Open Source - downfall to Microsoft?
I just started being exposed to the OpenSource world of software. OpenOffice is a big one, as I understand it, and they are working hard to compete against Microsoft.
Do you believe that the open source industry will force Microsoft and other companies to deliver better products? Do these companies pay attention to the "open source world"? Is open source a real threat to licensed software?
Answers (17)
In my experience, I have been hearing this time and time again. The problem is, when you use open source software, you get the feeling that it is lacking something. If it doesn't do something you need, or you get stuck, there is no support number to call.
The reason for this hindrances, in my opinion, is that you get what you pay for. I do not think open source will force Microsoft to deliver better products. I feel Microsoft is doing its best to deliver great products now, to increase our productivity and allow us to get more done, while making money for shareholders and rewarding their employees. Money isn't everything, but it sure is up there as far as motivational incentives to write good code.
Take care and good luck,
Louis
Massimo L
Owner, Thule Enterprise
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Microsoft might rush new versions of its products into the market with even more bugs! Surely they and other companies must deal with it: some companies even embraced open source getting involved in its development and offering services that include open source software (just think of IBM, Novell and others).
BTW, open source software is licensed as well, it just uses different licenses.
Theresa L
Executive & 6Sigma Champion @ AA Blueprint
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Not likely, Microsoft's marketing strategy is to strong, and the majority of users aren't techs who know about OpenSource sites [or even what OpenSource is for that matter]; they're normal folks who happen to need to use a computer at work or at home.. So, I would say that Microsoft is safe from OpenSource code for now.
I run a very large installation of OpenSource software from Linux, Java, Perl, Liferay, et al. However, I still use multiple Microsoft, Oracle, and IBM solutions in the same environment.
1) I do not believe it is a question of better products. It is just that some products perform certain things better than others. The big vendors would have you believe they can do everything; however, the reality is much different.
2) Of course they pay attention to the OpenSource world. Many help support it. I applaud the movement and encourage my teams to contribute when/where appropriate
3) No it is not a real threat. OpenSource has a different licensing model than the commercial software licenses. However, each product has different capabilities and specialities and often the uses may call for a commercially licensed solution over the OpenSource.
Charles G
Computer Network Consultant at Sterling Ideas Inc and Owner, Sterling Ideas Inc
Absolutely OSS (open source software) does push commercial vendors to create better products. It already has. Because many OSS projects are smaller and more nimbly developed they frequently debut features that, if they are successful, are picked up for inclusion in commercial products. A commercial vendor is foolish not to look to what is happening in the industry, including OSS, to see where they need to go.
Is OSS a 'threat' to licensed software? Nope. They can certainl coexist without any harm to the other. For some users, the value proposition of having a commercial vendor with support is worth it for the licensing cost. In other situations the value of having open access to source code and the developer community makes OSS far more valuable.
It's truly a matter of finding the right tool for the right job.
Salik R
Owner and Founder of Chameeya S. S. Ltd.
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I have had the same experience as Louis. When you have a problem there is no support number to call - unless you pay for a subscription. When it comes to productivity suites, Office is the one. Open Office comes close but my macros don't work and there are noticable differences.
On the development side - Microsoft provides world class tools which really can be matched. That said - there is good competition with PHP, Ruby, Java - which I am sure are eating into Microsoft's revenue.
On databases - In my opinion MySQL and PostgreSQL just don't match the bleeding edge capabilities of SQL Server.
In OS. I do like Ubuntu and CentOS - they are great at running my network and Oracle databases. I could not get by without them. Its one niche where Open Source wins.
In product building. Open Source works..as i can take an existing product and build on it. If I make any changes to the original source - okay I have to release it too - that bit I don't like - but its fair. I beleive this is pushing MS to make better, more capable products, that are easier to extend.
I would not like to take the perspective of a downfall or a competition of two very unequal participants.
From my experience the opensource aspect brought very high quality into areas where it hasn't been before. Almost every bigger company in the computer science area contributes and uses opensource technology - and yes even microsoft does contribute and use is.
I would like to propose you another perspective that common used functions will be build and improved with opensource while competing products might be added on top of these functions.
A last add, that opensource does not mean that the use is for free, there are serveral very fine graded licences available.
Chuck K
Co-Founder and Software Architect at Milyli
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Open Source doesn't necessarily cause other companies to deliver better products, but competition does. The Open Source model allows for people to come together to create alternatives to software packages that would be too large, costly and complex otherwise.
