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Windows (Commercial/Proprietary) vs Linux (Open Source)
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You are currently in The Great Debates!
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Tue Jun 27, 2006 4:57 am Reply and quote this post
I don't think the systems like Linux will take over the desktop, because they simply cannot be applied to a commercial or Professional environment.
If you take an Operating System, they may not be Network Stable, and also cannot perform under heavy usage.

Excluding web servers (Apache, MySQL etc) on for instance, an intranet where sharepoint or another windows CMS is in use, there
Also with security, in a "mission critical" environment (Microsoft’s words there!), the key is fast network management, and seamless compatibility, and this cannot be offered by a Linux system.

In Web Development, Open Source is usually a better option because the source code is available to so many people, developments can be made faster, and new features added, but good project management is needed, and a strong community base to keep the project going. With PHP for instance, changes are being made all of the time, because of the volume of people using it and developing it with their own plugins and modifications.
They may also be not compatible with hardware as the hardware is not designed for the system, and also there may be features overlooked by open source developers that are needed in a professional environment, such as Network management tools.
There is a similar case with the Photoshop Alternative, The GIMP. Although the program provides a good base system for amateur users, the program, however many add-ons are added, will not even begin to reflect the richness of features in Adobe Photoshop. To call it a Photoshop alternative is very misleading, as in its own right, it is a good program (The GIMP), but does not come close to offering Industry standard compatibility, commercial print formatting, tool and filter variables, colour profile management, graphical interface, image handling and stability, RAW file management, colour calibration and much more. There is also Open Office, which, don't get me wrong, is an excellent alternative to Microsoft Office, but could not be used in a commercial environment, because it does not offer the Network Collaboration features, typesetting, cross-program compatibility, industry standard compatibility and formatting, server integration and more.

I have not overlooked cost, but in a commercial environment, cost is not as bigger consideration as what I have explained above, with industry standards etc.

Quote:
The main features that characterize free (open source) software is the freedom that users have to:

Use the software as they wish, for whatever they wish, on as many computers as they wish, in any technically appropriate situation.

Have the software at their disposal to fit it to their needs. Of course, this includes improving it, fixing its bugs, augmenting its functionality, and studying its operation.

Redistribute the software to other users, who could themselves use it according to their own needs. This redistribution can be done for free, or at a charge, not fixed beforehand.


Disadvantages of Open Source

There is no guarantee that development will happen.
There may be significant problems connected to intellectual property.
It is sometimes difficult to know that a project exist, and its current status.

Open source isn’t really free—"Free, as in a free puppy" is the adage meaning no up-front costs, but plenty (often unseen or unanticipated) afterward.

There’s no service and support—For some companies, support is mandatory. More on this later, but open source support equal to that available for proprietary software is available for the same price or less.

Development resources are scarce—Linux and open source resources are actually abundant—the developers can use the same tools, languages, and code management processes.

Open source is not secure—It might seem to be a simple deduction of logic to think that the code is available, so anyone can figure out how to break it.
Training is not available—This used to be true, but not anymore.
All open source is a work-in-progress—True for some, but not for all.

Advantages of Open Source
The availability of the source code and the right to modify it is very important. It enables the unlimited tuning and improvement of a software product.
The right to redistribute modifications and improvements to the code, and to reuse other open source code, permits all the advantages due to the modifiability of the software to be shared by large communities.

The right to use the software in any way.

There is no single entity on which the future of the software depends. This is a very common concern with proprietary software.

Lower software costs—Open source solutions generally require no licensing fees. The logical extension is no maintenance fees.

Simplified license management—Obtain the software once and install it as many times and in as many locations as you need. There’s no need to count, track, or monitor for license compliance.

Lower hardware costs—In general, Linux and open source solutions are elegantly compact and portable, and as a result require less hardware power to accomplish the same tasks as on conventional servers (Windows, Solaris) or workstations. The result is you can get by with less expensive or older hardware.

Scaling/consolidation potential—Again, Linux and open source applications and services can often scale considerably.

Ample support—Support is available for open source—often superior to proprietary solutions.
If you do decide that Open Source software is right for you, examine all the various software options carefully first.

Is the software well established or still in it's infancy?
Are there regular updates, patches and new features?
Is there a support forum?
Are the support forums active?
Do forum participants help each other out?
Are reputable companies using the software?
Is the documentation complete and coherent?
What are the general costs with hiring contractors who are familiar with the software?

The entire online community, from end users to webmasters and merchants owes the Open Source community a great deal for what it's accomplished over the years. When considering whether to use Open Source software for your online business, it's important to bear in mind that the concept of "free" is related to freedom more than to pounds.

Contributed by Editorial Team, Executive Management Team
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:07 pm Reply and quote this post
In my personal opinion I don't belive in open source or free hardware or code or so whatever. I belive that it is best to go with what is well known and certified such as microsofts windows. Enough said.
Contributed by Thomas Lohse, iVirtua Ultimate Contributor
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