Louise von Randow made brief comment about the recent NZ Herald headline of Microsoft insisting that instances of MS Office be uninstalled from hundreds of New Zealand school computers because of outstanding license fees.
The spokesperson for the schools clearly has little motivation to see the bigger picture and more carefully consider free and open source software. Instead of being defiant towards Microsoft and announcing contingency plans for the staged uptake of open source software…
Mr Le Sueur said NeoOffice was littered with problems, and its website warned that users could expect lots of bugs.
And the Herald reporter didn’t see any need to go further into such an investigation and instead focused on the Ministry’s stance:
“The ministry could not justify the extra $2.7 million being given to Microsoft for software that would not be used,” said Mr Maharey.
So, how much does New Zealand education spend on license fees for software? Are there alternatives? Yes! how much would New Zealand education save if just 1/3 of the computers used free and open source? A quick look at the Openoffice website suggests that OpenOffice is available for the Macintosh Operating System.. but how much does that operating system cost us and who much does it limit us?
I’m no open source zealot, but I recognise the need for better awareness of free and open source software in Australia and New Zealand. I recognise the obscene amounts of money shipping out of Australia and New Zealand for software alone, and I’d like to see our local IT capabilities improved through participation in open source projects. But I use what’s available to me, and that is mostly determined by:
- Free
- Easy to use
- Web-based
- Open source
and in that order.
I haven’t needed to spend money on software since… well ever! Where I used to rely on pirate software, starting my own business raised my concerns of such legal liability, so I started looking for legally free, easy to use and if possible open source – not because I wanted to be able to code (but it is great to have that option should I want to some time), but because I’m inspired by the development model and would like to support it in some small way. I’m still on that path to full independence and it is very rewarding and empowering to be free of software license concerns, and the crippling legal restraints.
Here’s my list of software I use everyday:
- Ubuntu Operating system – though still learning. Free, easy if you keep it simple, and open source.
- Firefox web broswer. Free, easy and open source
- OpenOffice full office suite. Free, easy (very similar to MSOffice) and open source
- Audacity audio editor. Free, easy and open source
- Camstudio screen recorder. Free, easy and open source
- WordPress blogging. Free, easy, web based, and open source
- Wikipedia. Free, easy, web based and open source
- GIMP – image editor. Free, as easy and as good as photoshop, open source
- Picasa image editor. Free, so easy it’s a joy
- Skype telephone. Free, easy
Actually I use a whole bunch more. Sadly, video editing and flash animation continue to evade being made free and open source. There are options – Blender possibly being one, but I continue to rely of Microsoft’s free (for Windows users) Movie Maker for video and Macintosh’ iMovie. The point I want to make is that by my estimates I have saved myself at least $1000 per computer with my software preferences and have more capability than your average and basic Microsoft, Adobe and Macintosh user.. I can sit down at ANY computer and start work on just about anything without relying on pirate software, out of date software, or pricey software.
Here are more good reasons why New Zealand should tell the likes of Microsoft to stick it.
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14 comments
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June 3, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Sean FitzGerald
I know you use Gmail, so I’ll make the plug for Thunderbird, Mozilla’s email client. It’s good, and getting better with each release.
And just in case anyone tries to point out that some of the apps you mentioned aren’t web-based, so can’t be used on any computer as you claim, it’s worth mentioning http://portableapps.com/ where you can get versions of OpenOffice, Audacity and the Gimp that run on a USB thumb drive.
June 4, 2007 at 12:44 am
Wayne Mackintosh
Hi Leigh,
The Commonwealth of Learning is currently developing the Commonwealth Computer Navigator’s Certificate (CCNC) on WikiEducator. These are free content materials that will provide training in the use of free software. See: http://www.col.org/colweb/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/docs/CCNC_brochure_WEB.pdf
Education institutions in New Zealand that may be thinking about migrating to open source software solutions – will have free content training materials to support them.
Tertiary education institutions in New Zealand and elsewhere, will also be able to present the certificate programme. The CCNC is based on the International Computer Driver’s License – and I understand that the NZQA have unit standards for this certification.
Chat to you soon.
Wayne
June 4, 2007 at 1:01 am
daveb
“I’m no open source zealot” now THAT is disingenuous Leigh!
I have never ever Ever heard you promote a commercial product in preference to a free and preferably online product – regardless of the quality difference. And I’ve often heard you promote the reverse even when the difference in functionality is incredible and in the favor of the commercial product.
You *do* seem to be more aware of the difference between cost-free and Open Source software.
Skype BTW is not always cost-free.
Also – calling something “as easy as photoshop” is interesting.
