Week 4

Week 4

1.What are main differences/distinction between system software and application software?
System software such as Windows Vista and other operating systems which control the computer and all operations with the hardware.
Application software specific software that does specific functions such as Microsoft office which are compatible with the system software and work on the operating system.

The bottom right corner is system software amongst the variations of Microsofts operating system.
http://www.topnews.in/files/Microsoft-Windows-Vista-Price-Reduction.jpg

2. What are the two main types of system software?
· System Control software: which controls hardware such as drivers
· Support/Utility software such as file manager, performance manager which provides a piece of system support for operating system.

3. What is the difference between proprietary and open source software? What considerations should be made when a business selects either software.
Proprietory software is software licensed which you cant change the source of the software. But offers support through the proprietor. For example Internet explorer.
Open source software has no license allowing you to distribute it, open and edit source code by programmers such as firefox and open office (regarded as freeware). No support offered relies on user accessing forums for assistance. For example Mozilla Firefox.
http://www.product-reviews.net/wp-content/userimages/2007/12/internet-explorer-or-firefox-what-browser-is-more-secure.jpg

4. What are some of the legal issues involved in acquiring and using software in most businesses/organizations?
If businesses are using proprietary software, license must be purchased otherwise used illegally. The software is not permitted to be distributed. Whereas open source software is freeware and permitted to be used for free and distributed how ever liked.

5. What is meant by SaaS? Name some examples of this software.
Saas (software as a service) is software whereby a proprietor licenses an application to customers for use as a service. Saas is software which runs up in the cloud. Examples include:
· Sales force-online CRM
· Microsoft live
· Google Docs
www.masternewmedia.org/images/Google-Docs-interface-at-a-glance.gif