 "Photo: MCT Campus")
 "Photo: MCT Campus")
What is open source? Open source is a method of software design where anyone can view the 'source code' and potentially contribute until a final product is created. The open source software movement today is growing by leaps and bounds. From the early days of the Linux operating system, to gaining the support of IBM and Sun Microsystems, through the recent developments coming from Google, open source is now a truly self-sufficient software ecosystem.
And the best part about it is that most of the software is free. Check out www.openoffice.org for a free office suite.
Google's open source 'Android' phone arrives
The first Android-based cell phone hit T-mobile.com virtual shelves last Tuesday. The G1 was developed with the help of Google, Inc. and features a 480-by-320 touch screen, which slides up to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. It operates on simple and customizable system that promises to support a coming wave of open source applications. The G1 is currently sold out, but should hit T-Mobile store shelves on Oct. 22. Customers can expect to pay $179 for the phone with a two-year contract.
Dell introduces Mini 9 Notebook, available with Linux
Dell joined the mini notebook or 'netbook' craze this month when the company began selling the sleek INSPIRON Mini 9. This machine comes with an 8.9 inch LCD panel and is remarkably affordable with a starting cost of $349. The Mini 9 sports a built-in webcam, a 1024-by-600 resolution, a flash-memory hard drive and is available with a Linux or Windows operating system.
Google's open source Chrome browser
In other open source news, Google, Inc. began offering its free Chrome web browser this month. Chrome makes it easy to search on Google by integrating search tool into the Internet address space. The software also remembers your most frequently visited sites and displays thumbnails of them on startup for quick access.
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