Microsoft Internet Explorer development and improvement slowed down dramatically once it became the dominant browser and forced most of the other options off the market. It didn't pick up again until after FireFox showed how much more could be done with a browser.
Yes, companies pay attention to Open Source projects if they become big enough, just like they do with any serious competition. There is market share to be lost if a better product comes along regardless of the model that created it. There is also money to be made if a significantly good idea can be better developed with the bankroll and organized backing of an established software entity.
No, Open Source is not a model-ending threat to licensed software. The Open Source model has proved that it is best at one thing, creating excellent replicas of existing software. Don't get me wrong, the creation of those replicas can incorporate the lessons learned from the history of the existing software and often end up being of better quality than the original. But from what I have seen, that is usually only be true when compared solely on the merits of the software itself.
I have yet to see an Open Source project provide an exceptional solution to a completely new need. I have yet to see the Open Source project that is committed to supporting its users to the same breadth and extend as a paid company.
I think that Open Source is a great source of competition for products where the market wouldn't ordinarily be able to field another contender. But whether you are buying a toaster or a piece of software, there are many factors to consider in addition to the price tag on the box. My toasters need to be big enough to fit bagels for instance. =)
Clarification added November 21, 2008:
I realize that Open Source does not necessarily mean a zero dollar price tag, but more often than not that is what is meant these days.
Bill D
IT Manager at Honda Federal Credit Union
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Open Source has been around a long time, some of it predating the public Internet emergence. While it has sometimes inspired MS and other commercial vendors to offer new features and capabilities, it really hasn't threatened them.
Interesting opinions expressed here about the quality of MS software, I fail to understand how anyone would consider MS software "world class" when it is the very reason for the existence of separate product industry, in anti-virus, anti-SPAM, spyware detection and prevention, etc. It is the poor quality control and rush to market along with the tight integration of MS products, particularly the Office suite of products that have made viruses, trojans, malware, etc possible.
In my opinion Open Source will continue the same as it has been doing.
Marie-Claire J
SEO expert & computer scientist
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I do think OpenSource puts the pressure on and keeps the companies on their toes. I also use open Office, and love it, I do not miss Microsoft. Linux users are on the rise, and there are so many good applications now that myself and many of my friends run exclusively on OpenSource as far as we can. I also use all the Google applications on a daily basis rather than paid for tools.
About the operating systems though, windows still has by far the upper hand, then it's Mac with about 8% and then Linux with 0.71%. In fact Microsoft is still doing very very well. I think it's because it comes pre-installed in computers and most users are not geeks like us who worry about which operating system might work best :)
Funnily enough Twitter is now becoming a great way to get support from OS providers.
I agree that at the end of the day it's finding the right tool for the right job.
Links:
Some may feel that open source technologies are competition to a paid licensed model. I personally don't interpret it as competition for paid licensing models because what you are paying for is support. Open source technologies can provide a solution however when it comes to a challenge in development or functionality you are left to the support mechanisms of the internet, forums and such.... not the engineers that brought you the software providing a quick remedy to the challenge or issue being experienced.
Also Microsoft has taken measures to include open source technologies, the most recent example is in Windows Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing OS. It will run open source applications such as Java or PHP based application as well as licensed software technologies in the cloud.
First to answer your questions. I think open source will force companies like Microsoft to build better products. I also believe Bill Gates..now Steve Ballmer always has one eye on their competitors. For example Microsoft once owned 18 million shares in Apple Inc. Finally, I'm not to sure Open Source is a viable threat to licensed software, but coming full circle back to your first question I believe it helps drive innovation. Huge companies like Microsoft and Apple built their fortunes on a particular business model. They are too big to change what's worked for so many years in my opinion.
Open Source's niche in the computer world is it's ability to try new technologies/approaches to see what works. If these technologies catch fire (so to speak) then these for profit companies like Microsoft implement these new innovations into their business model with less risk/ cost of research and development.
Take Red Hat Linux's approach. Red Hat is a for profit Linux distro that also sponsors Fedora Core, a "free" Linux distro that's essentially Red Hat. Red Hat uses Fedora Core as a testing distro to Red Hat to make the Red Hat distro better. Or you can look at Virtualization; a technology created by IBM, was all the rave a few years ago (and is still implemented today). One of the first machines that ran Virtual software was Unix. So, I do not think Open Source will be Microsoft's downfall, but I do believe that Open Source makes companies like Microsoft create better software.
