| Is open source the right option for your
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| | developed it owns the software, and you
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| online training, teaching, or learning
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| | just purchase rights to use it.
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| efforts? This articles compares the
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| | The main difference between commercial
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| difference between open source and
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| | support for proprietary software and
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| proprietary software. Open source
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| | commercial support for open source
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| software has become mainstream.
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| | software is that the proprietary software
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| Applications such as the Firefox Web
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| | is obligatory and the open source
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| browser and Linux operating system are
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| | software is optional. If you opt out of
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| available to aid in all areas of
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| | paying for support for proprietary
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| operation, including teaching and
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| | software, you lose the right to use it in
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| learning.
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| | most cases. The costs incidentally tend
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| Open source software has become a strong
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| | to be quite high for proprietary
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| contender in online training and
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| | software.
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| e-learning sectors. As technology
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| | Perceived advantages of proprietary
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| continues to evolve, more open source
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| | software include: 1) Reliable,
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| offerings will continue to emerge in the
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| | professional support and training
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| area of e-learning, continuously changing
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| | available; 2) Packaged, comprehensive,
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| the landscape of online teaching and
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| | modular formats; and 3) Regularly and
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| learning both in academia and business
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| | easily updated. The downside however is
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| fields.
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| | that it is: 1) Costly, and 2) has closed
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| Open source software has grown to
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| | standards that hinder further
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| include:
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| | development.
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| Learning management systems (LMS)
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| | Open sources software has the advantage
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| Learning content management systems
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| | of: 1) Low cost and no license fees; 2)
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| (LCMS)
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| | Open standards that facilitate
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| Course authoring tools
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| | integration with other systems; and 3) it
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| Tools to create media elements such as
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| | is easily customizable. The down side is:
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| animations, audio, and video
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| | 1) Lack of professional support; 2)
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| Browsers and players to present content
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| | Evolving developer communities; 3) Lack
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| Courseware libraries
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| | of release co-ordination; and 4) Erratic
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| These resources has some important
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| | updates. However, with such a large
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| benefits:
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| | development and user-base, many
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| Open source software is free to download
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| | discussion forums and help sites are
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| therefore lower in cost.
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| | available for users.
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| Flexibility and customizability
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| | So what is the right solution for you and
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| Extensive active builder and user
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| | your organization? Generally, for smaller
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| communities that forms a good technical
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| | organizations and projects, Open source
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| support base.
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| | solutions seem to suffice. The difference
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| Many open source applications run on
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| | in cost more than makes up for the
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| multiple platforms including Windows and
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| | perceived disadvantages mentioned above.
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| Linux.
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| | Larger organizations seem to require more
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| Adherence to established standards, which
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| | robust, high-quality product with high
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| is a high priority for open source
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| | levels of service and support.
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| software development.
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| | They want responsibility, reliable
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| Ability to use and link to other open
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| | assistance, and support from their
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| source software
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| | suppliers. With rapid developments in
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| Most proprietary software comes without
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| | technology, chances are you can find
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| the source code, which is the code
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| | tools to meet your training needs in
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| originally written by the programmer.
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| | either the open source or commercial
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| Without this code you do not have right
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| | sector. But open source provides unique
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| to change the way the software is
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| | advantages which include filling the
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| developed. When you buy proprietary
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| | low-cost high-control niche that are
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| software you are essentially buying the
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| | difficult, if not impossible, to achieve
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| right to use the software in a specific
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| | through commercial, proprietary avenues.
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| way, and in many cases the company that
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