How To Promote And Develop Interest For Other People To Use Open Source Software???

Many users know that open source software is free. However, the use of open source among computer users is a bit less because many do not know that there are advantages in open source software other than free. Between the goodness of the users may have when using open source are:

Auditability
A rarely-understood benefit of Open Source software (any software where the source code is published) is its auditability. Closed-source software forces its users to trust the vendor when claims are made for qualities such as security, freedom from backdoors, adherence to standards and flexibility in the face of future changes. If the source code is not available those claims remain simply claims.
By publishing the source code, authors make it possible for users of the software to have confidence that there is a basis for those claims.

• Cost
Most current Open Source projects are also available free of royalties and fees, leading to the confusion around the commonly used term `free software'.

• Freedom
Freedom from a single vendor
Software vendors can go out of business, and they can arbitrarily decide to cease development of a product. How would your business cope if it relied on such a product? Open-source software allows you to retain not just the right to use the software you already have, but the ability to continue to use it as your needs change.
Freedom to modify your software
You aren't limited to what one company believes you need. Proprietary software vendors must cater for many different companies, predominantly their own. Open-source software can be tailored for the way you do business. It is usually within the resources of all but the smallest companies to modify Open Source software to suit their own needs (and potentially then to make those enhancements available as a public good).

• Support
Some software vendors produce free software, and obtain large parts of their revenue from service and support for example zope. In other situations, open-source consultants will provide training and/or support for software they recommend. However, the fundamental advantage of open-source software when it comes to support is that it's always possible to retain a company to provide support. Because the source code is freely available, organizations are not limited to obtaining support from the authors. There is no restriction on other suppliers learning enough about the software to provide adequate support whenever demand exists.

When the user is aware of the advantages found in open source, identify ways to promote open source to the computer users are also important factors. Although many know the advantages of open source but if the campaign is to use open source such as Microsoft Windows, for certain permanent use of open source can not be expanded. There are several ways that may be made to the campaign. Among them are:

1) Provide the camp, talk, or hold a special class just for open source. In this way the user will more quickly understand and learn about open source is better. In preparation for this there must be a competent trainer and expert on open source software.

2 ) Use the approach to build an interesting video for users to refer more easily. The use of animation, images, text, colors were to develop an interest and examining the user to view the video with more confidence that they can learn how to use and understand for themselves what is open source software.

3)Services to re-install or reformat the pc for free no charges. Free due to possible users interested in using open source software compared to windows.

4) Advertisement of open source software in magazines, newspapers, articles about open source in detail the meaning and use of open source is.



Reference : Discuss??