Cut Your IT Costs With Open Source Software
By Richard Abbott
The open source movement gains new converts every day.
Everyone is sick and tired of paying for new software
each and every time they buy a new computer. There
was a time when open source software, especially Linux,
was cumbersome and generally inaccessible for non-nerds.
Those days are long gone. My grandmother now uses Linux,
and she didn’t pick up a mouse until she was
in her nineties. There is no reason why any law office
cannot also make the switch.
I cannot explain every feature and possible problem
associated with each program mentioned here, but I can
tell you that I use them every day and they all work.
If you have questions or problems check the websites.
Each has a forum full of people ready to help newcomers.
Open source software packages may not be as shiny as
their commercial counterparts, but the increased usability
more than makes up for the lack of eye candy. And when
I say free, I don’t mean just “free to try.” Open
source is not shareware. The downloads are free. The
install and use is free. There are no adds. There is
no spyware. There is no registration form or survey to
take. This is an actual free lunch. The people who develop
this stuff want you to go out and use it. If you are
at a small firm trying to scrape the money together to
buy new computers, then you need this software.
OpenOffice
http://www.openoffice.org (~130mb
download)
OpenOffice is the open source community’s answer
to MSOffice. OpenOffice handles any document format you
will ever run into. Word processing, spreadsheets, databases,
presentations, authoring .pdfs for electronic filing,
spellcheck: it’s all in there. It works, and it’s free.
Truecrypt
http://www.truecrypt.org/ (3mb
download)
Need to secure your electronic client files? Truecrypt
is arguably the most powerful file encryption scheme
available to the general public and is a regular thorn
in the side of law enforcement. Truecrypt protects files
by placing them into encrypted containers sealed by whatever
combination of passwords and/or keyfiles you choose.
These encrypted containers are then “mounted” and
appear as a new drive attached to your computer. If you
are using Windows, Truecrypt can also encrypt your entire
drive. That means when your laptop goes missing, you
won’t have to worry about any data falling into
the wrong hands. Most importantly, Truecrypt is free.
Inkscape
http://www.inkscape.org/ (34mb
download)
Need to put together a diagram or flow chart? Inkscape
is a vector graphics editor comparable to Adobe’s
Illustrator. Instead of painting pictures, vector graphics
editors are essentially 2d CAD programs that draw and
manipulate objects rather than pixels. Complex diagrams
remain easy to edit as each object is handled separately
within the larger picture. Whole diagrams or individual
objects can be altered, deleted, or scaled without the
blurry edges associated with manipulating .jpeg images.
Inkscape is also free.
Ubuntu Linux
http://www.ubuntu.com/ (700mb
download)
Do not replace that old computer because it take too
long to boot up/shut down. Download and burn the Ubuntu
iso file. Place the CD in your CD/DVD drive and reboot
the computer. The computer will boot from the CD and
let you test-drive Ubuntu without making any changes.
If you like Ubuntu, you can then install it permanently.
If you don’t, shut down, remove the CD, and restart.
No changes will have been made, and you can go back to
your old operating system. Chances are that your computer
will run Ubuntu faster than it ever ran Windows, but
the benefits don’t stop there. Linux is inherently
virus-resistant, so you won’t have to keep paying
for antivirus protections. The most amazing aspect of
Ubuntu is the vast repository of open source applications
ready for install. Simply pick the program you want from
the list, and Ubuntu will handle the download and install.
There are no serial numbers or other DRM headaches. Choosing
Linux is a big step, but it’s a cheap one. You
owe it to yourself to give it a try before spending good
money on a new copy of Vista. Ubuntu is and will always
be completely free.
Software Costs To Equip a New Computer
- Windows Vista business Edition: $299.95
- MSOffice Professional (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint):
$499.95
- Bit Defender (Antivirus + File Encryption): $49.95
- Adobe Illustrator: $599.00
- Total: $1448.85
- Costs for open source alternatives: $0, nothing,
nadda, zilch—Free.
Richard Abbott is an Oregon attorney and IT privacy consultant. Specializing in countersurveillance, Richard works with businesses and individuals trying to safeguard data from threats ranging from wiretaps to hardware theft. Richard is also a staunch supporter of Free/Open Source Software (F/OSS). He can be reached at Rabbit@shaw.ca or OregonRabbit@hushmail.com.
© Copyright 2009, American
Bar Association.
