open source
Open source software are developed and distributed free as opposed to the proprietary software. The GNU/Linux and many other free applications are available free for download.
The Linux systems are based on UNIX. They are multi-tasking, and are run in most super computers, web servers, email servers, on desktops, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, devices such as routers, and in chips and robotics e.g. the NASA robots on Mars.
Why organisations are slow in switching to open source software? In fact, they are very slow or not even thinking of switching from their proprietary software.
The reasons why organisations use proprietary software:
- They are locked in expensive licences that they need to pay every year to the software developers.
- They have invested and paid too much money on those software.
- They do not know there are cheaper and free alternatives.
- They hate change.
- They do not like to take risk.
- They are scared of losing their jobs.
- There are fewer open source software support available.
- They have money.
And the reasons why users prefer open source software:
- They are secure.
- They are free.
- They are rock solid.
- They are stable, run faster and most of the time no rebooting required.
- They are cheaper to run.
- There is no ‘blue screen of death’ as they always experienced with other operating systems.
- The operating systems do not require other software’s protection e.g. anti-virus software, adware/spyware, firewall etc.
- They are easy to install and use.
- There are thousands of free applications available.
- They can be run on older hardware.
- They encourage re-cyling of hardware and thus greener.
- There are many distributions of operating systems to meet all users’ needs.
There are encouraging news and examples that some organisations have woke up from their nightmare and switched to the open source software.
We know countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China, the Philippines, some eastern European countries, African countries and so on have started to make the switch. It will not be long that other more developed nations start to play catch-up. They will be way behind those developing countries.
There was news that China has developed a new version of operating system based on UNIX that is impossible to crack, and to be used in government and research agencies.
In New Zealand, schools like Albany senior high school in Auckland, Warrington primary school in Otago, and government agencies like Electoral Enrolment Centre EEC have switched to the open source.
The recent negotiations between the State Services Commission and Microsoft for a new, three-year software licence deal failed have indicated that organisations especially the government agencies have realised that they had been spending too much of tax payers money on expensive and most of the time rubbish software.
The deputy principal Mark Osborne of Albany senior high school quoted that they are saving $200,000 a year on software licences by switching to GNU/Linux. And they only have 400 computers.