Janusz P
at IMPAQ Sp. z o.o.
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IMHO "open source" is not in the state of war with "commercial software". Open source will never make commercial software to disappear, but the sooner companies learn to live and cooperate in this new world, the better for everyone.
Open source is a community of people who enjoy coding, respect other people that share their work, and they do it because they like to. I can not imagine why a group of unpaid people would like to create and support an obscure system made specifically to solve some company's business need. They will write and share the applications they enjoy and do not compete to provide a solution for a business problem of some organization that needs applications to make money. No competition. If a company (say: a bank) needs IT solution, it will have to pay - and this is a business opportunity for some other company. How is open source a competition here?
Look at Open Darwin, Open Solaris, support for Linux on IBM servers, RedHat, Suse, embedded systems, OS on eBooks... You still believe that "open source" and "commercial" do not meet?
On the other hand, people no longer want to accept the vendors working against them: closed document formats, lack of interoperability, patents forbidding to implement some interoperability to enslave users, low quality. Here the open source creates pressure on the commercial software.
For example, for the above reason, the first question I ask when buying a hardware (laptop, scanner, a card etc.) is "Does it run Linux?" IMHO vendors that do not support open source will eventually hurt their own business. If your device is not supported on my OS, I will simply not buy it. Nowadays I expect real support - I no longer accept "tweaking" - I am a paying customer - if you produce a palmtop and it does not support synchronization with Linux desktop, I can not become your customer.
I used to support a solution build on Windows and one built on Linux: I now read comments about "open source inferior" code quality with a laugh. I do read quite a lot of open source and I have seen quite a lot of commercial code, and have seen my share of respectable commercial apps. I agree, some open source is low quality. But I guess many commercial apps are way behind the good open source applications.
If you are a developer in a company, you are under pressure and often can not write a good solution. If you are an open source submitter, you do it for your own pleasure and respect of your peers. Your code will be read by thousands of people. Your code will be run by thousands of testers. To even become a submitter, you must proove you are worth the honor. Even the number of spaces you use to indent the code can be a reason that your patch will be rejected. So, you say commercial shop can match that number of testers, code reviewers and can afford that strict policies? I do not think so - even biggest companies simply can not match this potential and zeal ;-) I do not believe there exists a single company that completely ignores open source.
Regarding OpenOffice - it is great and probably enough for home user, but unfortunately can not win with MSOffice in business environment yet. And it is not that difficult to compile a list of commercial applications that just do not have a match in open source world.
Jessica J
Director
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Hi Alan,
I have been asked this question many times in my experience in software sales in Asia.
I do not believe that Open Source provides a "killer" element to the commercial vendors such as Microsoft that you mentioned but Open Source has encroached on revenues of major vendors.
Open Source and commercial products will compete on the same field but the commercial offerings will have an advantage and that is accountability and culpability.
Major organizations and those who know how to craft appropriate sales contracts can ensure their organizations are offered maximum protection from major software, hardware vendors who offer their products to meet various specifications.
However, when it comes to open source no one can be held to account as the licencing model of open source software is development methodology and is different to the proprietary model.
In conclusion, both models will be in the market and have a place there. However the end users have to be carefully educated and understand the potential benefits and pitfalls of one licence over another.
Hope this contributes to the discussion.
Matthew Holden
www.matthewholden.com.au
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No. Open Source will always need to provide support for the non Expert user. This costs money.
I was in the process of changing laptop computers, so I decided to set myself the challenge of installing all I needed to work, without using Microsoft.
Ubuntu for the O/S
Open Office for spreadsheet, word processor etc..
You know, all the usual stuff.
What floored me was network drives for either my LAN socket or Wifi connection..
And where to go for support? I gave up.
ps Will Microsoft go SAAS, web based, mobility centric.. Yes..
Tim.
Microsoft will be the downfall of Microsoft.
They clearly lost sight of who the customer was with Windows Vista, making it to the designs and specification of the Music industry not their customers.
At the moment if Microsoft stumble, Apple and/or open source, or Free Software, may well fill the gap, and history will write it as a win for the successor, rather than as a self destructive move by the incumbent.
Open Office is great if what you need is an Office suite stuffed with features, but very few people need that, what is surprising is it taking so long for people to realize this. There is something of a move to "less is more" with browsers getting simpler, but there is a long way to go.
