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INSIGHTS3 MIN READ

Open Source Software for Business - Whatchu talkin' about Willis?

1sourcebiz

Published on November 19, 2014

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THERE ARE OPEN SOURCE OPTIONS AVAILABLE THAT CAN HELP GET YOUR HOME-BASED BUSINESS UP AND RUNNING IN NO TIME

I have a tendency to switch operating systems often, and therefore, I have tried many different Linux distributions over the years. My first foray into the world of Linux was installing Red Hat version 3.0.3 Code Named - Picasso. Over the years, as newer variations of Red Hat, and then different forks of the Linux OS emerged, I would install and try them - always searching for my favourite Linux.

As you can see from this early version of Red Hat, one of the main features of Linux, has always been getting the software to work 'out-of-the-box' with automatic hardware detection.

Eventually hard drives got bigger and more powerful, and I was able to have two or three Linux distributions installed on one computer; and the fascination with testing new operating systems increased. If you look at the top 50 Linux and open source operating systems on the www.distrowatch.com website today, I can honestly say I've installed and tried forty of them, and some more than once as newer updated versions arrived with different features.

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SO WHAT's MY POINT? YOU ASK

Recently, I found a new distribution which I have downloaded and installed to my home computer to test out and use as the operating system for my home-based internet marketing business. Yes, most Linux distributions can be used as the backbone for a home-based business because they come equipped with all the essential business tools - internet, email, word processor, presentation software, graphic software and a spreadsheet program.

The thing that impressed me the most about SolydX and SolydK are that they were created with business in mind. The variation in names is merely a preference for the desktop look with X representing XFCE or a slimmed down desktop (lighter, faster), and K represents the KDE desktop which is a fuller and customizable desktop.

SolydK also has a back office edition available - SolydK Back Office which includes many features not often seen in general-use Linux distributions.

An Open Source Document Management System - SeedDMS / An Open Source Human Resources Management Software - OrangeHRM / An Open Source Web-based Invoicing System - SiWapp / An Open Source Content Management System - TYPO3 / and An Open Source Customer Relationship and Management System - Zurmo

Along with these additional features, SolydK BO also includes LibreOffice - An Open Source Productivity Suite / Dia - An Open Source Diagram Creation Program / and ProjectLibre - An Open Source Project Management Application.

In the coming weeks, as I use these various programs and master the applications, I'll include a review of this very interesting free and open source business software.

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