On Mon, 2005-06-06 at 13:59 -0400, Anthony Long wrote: > I'm curious to know what people think about this article? > > http://hbsworkingknowledge.hbs.edu/item.jhtml?id=4834&t=technology
The problem with this type of modelling is that to-day's constants can be tomorrows variables and vice versa. In physics constants tend to stay constant and variables can be controlled so you can have a lot of confidence in predictions. With economic research that is intertwined with social systems this is a lot less easy. Let's say FLOSS became a trendy and fashionable thing. That if not factored might over-ride all other considerations. I think the best you can say with any certainty is that FLOSS is all around, its contunuing to grow and looks unlikely to decline in the near future. Whether or not this wipes out MS is indeterminate. Microsoft will have to lower their prices - they already have, but even at zero price there are motivations for people to still develop Linux. The only way to put Windows on the same footing as Linux is to open source it - the article talks about cost but that is not the entire value system. There are also TCO issues beyond licensing costs. BECTA's research showed savings that were independent of license costs and if this is true, giving Windows away free would still not stop Linux growing. In fact all that is required is for people to believe that the TCO with Linux is lower, it would not even have to be a reality. -- Ian Lynch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ZMSL --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
