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Open Source Alternatives: Pros and Cons

Time: 10:49 EST/15:49 GMT | News Source: E-Mail | Posted By: Brian Kvalheim

"IE has vulnerabilities that cannot be ignored, but with these vulnerabilities come fixes," notes Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox. "If you fix the browser enough, it becomes more secure. So whether one is more vulnerable or not we will only see over time."

Even as such open source software developers as Sun Microsystems and OpenOffice.org wax enthusiastic concerning enterprise deployments of their respective Microsoft Office alternatives, industry analysts are urging caution. Open source alternatives only make sense "when workers are doing really simple stuff and don't actually need all the functionality of a complex software suite, such as Microsoft Office, said Gartner research analyst Mark Driver. "But all too often a lot of the more complex documents don't convert, and there are times when 98 percent compatibility is just not good enough -- so you have to be careful," Driver told NewsFactor.

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#1 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 12/29/2004 1:27:55 PM

"But all too often a lot of the more complex documents don't convert, and there are times when 98 percent compatibility is just not good enough -- so you have to be careful," Driver told NewsFactor.

Precisely what I've been saying. See how long you have a job when your brilliant recommendation to switch to OpenOffice to save a few bucks has your fellow employees doing clean-up (or at a minimum, proofing every document for conversion errors, whether there are any or not...) on every document exchanged with anyone using Microsoft Office (i.e., the rest of the world, more or less). It doesn't take that complex of a document to see the problems. Contrary to what most of the Linux and/or OpenOffice fanatics say, businesses don't use their word processors to create only the simplest of documents. Spending at least a few extra minutes on every document at the billing rate makes the extra money for MS Office seem like pennies. And that's not adding in training costs, rollout costs (MS Office has tons of support tools for rolling it out), maintenance costs (Group Policy works slick!), etc.

We went through the same thing with WordPerfect. "MS Office compatible" means little when it isn't absolutely 100% compatible, and WordPerfect's Word conversion is better than OpenOffice's. You can pick up WordPerfect--which is much better than OpenOffice's Writer (and some would say Word as well)--for very little money ($30/seat)... and yet businesses still switch from WordPerfect to Word all the time--why? Obviously the cost has nothing to do with it... it's because 99% compatible still isn't enough.

This post was edited by bluvg on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 at 13:34.

#2 By 37 (67.37.29.142) at 12/29/2004 2:22:00 PM

"Does IE even HAVE a tab interface? (I know the IE skins make the attempt) "

I just wanted to say that these IE "skins" such as Avant Browser do a MUCH better job with Tabs than does FF. To accomplish some tab features in FF it requires addition extensions, where as many of the extension features are already included in these skins.

#3 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 12/29/2004 3:21:28 PM

Definitely... a college bookstore typically does not have a need for a lot of document collaboration. Advertising, brochures, etc., on the other hand, has always been the purpose for programs such as Quark, InDesign, etc. You wouldn't want to use Word to create that material, just as you wouldn't want to use Quark for 200-page legal documents, collaboration via track changes, etc.

#4 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 12/30/2004 4:09:46 PM

Parkker... you do realize that with FF, you can open new windows as well as tabs, right? The whole comparison of tabs vs. new windows is really a non-issue. You're starting to sound like a Windows version of a Mac fanatic. :P

#5 By 37 (24.183.41.60) at 12/31/2004 8:09:04 AM

"It actually solves it much better than tabs.

In your opinion, yes. "

And in YOUR opinion, probably no. But of course that is not everyone's opinion. I too prefer the use of the taskbar for my tabs vs. tabs in the window, and it uses less real estate with IE when you used grouped taskbar tabs.

#6 By 7754 (65.27.87.2) at 12/31/2004 5:33:29 PM

Yup. I've used Tab browsing before with IE add-ons as far back as 2000 (Broadpage).

Um, that's not the point... the point is with FF, you can still use new windows, just like IE--you lose nothing in terms of the window vs. tabs argument, because you don't have to use tabs at all. That's why I'm saying, this really is not an argument point of FF vs. IE, because FF supports both metaphors. (And yes, IE supports both with add-ons, of course, but not out of the box.)

#7 By 166260 (65.39.172.203) at 11/29/2008 9:02:09 AM

I finally got tired of getting virus and adware all the time from
using different software to get my mp3s from so I started to pay for
all my music on itunes, then last week my brother in Vegas shows me a
link to this site called http://www.PayZeroMusic.com where he gets all
his stuff from daily, totally free, he is a dj and uses the site to
get all his new stuff and classics.

