Scott did you read the article?
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| dinotrac Dec 02, 2008 9:53 AM EDT |
Cohen did NOT say that Open Source was broken. He said that most Open Source business models are broken. He has a vested interest -- he is CEO of an organization promoting a different view of free software -- but I suspect he's also right. With the Linux kernel, he nailed the paradox of free software: If it's really good, it doesn't need a lot of support. Though he didn't say so, the reverse is also important: If it's not really good, there ain't much to sell. |
| Scott_Ruecker Dec 02, 2008 11:19 AM EDT |
If its really good, it doesn't need a lot of support? I have yet to know of a single piece of software that is so good that no one needs help with it, ever. Come on... Dino, are you listening to yourself talk? |
| dinotrac Dec 02, 2008 1:21 PM EDT |
Scott - There is a world of difference between needing no help and needing enough help to make money from. |
| Scott_Ruecker Dec 02, 2008 2:15 PM EDT |
I see, so because it doesn't make enough money for businesses that means its broken? Its the softwares fault that it is so good that most people are able to help themselves instead of paying for it? No, its not. Its because the software industry's profit is still tied to how many units you move and service contracts on those units. Its cutting the umbilical cord to units sold that will be the most painful for the software industry. Until then, it'll be the software's fault. |
| dinotrac Dec 02, 2008 3:09 PM EDT |
Soctt - >I see, so because it doesn't make enough money for businesses that means its broken? That's why I asked if you read the article. The author doesn't claim that free software (or Open Source, if you prefer) is broken. He claims that most Open Source business models are broken. Very different thing. |
| Scott_Ruecker Dec 02, 2008 3:25 PM EDT |
You make a valid point, they are very different. But.. How can a model be broken if its not even a model yet? How can there be a FOSS business 'model' if Open Source's affect on the market has not even really kicked into high gear, begun to be accurately tracked in any real manner or become an established part of the market yet? How can there be a model if the market isn't hasn't even begun to really assimilate it yet? |
| dinotrac Dec 02, 2008 3:29 PM EDT |
Scott: Perhaps the subtitle is better than the title in this case: Quoting:The open-source business model that relies solely on support and service revenue streams is failing to meet the expectations of investors |
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