Open SUNY

[Draft]

Free and Viable
In most circumstances, open source software is free.  It’s also a viable alternative.  Open source software has reached a point such that for the average computer user, there are free open source alternatives to just about everything they would want to do.

This should be particularly compelling for small state schools. The cost savings by switching to open-source software are not trivial, especially when you factor in some unexpected ways in which open-source software can save additional money.

Shared Knowledge
Academics should be particularly interested in the idea that knowledge should be shared and built upon. Open source software enables anyone to build on the work of previous coders.

Your Information Is Your Information
Open source software saves files in open formats. For example the extension .doc is a proprietary format that Microsoft owns. The open alternative is the open document format .odf - If your files are saved in an open format, you will always be able to access those files.

Environmental Reasons
There are (at least) two ways in which open-source software (Linux in particular) can positively impact the environment. Studies suggest that Linux servers consume less power (in some cases up to 12%). A recent UK Government study concludes that Linux can double server life, reducing the amount of computers the end up in landfills each year by up to 50%.  For a small state school, this could translate to huge cost savings. Check out - 10 Ways Linux

Access for the Poor
Linux makes one of the most important sets of tools for getting an education and participating in the market place of ideas much more affordable. Supporting Linux helps realize this even more. The industrialized world has been utilizing a proprietary set of tools, and it creates obstacles for those that do not have the means to purchase those tools. It seems odd to continue using those tools that bars many from participation when there are free, viable alternatives. Check out One Laptop Per Child and this article - “How Linux Can Help Reduce Poverty

[This list will grow, and be revised once more contributors sign in and give me their feedback. I just wanted to post some initial thougts so that something was here for the launch of the site. There are also potential concerns that one might raise. These will eventually be addressed on this page.]