Enterprise open source Toolkit
Story: What vendors really mean by 'open source'
The big con - open source
Open source is just a step up from shareware which really never took off.
The computer industry like other industries likes to keep re-inventing itself to keep the sales cycle going. For example we are now talking about Web 2.0 and even before that gets going it will be then Web 3.0.
The poor old customer just cannot keep up never mind running their own businesses. Over the years I have seen many companies waste millions of dollars investing in the latest technology only to see it either fail or not offer any real benefits over the systems they replaced.
Now you have companies jumping on the back of ‘Open Source’ saying how wonderful it is and cost effective it can be compared to their proprietary systems. Mark Taylor says that open source removes the 'Lock' down that exists in proprietary systems. What he is not actually telling you that there is really no 'Lock' down; it is just the cost and effort to move to a new system. It would be exactly the same for a company that has been using an 'Open Source' solution for a number of years and wants to move to the greatest and latest system being sold to them.
Of course I see why Mark Taylor likes to bang the open source drum, his company is not about producing anything, but providing services on the back of other people’s efforts. I have no qualms about that, everybody is entitled to make money, except 'Proprietary' software companies.
The 'Big Con', open source is being marketed by ‘Open Source’ companies that it is better quality then proprietary software. Strange it is the same people that have been developing the proprietary software that is now developing the open source software. There are thousands of open source projects that should have never been started, the quality and fit for purpose is non-existent. Of course there are always the success stories for open source projects like Linux, GNU tools, Boost, Postges and applications such as SugarCRM.
The only companies making money out of open source (and there are many that are not) are service companies. The problem is the open source market can support so many service based companies. So if open source software is to be successful it needs money to pay for continued development and support just like proprietary software or companies using it will find them selves in the same position when developers realise that they cannot keep working for free and the open source company disappears.
As my father kept telling me as I grew up I need to get out there and get a paid job as there is no free lunch. Sooner or later open source software companies will have to do the same one way or another.
Full Talkback thread
Story: What vendors really mean by 'open source'
-
The big con - open source pjc158 -
I think you misunderstand what vendors actual... ecentric -
A play on words pjc158 -
Incorrect opnsrcguy -
Typical response embrace or di... pjc158
-
I think you miss the point dogStar
-
FYI pjc158
-
The Ratchet Effect Andrew Meredith
-
You assume too much... pjc158
-
Re: You assume too much... Andrew Meredith
-
As Victor Meldrew would say... pjc158
-
Nope .. don't see it Andrew Meredith
-
Perhaps that is... pjc158
-
Pot Kettle Andrew Meredith
-
Open source software offers re... conz
-
You make ... pjc158
-
There never is Andrew Meredith
-
pjc158, you don't understand open source troub
-
Please, please, please ZDNet ... dogStar
-
Actually Andrew Meredith
-
Re: The big con - open source Andrew Meredith
-
Not surprised by your response pjc158
-
Re: Yahh Booh Sucks Andrew Meredith
-
Once again I argue show me the... pjc158
-
Re: open source and support conz
-
Of course you will... pjc158
-
Open source a better long-term... conz
-
Only if they... pjc158
-
Ah, the Trolls have landed. Chris Rankin
-
Interesting... pjc158
-
Trying to justify monopolism dogStar
-
You think monopoly can only... pjc158
-
Re: You think monopoly can onl... Andrew Meredith
-
Get your facts right... pjc158
-
No open source company can bec... conz
-
Your response shows... pjc158
-
The GPL keeps the bastards hon... conz
-
Re: Get your facts right... Andrew Meredith
-
Oh dear... pjc158
-
Re: Oh dear... Andrew Meredith
-
Seems I have... pjc158
-
Re: Seems I have... Andrew Meredith
