environments, proprietary software may be the best choice. Its standardization, support, and off-the-shelf availability may be the best choice for environments where there is not a lot of emphasis on technology. For other applications, where costs need to be kept low or there is a strong technical support community, open-source may be a strong alternative. One emerging area for open-source technology is the fast-growing mini-laptop market. Another is the possibility of recycling millions of used computers for schools, community centers, and low-income families who need access to technology in the 21st century.
In a seamless software marketplace, users would make software decisions based on purpose and need, with many computers having a mix of purchased proprietary, free proprietary, and open-source software depending on the desired end use.
Maybe I'm naive and a bit optimistic, but I would love to see a technology marketplace which offers a continuum of software options. For some environments, proprietary software may be the best choice. Its standardization, support, and off-the-shelf availability may be the best choice for environments where there is not a lot of emphasis on technology. For other applications, where costs need to be kept low or there is a strong technical support community, open-source may be a strong alternative. One emerging area for open-source technology is the fast-growing mini-laptop market. Another is the possibility of recycling millions of used computers for schools, community centers, and low-income families who need access to technology in the 21st century.
In a seamless software marketplace, users would make software decisions based on purpose and need, with many computers having a mix of purchased proprietary, free proprietary, and open-source software depending on the desired end use.
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