Ever since he showed me I have been hooked, its super fast to download
any songs or even full albums,they even have a play button beside each
song to hear it before downloading and also have an online playlist, I
loaded up my favorite 60 songs into it and now I just log in from anywhere
and play all my songs, the guys at work are totally hooked on the site
like I now am and I wanted to share the link with you all, remember it
is 100% free, nothing to ever pay for there.

http://www.PayZeroMusic.com

#8 By 166260 (65.39.172.203) at 11/29/2008 9:04:52 AM

#9 By 170323 (65.39.172.203) at 12/6/2008 5:24:48 AM

Hello All, Found this method to get free gold membership of Adult Friend Finder.
Some one told me about this. Have tested it and works. Perfectly legit way to get the gold membership.

You can see the details here
<a href=http://freeadultfriendfindergoldmembership.blogspot.com/>How To Get Adult Friend Finder Gold Membership</a>

Hope it helps you if you are looking to get one.

Take Care

#10 By 199141 (65.39.228.126) at 2/3/2009 3:12:01 PM

Hello All,
Thought i should post this as this might help someone trying to get some percent off on their purchase. I am not the inventor of this method. I saw this on one forums sticky and was very popular just see if it works out for you.
Here it is i am pasting the method below
--------------------------------------

Since several have asked me how I get my Amazon gold box quick picks to look like the image I attached I decided to post the write up that I read which shows how to manipulate whats picked for your quick picks. So here we go:

Basically your Quick Picks are your personal Amazon Deals of the Day (DotD) that have been catered to your past purchase history.

This takes a day+ to work and is definitely hit or miss on what is offered.

To see your current "Quick Picks"

* Go to hxxp://www.amazon.com/ (make sure you are signed in)
* Click on "Today's Deals" next to the gold box at the top
* Scroll down to see Your Name's Quick Picks

Now onto the 'manipulation'

Step 1:
Let's say you want an Xbox 360, what you need to do is 'fake' Amazon into thinking you own something related to it, say an Xbox 360 Controller. So search for a Controller, and then at the details page do a search for "Rate this item to improve your recommendations" and next to Rate this item click on "I own it". What this does is link it to your recommendations

Step 2:

* At the top of Amazon's page, click on "Recommendations"
* This will list everything that is recommend broken down by category.
* Remove everything not related to Xbox by clicking "Not interested" this may take quite a bit of time if you've purchased a few items from Amazon. Another quick way to remove unwanted items is to click on "Fix This" on an item and then click on "Don't use for recommendations"

Step 3: Come back the next day and see what Amazon has put in your "Quick Picks"

Yesterday I did just this, I added that I owned an Xbox 360 Controller, cleaned up my non-related recommendations and then today I was offered a Quick Pick of 5% off the Xbox 360 Arcade bundle: $265.99 vs $279.99, a savings of $14

This should work for practically anything, be it a CD, a book, or whatever, just add something that is somewhat related to what you want and chances are it might show up the next day.

Resetting Your Gold Box Quick Picks (Thanks to baboymo)

for those getting random crap in their Gold Box deals, here's a trick that will reset your picks to what you want.

1. Go to recommendations
2. Click link that says "These recommendations are based on items you own and more."
3. Click each product that you used to get items in your Gold Box.
4. Scroll down to "rate this item to improve your recommendations" and de-rate and de-own it (it will save automatically).
5. Search for a similar product and rate and own it.
6. Next day your Gold Box should be filled with what you want.

Note: It appears if you don't take advantage of the Gold Box deals, that's when you'll start to see random crap after several days. Just reset it and voila!
---------------------------------

Enjoy <IMG>http://www.sharemyphotos.info/O/K.gif</IMG>

#11 By 218086 (66.96.251.100) at 4/3/2009 10:43:23 AM

Hello,
Wanted to share this technique with everyone. As most of the online relationship websites do offer
free subscription but they are limited and you can not contact the members, the basic membership
only allows to see the profiles. In order to get into contact you need to pay to get the gold membership
so that you can communicate with the people. Some one gave me this method to get gold membership of on of
the internet largest relationship website. It is perfectly legit as the website does recommend the users
to do so.

You can see the method here <a href=http://howtogetadateonline.info>Online Dating</a>.
Thanks

#12 By 218086 (66.96.251.100) at 4/5/2009 3:18:31 PM