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Mr. Mason, I will reply to this comment on-list since it appears that
you may have misdirected this comment directly to me rather than to the
list.<br>
<br>
Many open source projects <u>do</u> ask for donations in the form of
code, cash to help fund a server or web site, donations to the
community by way of peer support, documentation donations, etc. You
are, however, <u>in no way</u> obliged to donate to any particular
project regardless of whether or not you use the software.<br>
<br>
If you re-read the OpenOffice.org <a
href="http://download.openoffice.org/2.3.1/contribute.html?product=OpenOffice.org&os=winwjre&lang=en-US&version=2.3.1">contribution
request page</a>, you'll find that donating money is actually the <i>last</i>
option that they suggest. Personally, while I use OpenOffice
extensively and while I encourage my schools and libraries to use it, I
have not donated a single penny to the project, nor have I donated code
or documentation. Aside from perhaps asking a question or two in the
peer support groups, I have not even contributed much to the OOo peer
support structures. Do I, as you say, "<i>freeload off of someone
else's efforts without monetary assistance to them?</i>" Yes.
...and..."<i>Shame on you if you did.</i>" I don't feel shame about
that.<br>
<br>
I do, however, embrace the concept of open source software. Because I
am of limited financial means (as are many of the public libraries on
this list), because my time is highly constrained, because the
programming languages I know are far obsolete, because I donate a
considerable amount of time and technical services to public libraries
and schools (a direct impact on my "free" time), and because I'm not a
good web developer I don't offer money, code, or web development to any
open source project. I am, however, very good at understanding the
nuances and interactions of the software I use, troubleshooting
problems and assisting others. My contributions are in the form of peer
support. Further, I also acknowledge that I am incapable of usefully
contributing to every project that represents all of the open source
software that I use. I don't contribute to the OpenOffice project
because it is already amazingly well supported. I instead choose to
focus my energies on projects that are less well supported. This is the
concept and beauty of open source software!<br>
<br>
So...I am very happy to know that you would feel obligated to donate to
"the cause." Every bit helps, money and otherwise!<br>
<br>
Out of curiosity, though, have any other libraries reading this thread
contributed to an open source project? If so, in what way? <br>
<br>
As for the cost benefit analysis, I would guess that this is best
accomplished on your own and for individual scenarios. Every situation
is unique, with unique parameters. Considering the wide number of
parameters, such an analysis done for another organization would likely
not align properly with yours or your clients'. Take, for instance,
some of the later comments regarding training. Mr. Slone suggests that
"the learning curve is so negligible, it shouldn't even be a factor in
a decision regarding MS and OO." But that's at <i>his</i> library. It
could be a huge factor elsewhere. <br>
<br>
My 2 cents,<br>
Chad<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">-----------------------
Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer
Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)
-- Full LAN/WAN consulting services --
-- Specialized in libraries and schools --</pre>
<br>
<br>
Tom Mason wrote:
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<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">I’ll
just note that when I downloaded my “free” OO, I was asked
to “donate” to the cost of writing, improving, supporting, and
distribution of
OO. Since we were simply evaluating it with no plan to integrate and
use it at
the moment, we didn’t donate anything. If we were to evaluate it
successfully,
and roll it out to our employees, I would feel obligated to “donate” to
the
cause in the interests of fairness since we were benefiting from their
labor. Who
knows, we may want them to upgrade to support the docx formats of
2007. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">I’m
wondering what some of you “donated” to OO’s development request
since you are actively using it for the benefit of your library,
facility or
business. Did you figure the “donation” cost into the cost/benefit
analysis,
do you amortize it as you would the price you paid to MS, or do you
write it
off as a charity contribution? Or did you figure you’d freeload off of
someone
else’s efforts without monetary assistance to them? Shame on you if
you did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">I
still have not seen a cost benefit analysis of “open source”,
which I don’t think literally or fairly translates to “free software”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue;">Thomas
Mason</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue;">, MCSE,
AANG, Sr. Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue;">Management
Assistance, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue;">Manufacturing,
Academic and Government Solutions</span></b><b><span
style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue;">"We
make
it happen for you!"</span></i><i><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: blue;"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:masontj@manasst.com">masontj@manasst.com</a>
440.355.6962
Fax:440-355-4355</span><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<br>
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