[OPLINTECH] more OpenOffice/MSFT comments

[Chip Kruthoffer]

"Being a business consultant, we would suggest a cost/benefit analysis
should be done, especially when funds are declining.  I have not seen
anyone's analysis that truly considered the costs with everything
considered, including support, library chartered goals and public interest,
that came out positively in favor of Open Source.  I'd just like to see
someone's real life analysis.  All of this talk of "free" makes some of us
look like we saved a ton of money to buy books instead of MS Software.  Did
we really?" (Tom Mason)

Look, I think I understand the issues on both sides of this. I do feel
obligated (or merely sufficiently irritated) to comment briefly on a few of
things Tom has written.

#1 All this talk of "freeloading" is FUD. The assumption that you are
somehow obligated to send OpenSource creators the equivalent amount of funds
you spent on Microsoft products (and this "shame" involved if you don't) is
ridiculous. OpenSource creators want their products promoted and used. If
you can contribute to the code, make suggestions, or even send them some
money, great. If you do none of these, you'll belong in the vast majority of
"shamed" OpenSource users. My guess is the OpenSource community nonetheless
welcomes your use of their products.

#2 The "low cost/free" feature of OpenSource is not necessarily the main
draw in many cases.

#3 It is in the "public interest" to only use Microsoft products? That's the
implication, and highly debatable. Even if we received all Microsoft
products gratis.

#4 There is a condescending tone to this thread that sounds as if the great
unwashed non-business consulting sysadmins don't really do, or understand,
cost/benefit analysis. I don't think that is the case. I imagine we could
visit the Microsoft site and find a few objective samples on the other side.
Maybe I'll go look for that cost/benefit analysis for moving from Office XP
to Office 2007, though.

We've done fairly little on the OpenSource front and continue using
Microsoft products, for better or worse. Like most of us, I want to do what
makes the most sense for our community, and defining that is an on-going
project. I do think it is terrific that we are discussing these options,
however, and do hope to see OpenSource options continue to become more
competitive.

LTSP (http://ltsp.org/) anyone?

-- 
Chip Kruthoffer, Head of Systems
Lane Public Library ~ http://www.lanepl.org
1396 University Blvd. (Admin. Center)
Hamilton, Ohio 45011
Phone: (513) 785-2706 ~ Fax: (513) 894-6558
Email: c <dot> kruthoffer <at> lanepl <dot> org
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