Why Switch to Using Free Open Source Software

For over a decade now, there has been a movement of what's call open source software. While some debate about the actual definition of the phrase, in generic terms it means software that you can download for free and use just like you would any other application without the limitations that you might be used to with paid software.

For a user, this type of software offers all sorts of advantages that you should consider taking advantage of.

First of all, the software is free to use. You can download an office suite like Open Office and use it for free on as many machines as you like. You can still use things like Word and Excel documents with a similar interface. The good part about it is that you don't have to pay any fees to download, install, or upgrade the software. Overtime this can save significant money.

You won't run into licensing issues like you do with paid software. Many times if you purchase software, you might only be able to put it on one machine or install it a certain number of times before needing to pay more money for another license. With open source software, these artificial limitations do not exist. If you buy a new computer, you can install the same programs you are used to using on the new machine without hassle or issues.

Open source software also allows you to use programs you might not be used to using and learn some new skills. You might want to learn some basic of graphic design so you can download The Gimp to play and learn with. You might not do this if you must purchase a $500 piece of software. This lets you and your kids explore with applications that you might not have otherwise been able to afford.