Open Source...What the Heck?!?!

I'll admit, I'd heard of OpenSource before but never gave much thought about it. I always thought it was the "free" version of Microsoft Office. That must mean it was crappy and didn't perform well, right? Well, I still don't consider myself an expert by any means but here is what I gather...

OpenSource is created by people not necessarily liked to computer software companies. OpenSource software may be created by numerous people. Because of this it allows for more kinks to be worked out because more people review it. OpenSource allows access to source codes that anyone can use and really doesn't cost much, if anything at all. Additionally, you have the rights to redistribute or modify the license as you see fit.

The terms free software and open source are often confused. Most people believe they are one in the same, however, according to wikipedia.org "Free software' focuses on the philosophical freedoms it gives to users and 'open source' focuses on the perceived strengths of its peer-to-peer development model." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOSS) What I believe this is saying is free software is just that; free, and while free is good, it's not great. OS believes in peer-to-peer reviewing, thus tweaking their products making them better.

I found a lot of OS licenses under categories such as education, NASA, open communities but I when I clicked on the links for the OS within these categories I really couldn't understand what exactly the programs were. So if someone reading this can explain to me how to determine what the heck I would be downloading that would be great!

In education some of the applications I use include SMART tools and SeaMonkey .
SeaMonkey is a free program that allows me to create and maintain my classroom web page. I will soon be teaching students how to create their own web pages! SMART tools I don't think is free but it was for me because I have a SMART board. I use this program daily and really can't remember my teaching life before I had it.

This is all I have for now... Till next time!

Introduction

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I'm excited to be in the "blog scene". I've had this account for a little over a year now but haven't done anything with it. I'm just not good at coming up with topics and keeping up with it, although I'd like to get better. I had the idea to create a blog for my classroom but again that didn't happen. Maybe once I get in the habit of blogging and maintaining my blog I'll finally do it.

I'm excited to get this semester going. This is my last semester and then I'm done...for now! I'm graduating this May and plan on taking some time off. Eventually I would like to earn my Doctorate but mentally I need a little time off. I'm not really in a hurry. I really don't have any plans that would use my Doctorate; it's just a personal goal I have.

The last books I read were the Twilight sagas by Stephenie Meyer. I'm shamefully in love with the books and the characters. I like to read but these were the first books that engrossed me 100%. I literally couldn't put them down. I know they are targeted toward teens but I still recommend them to anyone. Give them a try... Check out the website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilightseries.html

As you probably know the first book in the series was made into a movie. Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxjNDE2fMjI

Thanks for stopping by!