On the school issue. You should keep in mind that schools are definitely not “loyal” to any software firm (ask Apple about that!!) If they continue with a product that costs them money, which they would dearly love to spend elsewhere, then there WILL be a reason. One which they believe is substantial. Schools are frugal by necessity and DO explore options such as open source. There would be few principals out there who are ignorant of open source software.
June 4, 2007 at 3:53 am
albert ip
I believe here is a good “change agent”. NZ schools and officials should use this opportunity to switch to open source software, including the operating system if brave enough.
June 4, 2007 at 4:58 am
daveb
albert ip: the point I was kinda getting at is “why?”
cheaper yeah … but if that’s the only reason then there may well be reasons why not to. Not everyone wants O.S. for the sake of O.S. of just because it’s cheap.
June 4, 2007 at 8:15 am
bronwyn
brazil have the inteligence to go with open source software nationwide so why doesn’t NZ? we are a small country with a proportion of the population of other western biggies yet we are always trying to stay with them on everything. Sure purchase proprietary products if we can afford it because it is better…but wouldn’t we be better, spending the money we now spend on licences, building the capability of our software developers as they work with open source products to fit them to our needs rather than us always fitting to the specifications of the software.
we stood firm on nuclear power so lets stand firm on technology solutions which would empower us. you have probably seen the report on Wired about Brazil and open source http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/news/2003/11/61257
“Silva’s top technology officer wants to transform the land of samba and Carnival into a tech-savvy nation where everyone from schoolchildren to government bureaucrats uses open-source software instead of costly Windows products….Paying software licensing fees to companies like Microsoft is simply “unsustainable economically”
We could also be sustainable.
Bron
June 4, 2007 at 8:19 am
bronwyn
the idea of using open source software as a way for governments to save lots of money has been around for a long time as this 2001 article illustrates. are we slow or what?! http://news.com.com/2100-1001-272299.html
June 4, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Wayne Mackintosh
As an individual – you’ve the freedom to use free software. My view is to go for it. Encourage learners to install free software and build you activities based on free software .
Have fun.
Wayne
June 4, 2007 at 8:39 pm
leighblackall
Do we Wayne?
I use free and open source at work as an individual preference, but face trouble with interoperability nearly all the time.. not because of my choice in software (though many see it that way) but because most colleagues don’t know about he issue, don’t concerns themselves with best practice for accessibility, and author grand word docs and powerpoints with all the bells and whistles that end up only be openable in Microsoft.
So, along with the freedom to use free and open source should come the awareness of others of open standard formats, interoperability and accessibility… and with that, I hope the prop’ heads come to see the market cornering and lock in development model of their choice in software.
June 4, 2007 at 8:39 pm
daveb
So why is Brazil an exception? Why are businesses not improving their bottom line the world over by going OSS? It’s not because the world loves paying for software – there must be reasons.
NZ has a very very good history of software development. But when it gets down to it we can’t meet our demands for the existing needs (there’s DoL data for you if you want). It’s not as if we have a surplus of developers already. Even if we wanted to develop everything ourselves we couldn’t even begin (and before you quote the millions of OSS developers helping us – remember that our current state already relies on them). Going completely open source just isn’t viable.
There are very good OSS examples – but when it gets down to it the Total Cost of Ownership often drives companies to proprietary software. You do *not* necessarily save money with OSS.
Having said that – there are exceptions which are examples of great OSS. Apache web server is brilliant. Many (most?) top line security and networking tools are open source. Altho – in that field there is a definite tendency for the license to change to proprietary after a while. When there’s a decent product then for goodness sake use it.
But, in NZ we are not slow – we’re just not dumb enough to go where there are extremely few successful case studies (some do exist) and many many unsuccessful ones.
Sustainability is more than just cutting your purchase costs.
June 4, 2007 at 10:45 pm
leighblackall
Its a tired debate, not at all helped by the different perspectives.. server software / desktop software. I have no experience with server software. I am talking always about desktop.
No one is saying total FOSS!
I say 1/3 Desktop FOSS in our educational institutions.
I say everyone in NZ should be aware of desktop FOSS alternatives AND be taught how to use them.
Following are references from this article:
The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) which found that schools using FOSS spent between 20-60 percent less on ICTs than non-FOSS-using schools (BECTA 2005:4)
‘…the use of open source software across Australian schools and sectors tends to be idiosyncratic and piecemeal rather than coordinated’ (Moyle 2003:30).
The decision to use Linux and OSS saved the Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training $1M in the first year, and allowed it to put 1000 more workstations into schools (OSIA 2004:para. 1).
