Viva La Open-Source

Open-source software has been become very controversial topic recent, ever since SCO challenged the Intellectual Properties (IP) rights of Linux. It appears that SCO is trying to use FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt), to try to prevent companies from adapting Linux. Microsoft (and other companies), are trying to this leverage controversial situation to try to promote their products.

Microsoft is trying to fight a difficult battle against Linux, they have to convince people to adapt their technology and that it is worth spend thousand or millions of dollars to license it. While Linux community gives away their software to everyone who want to use it. Microsoft is trying to leverage the FUD that SCO is generating to win the hearts of the IT managers that fatten their coffers. Microsoft is afraid of Linux, and they have admitted, because they know that they can't compete with a free products.

IMHO Microsoft has two advances over Linux; there first advatage is their tight application integration; the second advatage is the ease of software installation under Windows. Because the applications and OS are coming from one company the look and feel and integration can be very tight. While linux and other open-source project don't have this advantage.

My biggest complaint about Linux is the application installation procedures, some apps use a simple one-click installation, while others can very complicated. My only other complaint is the application integration between Linux apps., Mostly it is just user-interface issues. Many of these open-source don't have the resources or experience to develop good GUIs.

I have to admit that I hate having to pay for software when I don't have too and that's why I love open-source and freeware. Microsoft and other third party software vendors make some great products, but for the average home user or small business they can be very expensive purchase. For example take Open-Office, which is given away for their product for free; while MS Office can cost several hundred dollars. It can be a simple decision for some people who don't mind using Open-Office, while other will pay to use MS Office because that what 'everyone' else uses.

Personally, I love the Windows XP operating system, it is the best OS Microsoft has ever created. I can do things with this OS, that were impossible in previous version of Windows without having to write some type of C++ program. Don't get me wrong, because I am not a 'Microsoftie', I know how buggy and insecure MS products can be, but at the same time they have some pretty cool technology.

In the end you have to determine what is right for you or your company. I and just about everyone else believe that SCO will fail in the IP claims against Linux. Although, until Linux is vindicated, there is going to be FUD in hearts of the IT managers that control the technology direction of companies.

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