Many people are not aware of the Microsoft alternatives available today that could save you money and increase personal and business productivity at the same time.
There is no doubt Microsoft has held a prominent place in the personal computer market. During the Personal Computer pioneer days, they were obviously the leader in technology. That same leadership provided a spring board to what we see today - Microsoft became the personal computer De facto standard by which all operating systems were measured.
Microsoft has been a significant contributor, but we also need to embrace and support the Open Source model. This is a model that includes the concept of concurrent yet different agendas and differing approaches in production. This Open Source Software is simply a consortium or offshoot of the main body, consisting of a community of talented individuals dedicated to providing quality technology to anyone that wants it.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am a huge advocate and proponent of the free market. But I'm also a realist and pragmatist. You can simply type in "Open Office" into Google and download a full productivity suite that is comparable to many applications on the market. Considering Open Source offers free downloads of comparable products, why not consider using the alternatives?
Open Source is responsible for delivering great Operating Systems including the tried and true Linux, the Unix-based operating system that again is a very stable operating system with stellar security. Open Office again, is an application and free alternative to Microsoft Office. Other fantastic products include WordPress, Joomla, Drupal web applications - all open and available to the public. Simply download them and start using!
I would be amiss if I didn't offer up to you the downside of open operating systems such as Linux. One biggie is a byproduct of the Microsoft dominance by default. That is, because the majority of computers users have Microsoft Windows OS loaded on their PC by default, their development community is much stronger. Therefore, the applications that run on Windows, may not run on Linux or other Open Source operating systems. This drawback can range from an annoyance to a show-stopper.
In summary, Open Source provides Microsoft alternatives that could suit your business needs at significant cost savings.
About this Author
Small business owners can look to Open Source for Microsoft alternatives to save money and maintain productivity standards.
Dan DeRoeck is an SEO and Internet Marketer that specializes in Local Search Marketing.
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