Thursday, June 28, 2007

FOSS-ed for Windows







While there is a trend in the industry moving towards GNU/Linux and Free and Open Source Software - FOSS - Microsoft Windows is still a dominating force. Many applications have been developed around it and many continue to do so. Most of this software is also proprietary and includes heavy license fees. Proprietary software may cost anything from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars for licensing fees alone. As a developing country, most individuals and even companies cannot afford such prices and resort to using illegal copies of software. Pirated software may cost only a fraction of the actual price but the implications can be far greater.

So are there viable alternatives to be used in the Windows environment? The answer is YES! Alternatives that don't have exorbitant licensing fees and will not result in intellectual property violation lawsuits being slapped against you! Alternatives that do not involve high maintenance costs either, are customisable, regularly and quickly provide security fixes in response to feedback and also have community driven support. What are these wonderful viable alternatives? It's Free and Open Source Software that run on Windows too! A large and wonderful catalog of FOSS applications exist for Windows users today. From Web browsers and mail clients to graphics software and content management systems, it's all out there ready to download and use! If you want to know more come check out FOSS-ed for Windows: THE event for all you decision makers to find out how YOU can benefit from FOSS while still continuing to use Windows.

Who should attend:
  • Enterprise Users
  • System Administrators

Objective:

  • Learn about available FOSS applications and solutions in the Windows platform

Why should you go for this?

  • Avoid penalty fees and lawsuits
  • Cost benefits : Reduce high costs involved in purchasing and maintaining commercial enterprise software
  • Customise : Tailor software to suit your specific needs
  • Security : Bug fixes are turned out regularly and quickly in response to feedback
  • Support : Large knowledge base available along with support contracts if necessary

When: 26th, 27th and 28th of June 2007

Where: 22nd Floor of the HNB Towers

Registration Fees:

Full:
Rs. 4500/= for two day conference
Rs. 1000/= for 3rd day of tutorials

Student:
Rs. 200/= for two day conference
Rs. 100/= for 3rd day of tutorials

Payment Points:

Sahana Lab, UCSC
WSO2, 7th Floor, BOC Merchant Tower, St. Michael's Road, Colombo 3

Cheques should be addressed to : Lanka Software Foundation

Agenda

Day 1

0800 – 0830 Registration
0830 – 0840 Opening Ceremony
0830 – 0900 Welcome Address Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana
Session 1: Front Office
0900 – 0945 OpenOffice

Eranga Jayasundara

Srimal Jayawardena

0945 – 1030 Adobe Photoshop Alternatives – GIMP Rajkumar Ganeshan
1030 – 1100 Break
Session 2: Security
1100 – 1145 FOSS Desktop Security Tools Suchetha Wijenayake
1145 – 1230 Server-side Security for Antivirus and Antispam Buddhika Siddhisena
1230 – 1330 Lunch
Session 3: Email and Collaboration
1330 – 1415 Thunderbird, Evolution and Firefox Mifan Careem
1415 – 1500 FOSS Messaging and Collaborative Alternatives Srimal Jayawardena
1500 – 1530 Break
Session 4: Network Services
1530 – 1615 FOSS File Server Deependra Ariyadewa
1615 – 1700 Free Instant Messaging via Jabber Suchetha Wijenayake

Day 2

0830 – 0900 Registration
0900 – 1030 Keynote – Brian Behlendorf
1030 – 1100 Break
Session 5: Databases and Content Management
1100 – 1145 MySQL and PostgreSQL Kanchana Welagedara
1145 – 1230 Content Management with Drupal Anuradha Ratnaweera
1230 – 1330 Lunch
1330 – 1415

Case Study 1: Embedded Wireless Authentication Gateway

Case Study 2: TBD

Gayan Suranga De Silva

TBD

1415 – 1500 Lightning Talks

Suchetha Wijenayake

Mifan Careem

1500 – 1530 Break
1530 – 1700

Panel – Switching to FOSS and Getting Real with IPR

Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana

Day 3

0830 – 0900 Registration
0900 – 1030

Tutorial 1 – Free Media - VLC, VirtualDub, IceCast

MPlayer

Suchetha Wijenayake
1030 – 1100 Break
1100 – 1230 Tutorial 2 – Adobe Alternatives Chamil Thanthrimudalige
1230 – 1330 Lunch
1330 – 1500 Tutorial 3 – LAMP on Windows Kanchana Welagedara
1500 – 1530 Break
1530 – 1700 The Open CD Project – An overview of what's inside Suchetha Wijenayake

For more details please check out the brochure and the poster for the event.

Platinum Sponsors
Google Logo
Gold Sponsors
Intel Logo Microsoft Logo
Silver Sponsors
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Bronze Sponsors
eBuilder Logo THINKcube Logo WSO2 Logo
T-shirt Sponsors
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Supported By
AMCHAM Logo ICTA Logo National Intellectual Property Office Logo