Open Source vs. Commerical Software

Why pay, when you can get it free?

That is the biggest question revolving around these two industries. So you just paid 500 dollars or more for that Office Suite? What if I told you that you could get all the same software, no charge, no shipping/handling(if you bought it online), no wasted gas(if you bought it at the store). The only thing different you had to do was go to a website and wait while the installation file download. It installs the same as the one you just purchased. It does all the same tasks as the one you just purchased. So why would millions of people pay. . .it just doesn’t make much sense.

Now, I should mention ’support’ for open source projects aren’t just a phone call away. That is unless you know a ‘computer guy’ that you can talk to. That really is the only difference between open source and closed source. However, open source still does have support for their software. . .it just isn’t as ’standard’ as on the phone. The community for each individual open source project is driven by such passion. They will lend their help in any way they can(they just don’t want strangers calling them). The most common form of support for these are web forums/message boards, emails, and instant messaging. It’s true that sometimes you may have to wait until they reply to the email or reply to the thread you created on a forum. . .but most will.

Have your voice heard

Open Source companies will most likely listen to your suggestions or requests for features. I am not saying all will(so don’t complain if they don’t), but most are in very close contact with the community that uses their software. I know I get satisfaction when another person reads my website, downloads my code, or subscribes to my RSS feed. If there was something one of my readers wanted me to talk about or wanted me to add to the site. . .why would I not add it? If that one person took the time to write me, and give me his thoughts and opinions there are hundreds of others that feel the same way. Not only do they improve the functionality of the product but they also improve their customer satisfaction tremendously.

So if features get added more than Commercial Software, that means the software will get updated more frequently. When you use a program to browse the web why use a product that hasn’t been updated in a year or two. New vulnerabilities come out every day. . .this doesn’t mean unless you have software that updates every day you will be a target. But why not pick a product that updates more if you have the choice.

The choice is yours. . .and yours alone

That really is the last thing I can teach you about this topic. You have the choice, why settle for anything less. Please make up your mind on which is more important to you in the software you use. Open Source is not for everyone. Sometimes you need that extra sense of security. Do some searching(I recommend Google), and see what you come up with. For every closed source/commercial product out there, you’ll find at least 2 open source projects that will do the exact same task.

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