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"Open Source Works" sez former VC

Posted by Hemos on from the recognize-my-skillz dept.

Suydam writes "J. William Gurley, a former venture capitalist turned writer, talks about how Open Source works in his latest "The Rising Impact of Open Source". There's nothing earth-shattering here for the Slashdot audience but it's decent press for the OSS movement and a worthwhile read. " Remember-the PHBs have heard of News.com. Make 'em read this.

3 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Ontopic, but Offtopic by Accipiter · · Score: 2
    What I find interesting, is that people are CONSTANTLY comparing Linux, and other open source projects, to closed source markets. You CAN'T do that. Open Source uses a completely different development model, and in turn, has completely different distribution channels. You can compare Linux to Windows as an Operating System, but you can't compare it's retail value. Sure, you can easily say "Well, you can buy Linux in stores same way as windows, right?" Yes, that's right, But can you download Windows from the internet? (Legally?)

    Open Source is not streamed to the market in the same manner as closed source. Microsoft makes windows, then in turn sells it to OEMs and Retailers, who then sell it to End Users either as a standalone product, or bundled with a system. Open source products (such as Linux) are written by thousands of hackers across the globe, and bundled in distributions available for download or purchase. You can't compare the methods of distribution, because they use different means of marketing from the start.

    This is the main reason Linux will be so successful, and why Windows will eventually Fail, or change it's distribution method.

    -- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?

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    -- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?
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  2. People have been fired for chosing Big Blue by FreeUser · · Score: 2

    Remember the PS/2 debacle? Overpriced, uncompetitive PCs with a new, proprietary bus. Allot of companies went with Big Blue, and allot of heads rolled, as cheaper and faster EISA and ISA bus clones came to market. With the advent of Linux and Open Source, those who cling to the "I can't get fired for choosing Microsoft" run an increasing risk of suffering the same fate. We are paid to be technically savvy, and to investigate and (presumably) select the best technology for a particular job. When an employer discovers they've missed the boat, and become less competitive as a result, the head of the "play it safe, don't innovate" IT manager clinging to an outmoded and unreliable technology becomes one of the first targets on the hit-list.

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    The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy
  3. nobody ever got fired for choosing big blue by jemhddar · · Score: 2

    remember that saying?
    right now a network administrator is far more likely to choose an established OS with ready lines of support--ie Novell, Unix, etc, than an OS held together with "duct tape and mt. dew". Before you hollar at me, I love linux, just thats the point of view of much of the establishment. If you want to help linux succeed, get out there and offer support to companies, and when the Linux Certification process is further along, get certified so we can give linux numbers of qualified support people. (yes, certification doesnt=knowledge. but if you are a linux guru, what better way to show the unknowledgeable that you know a lot).

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