Differences between version 11 and predecessor to the previous major change of SoftwareFreedomDay/MediaRelease.
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| Newer page: | version 11 | Last edited on Friday, August 11, 2006 2:45:39 pm | by IanMcDonald | Revert |
| Older page: | version 10 | Last edited on Friday, August 11, 2006 2:30:17 pm | by CraigBox | Revert |
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-* Currently twice as long as it needs to be.
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!!!Waikato Linux Users Group To Celebrate Software Freedom Day with Public Display
The Waikato Linux Users Group (WLUG), an incorporated society supporting Linux and Open Source Software in the Waikato region, is celebrating the international Software Freedom Day with a public demonstration of open source software, to be held outside Whitcoulls in Centreplace, Hamilton, from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 16th September.
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Software Freedom is about software being free in two senses - the first is that it is available free of charge and the second is that it is free to be altered (open source).
Open source software is created through the collaborative efforts of programmers from around the world, and made available at no cost. It is developed for many reasons; software authors want to scratch an itch, companies want to develop software, give it away, and charge for support, and philanthropists, who want
-The open source movement has produced a free operating system for personal computers called Linux. Linux is a free operating system for computers. It has been developed by thousands of programmers around the world, some working alone, some sponsored by large computer companies such as IBM and HP. No single company or group controls it. It prides itself on being free in both the sense of “no cost” and “freedom to modify” – anyone can download the code that builds a Linux system, review and modify it. This openness has lead to many governments and businesses choosing to run Linux instead of other operating systems. They can audit and change the software that runs on their system, and know they cannot be held to ransom if their vendor decides to stop supplying or maintaining it
.
+The open source movement has produced a free operating system for personal computers called Linux. Linux is a free operating system for computers. It has been developed by thousands of programmers around the world, some working alone, some sponsored by large computer companies such as IBM and HP.
-Because there is no one single company behind open source as a movement, support often comes from a community.
The Waikato Linux Users Group
, as the representatives of the Open Source community in the region, wish to provide support to show people the benefits of free software and to help them as they start using it.
+Because there is no one single company behind open source as a movement, support often comes from a community. The WLUG (http://wlug.org.nz)
, as the representatives of the Open Source community in the region, wish to provide support to show people the benefits of free software and to help them as they start using it.
Famous examples of open source software include Firefox, the popular web browser, and OpenOffice.org, a full office suite available for all popular computing platforms. Adventurous computer users who want to take the plunge with Linux will find their system comes with dozens of useful programs, including a full office suite, graphics editors and Internet utilities, free of charge, and hundreds more can be easily downloaded.
Computers can be configured with both Linux and their existing software co-existing, with a menu offering a selection between the two when a user turns on their computer. This way people can carefully try new software without losing their existing software.
Free software offers everyone all the tools they need to improve their computer literacy, without any upfront cost. Computers have become an integral part of society and now drive most businesses. Computer skills have therefore become essential to advancing a person's career.
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-In addition to job prospects, computer skills and online communications equip an individual with the means to a better education, online services and goods, a broader community, and to opportunities that simply may not be accessible to them in their area. The online culture does not judge people on their colour, age, sex, or beliefs, but rather on their achievements, and with the right tools, what an individual can achieve with a computer is solely limited by their imagination.
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-Unfortunately, socio-economic divisions have created a significant gap in the access to opportunities within our society. In many countries free software is being used by governments to improve access and opportunities by equipping schools with more computers and establishing community centres with free access to computers. For example, in Spain the Extremadura Government (a province in Spain) deployed enough computers to allow one computer for every two children in the public school system of that province.
Free software is particularly beneficial for the socio-economically disadvantaged, as inexpensive second-hand computer hardware is readily available, and free software gives people access to most applications they are likely to need - completely for free.
Not only is the price right but open source software is often cool - the 3D graphics today on Linux are ahead of what most other operating system vendors are planning to charge for in future releases. World leading websites such as Google and Amazon also run on Linux.
Linux for the home user is also vastly more security with the risk of viruses and spyware virtually non-existant. This in itself can save trips to the PC repair firm as most PC slowdowns are caused by problems from the Internet which are nearly all blocked by Linux.
-~[insert
a quote. Don't just attribute
a made-up one
to someone who didn't make
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+"Our last public event was
a great success and an educational experience for the WLUG, as well as the participants and resulted in many people being able to use their PCs in
a better way” says committee member Ian ~McDonald. “We look forward
to applying lessons learned last year, and making this one as good as
it can be."
For people who are interested in Free Software, but not yet ready to take the leap into running Linux, the WLUG will also have demonstrations of free software for Microsoft Windows, such as the tremendously popular Firefox web browser and OpenOffice office software.
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-The Internet has become an increasingly dangerous PC with malicious software taking over PCs and passwords for Internet banking being stolen. Firefox has lead security improvements and also made the Internet easier to use. A large part of the development has been led by an ex-patriate New Zealander Ben Goodger.
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-Many people find word processing and spreadsheet software to be expensive. OpenOffice provides functionality to match, and often exceed, other products but at no cost. OpenOffice runs on both PCs and Apple computers.
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-The Waikato Linux Users Group is an incorporated society that exists for the betterment of Linux and Free Software in the Waikato area. WLUG runs meetings on a monthly basis where a member of the LUG or an invited guest speaks on a topic of interest to members. Support and guidance is offered to anyone using Linux through the WLUG website at http://www.wlug.org.nz/, and a public mailing list. WLUG also has members who are actively writing open source software which is being used worldwide.
We are inviting media coverage of this event. For further information, contact the secretary, Craig Box, by email on secretary@wlug.org.nz or on 021 475 869.
