Windows or Open Source: The Battle for Company Computers Heats Up
I.T. departments can get pretty catty. There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes sarcasm about inexperienced users (such as digs about
PBCAK errors — short for “problem between chair and keyboard”), but
that pales in comparison to the vitriol they direct at each other in
the Windows/open-source debate.
Here’s the issue: Computers run on two diametrically opposed
types of operating systems, and your company could save a lot of
money depending on which one you use.
On one side are the proprietary operating systems — of which
Microsoft Windows is far and away the front runner — and on the
other side are free, open-source systems, the most popular of which
is Linux.
Each operating system also comes with its suite of software
applications. Commercial products such as Microsoft Office and
Internet Explorer run on Windows and compete against open-source
applications like Firefox and OpenOffice.org.
In the Windows camp, technicians point to operational synergies
and ease of use. They note that Microsoft programs work well
together and the software is well documented and supported. On the
other side, advocates laud the total transparency and flexibility of
open-source systems, which can be easily adapted for specific needs.
Open-source systems are usually free, too.
The term “open source” refers to computer programs that can be
freely altered by any user because the source code-the main
intellectual property — is accessible. Developers who make changes
to a program must agree to a licensing agreement that generally
requires they credit the open-source community and keep the code
accessible.
So User A adapts the original software to meet his need. Then
User B takes the original software, plus User A’s changes, and adds
her own customizations. And on and on until in the end you have a
pretty robust application.
But what might seem like reason for placid debate has instead
given way to heated arguments and passionate loyalties, and disdain
runs high on both sides of the issue.
It’s an attitude that Phillip Nelson calls “terribly unhelpful.”
“It’s almost impossible to find…
