As with the real world the digital world is an ever changing and evolving environment. Here at BiglakeIT we embrace the idea that information should be easily and openly available. There is another side of survival that we have not touched on too much and that is surviving in the digital world. If the big software companies have their way (and they are getting close to this) they would lock you into a monthly fee just like the cable companies do.
Locked In the Digital World
I am sure that many of you are already locked in whether you know it or not. With Software as a Service(SAS) companies write proprietary or closed software. By doing this they pull you in and and try to lock you down so that you will be paying them monthly. Not all of this is bad. There is some really good closed software out there that many people find extremely useful.
The bigger question out there to ask – Is there a better way? We say yes there is! We are going to show you what the alternatives are and how you can use them to break free of the proprietary lock down. It is not too late to break free. As with cable many people are cutting to cord there are ways to cut the cord in the software world as well.
In 1983 the free software movement was begun. This took place very early it the Personal Computer revolution. In 1998 advocates proposed a change from using the word Free to using Open Source. This was done to differentiate the idea they were putting forth from this just being free software. If you would like to read more about the Open Source Initiative take a look at the Open Source Software page on Wikipedia
Some of the main benefits that Open Source Software offers:
- Security
- Affordability
- Transparency
- Perpetuity
- Interoperability
- Flexibility
Open source software may not fit every need that you may have. In a business environment you maybe be tied into some proprietary software. We are going to show you that there are other options out there and that you do not have to be tied to proprietary software if you don’t want to be.
Time to Break Windows Iron Grip
Open Source software covers every avenue that proprietary software does. The biggest piece of proprietary software out there almost every one has used. It is the one that more than likely runs the computer that you are using. With Windows Microsoft has had an iron grip on your computer. For most people the cost of windows is built into the computer that you buy so they don’t actually see how much windows adds to the cost of their computer. You don’t have to stick with windows and you can get a computer with out an operating system on it. Linux is out there being developed free and open source.
Open source software is everywhere. There are office applications email clients free web browsers media players there is an alternative for for almost every piece of proprietary software out there. It is really up to you. As with anything Open Source software costs money to make it. Many of the projects operate on donations. Most also encourage the people that use it to contribute to the project. This leads to software that does what you want and the price is right.
Richard Stallman who started the GNU project in 1983 says “Open source is a development methodology; free software is a social movement.” We will show you the options it is then up to you to decide what you want to do.
Where We go Now
This site it going to be about the digital world and how we use it. We will cover Business, Technology, Software and how we use the technology around us. Hopefully we will be able to make you think. Give you some information you do not have. Ideas that can help you and provoke some discussion.
If you have any questions comments or something you would like to see a post on you get get in touch with us here Contact BiglakeIT