Software Choices

Software Choices

There are 2 main categories of computer software, they are:


System Software, which include: The operating system; The user interface; The utility programs & Drivers

Application Software – the everyday programs that you use such as Microsoft Office, graphics packages, web browsers etc

A software application carries out tasks that the user is interested in doing such as writing a letter, creating graphs, sending email or downloading a webpage.  žApplication software can be either general purpose software (sometime called 'off the shelf' software) or tailor made software (this is also known as bespoke software).

General purpose (off the shelf) software has its advantages:

• It is relatively cheap
• It is easily available from most computer shops
• It will have been thoroughly tested
• There will be lots of user support (user guides etc)

but there are times when off the shelf software will not just do the job and this is where bespoke software comes in

Bespoke Software is written specifically for the company and what they want it to do the advantages to this is:

• The company get exactly what they want and will work how they want it to
• The software will only have the features that they need

But the disadvantages are that it can takes a long time to develop such as system and it costs a lot of money. The company need to employ analysts/ programmers/ testers etc to ensure that the software does what the company needs it to do.


Install or Online (in the Cloud)

In recent years people have had the choice whether they want to  use software that is installed on your computer, or web hosted applications (such as Google Docs).  The increase in high speed broadband has seen many people are starting to use web hosted applications for their everyday work.  Some organisations are using them because it is less expensive than purchasing software licences.

But as you would expect there are advantages and disadvantages to using online software

Advantages:

• can save money not buying the software (some are free like Google Docs)
• if you do pay, you are only paying for what you use (if you think at school, we have paid for licences that are not getting used all the time)
• you get to use the latest version of the software
• you save space (saving your documents online)
• you can access your work anywhere (as long as you have internet access)

Disadvantages:

• You need internet access to be able to use it (if your internet went down you would be in trouble)
• It may not be as responsive as software that is on your network
• You have no control over when software updates take place
• The supplier may suddenly stop operating and this could be disastrous for you
• It may not be as feature rich as 'bought' software

Open Source Software

Open Source Software is the opposite to commercial software, in that is available for free. It is developed by programmers who are willing to share their expertise and programs with other people. There are licence conditions for you to follow when you use the software, for example you have to agree not to sell it on. If you modify the code and make it even better; you must agree to make your version ‘free’ to others also.

Advantages:

• Free to use 
• Can open most files created in other software 
• Fairly easy to use/learn 
• Can adapt it to make it suit needs 

Disadvantages:

• May not be as feature rich as commercial software 
• May not be as well supported (ie bug fixes)

SaaS - Software as a Service

Software as a Service (SaaS) is basically using cloud application software as detailed above  where the software is not installed locally on your computer; instead you are using software on the cloud. But it is often more formal - where you are actually paying for the software as you use it.  Think of it like a 'pay as you go phone'; you literally pay for the service as you use it.

The advantages and disadvantages are still the same as those detailed above.

SaaS does pose a threat to commercial software producers such as Microsoft; these companies make their money through selling software.  Some SaaS are free and are therefore pose a threat to the commercial providers.  How do they compete?

Well they have had to do something, examples are:

• They can make their products more appealing and better quality (giving the users more facilities and functions).
• They often provide the software as a 'bundle' as you buy a new computer, you also get some application software as part of the package.
• Providing support, such as technical support and help services for the user (this often makes the 'bought' application software more appealing)
• Copyrighting their software so that similar 'free' products cannot suddenly appear.