Schools around Australia and New Zealand are experimenting with and deploying open source software in a range of different ways. Although there are no formal measures available, it seems from anecdotal evidence that this use is growing (Moyle 2004:14).
Case studies of educational organisations in other countries that have attempted to migrate from proprietary to FOSS desktops have strongly indicated that there are substantial challenges – mostly to do with staff and older students being accustomed to the proprietary desktop setup supported by community tolerance for pirated software (Reijswoud and Mulo, 2004).
Dave, can you tell me how much New Zealand spends on Microsoft, Apple and Adobe per year? I’d love to know?
While the cost “debate” is such a shallow way to look at FOSS, it is one that I am not satisfied is being debated fairly. “Total cost of ownership”.. what is that? Sounds like “industry standard”. Aren’t you washing the issue with server software when NZ schools issue here is desktop? Are you taking into account lock in hangovers? are you factoring increased efficiency through open standards? …
June 5, 2007 at 3:18 am
daveb
I only mentioned server because that’s where the *GOOD* OSS lies. You have to go there to find real success stories and top of line quality software. I’ve been saying for years that OSS is almost (but not quite) ready for the desktop. I can’t think of a single desktop example of an OSS which leads the field. Maybe firefox.
I don’t know or care about the total $$ cost of proprietary software to schools. I believe that every cent that is spent on Adobe and MS is totally worth it. In primary school maybe not so much. In secondary – especially when you’re looking at TIMS etc then absolutely it’s worth the money.
TCO is a well understood term when it comes to valuing the ownership of software and hardware. You can’t ignore or scoff at it, and you certainly can’t consider options without considering the entire cost of ownership. The upfront cost is far from the total story.
As for lockin hangovers – they are a myth. In the 90’s schools were mostly MAC. Now they are mostly PC & windows. Tomorrow they could be linux – but I doubt it. There is no lock in at the desktop.
I used to say that wordperfect could never be replaced due to lock-in and look what happened. OSS advocates like to claim that people don’t go “free” because they are enslaved to MS. But there’s loads of examples where the dominant player has been toppled by a better product. OSS doesn’t dominate the desktop because it’s just not as good.
But lets return to the original point. Have you EVER recommended a proprietary software when there was an existing cost free but less suitable option?
June 5, 2007 at 8:28 pm
leighblackall
Well, no.. I don’t think so. And for good reason. I come from teaching in the ACE sector… (Adult and Community Education). I also used to teach in the Web Design Faculty at TAFE Western Sydney. In both cases I met students and teachers who were not aware of free (and open source) software options. They ran pirate versions of what their educational institution recommended, or they folked out the money to have MS Office, Photoshop, etc. Most just pirated.
I started showing people Open Office after Microsoft arranged for an email to be sent to all staff explaining that home copies of the MS software were no longer allowed for staff and that they would have to buy it.. People were mighty impressed with Open Office’s ability to export to PDF and SWF – at the time it was difficult to get MS Office to do it – and were surprised at how similar the basic interface of Open Office was to MS.
The lock in began when trying to open MS Office documents with specific MS format features. People unaware of open format standards and the need to create and save documents that are as independent of a specific software platform as possible did not walk the halls. And so people started seeing Open Office as inferior and not looking at the situation more critically.
As you point out, preferred software can and does change. So we need documents that are as “future proof” as possible. Not documents that can no longer open in the next installment of Microsoft, or that can’t be used by people who CHOOSE other software. Accessibility should be seen as best practice in the public sector at least. Ask a librarian.
The reason I don’t recommend commercial software as a first port of call is so people are aware of the cost free options first, and then, if they need more advanced software they can go there. Most never need more advanced software and as a result, get to know something that they are free to copy, install on any computer and hand out to students freely. People who go straight into commercial software tend to never know about the free alternatives and so when a student or friend asks them for a copy (and ability) to do what they do, have to say, “sorry, I’d give you a copy but that would be piracy”.
There are some commercial options I recommend. Mostly in the absence of FOSS that is anywhere near usable.
iMovie and Windows Movie Maker are examples of simple video editors. There still is not a good FOSS option. Premier and Avid for more advanced needs.
Flash is still the only option for.. well.. Flash.. I started looking at SVG but it had no where near the functionality of Flash.
Apart from that, if there is a free alternative that is near good enough (or even better in many instances) then of course I recommend it – and teach it. If not for individual freedom and choice, then to help the organisation think of how and where it could save money.
June 19, 2007 at 2:26 am
Mike Riversdale
Online video editing, it’s getting there:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/video_editing_20_8_ways_to_remix_videos.php
Not sure how much is “free” …