This document summarizes cost effective open source alternatives to popular business productivity programs. It discusses Thunderbird as an alternative to Outlook for email and calendar functions. It also discusses OpenOffice/LibreOffice as alternatives to Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Finally, it discusses free and open source design programs like GIMP, Inkscape, and Scribus that can replace paid programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The document emphasizes that these open source alternatives are free to use and can provide significant cost savings compared to paid productivity software subscriptions.

1. Cost Effective Alternatives
to Business Productivity Programs
May 17, 2012

2. Sub-Committee
Chamber Member Companies working together to bring you
the information on the technological topics that interest you
and can benefit your business!
Andy Kastrup, ProTronics Technologies, Inc.
Art Zemon, Hen’s Teeth Network
Beth Richter, ProTronics Technologies, Inc.
Jeff Arneson, JLJ Technology
John Coleman, Socket
Ken Tucker, ChangeScape, Inc., Co-Chair
Mark Peimann, EPC Computers, Co-Chair
Randy Downs, JLJ Technology, Archiving Valuable Assets

3. Facebook Events Check-in

4. Open Source Alternatives
WORK-ALIKE options, not look-alike
 Options for Office, including an Outlook
alternative
 Options for more specialized packages too
 Design Applications
Will all run on Windows, Mac & Linux

5. Email
 Look at how you can do everything with
Thunderbird
 compose and send
 receive and read email
 folders (remote and local)
 great searching/filtering
 multiple accounts/personalities
 works with any IMAP email server so same
messages visible in Thunderbird, on web, and on
mobile devices

6. Calendar
 Look at how the calendar is integrated into
Thunderbird
 Normal calendar functions
 Shared calendars work (demo with Art's & Candy's
calendars)
 Google Calendar backend for this demo. Could also
be a Microsoft Exchange Server or any of several
other possibilities
 works with pretty much any backend so same
calendars visible in Thunderbird, on web, and on
mobile devices

7. OpenOffice & LibreOffice
 Why 2 names?
 File Formats
 Export to PDF

8. OpenOffice & LibreOffice
 Quick look at the programs
 Word Processor
 Spreadsheet
 Drawing
 Presentation

9. Open Source Design Applications
 Gimp
 Inkscape
 Scribus

10. Open Source Design Applications
 Gimp
 Photo Editing Application
 Alternative for Photoshop
http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

11. Open Source Design Applications
 Resolution Example

12. Open Source Design Applications
 Inkscape
 Vector Based Program
 Alternative for Adobe Illustrator
 Will open & edit PDF files
http://inkscape.org/download/

13. Open Source Design Applications
 Scribus
 Frame Based Design Layout Application
 Alternative for Microsoft Publisher or
Adobe InDesign
 Export to PDF
http://wiki.scribus.net/canvas/Download

14. Cost Comparison
 All products discussed today were FREE
alternatives
 Purchased price of comparison products
 Microsoft $350 - $ 500
 Adobe $ 600 - $ 2000

15. Cost Comparison
 Other costs
 Retraining
 learning curve similar to switching from Office 2003 to
Office 2007
 Support
 narrower field of Tech help to choose from in person,
however, the
 online communities and forums are very helpful &
supportive (and often free advice)
 Main Cost Savings: Do It Yourself approach

16. Upcoming Events
After Hours
Thursday, May 24 5-7 pm
Sponsored by the subcommittee companies
Uncle Joe’s Bar & Grill – 204 N Main St. – St. Charles
Linux Install Party
Wednesday, May 30 3-5pm
City-County Library – Spencer Rd Branch, Rm 112
Next Month’s TechComm
Online Collaboration & CarTech

17. May 17, 2012
Cost Effective Alternatives
to Business Productivity Programs
Presented by:
Art Zemon Paul Barthel
In coordination with:
Mark Peimann Randy Downs Andy Kastrup
Ken Tucker Jeff Arneson Beth Richter
Please fill out your survey & drop it in the box before you leave