Re: [Hardhats-members] Importance of Open Source Software Underscored

[Gregory Woodhouse]

On Jun 2, 2006, at 6:58 PM, Jim Self wrote: Gregory wrote: --- Chris Richardson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Greg, the cost of ownership of commercial verses Open Source is a poor comparision. Maybe. It could also be true that the cost of ownership for open source is lower. That's nothing to complain about! That's not the complaint. The term "cost of ownership" simply does not apply to most software. Comparisons based on it are inherently flawed because users of most software licenses *own* nothing except perhaps the hardware it runs on. The true cost of a proprietary software license may not become apparent until after the true owner gets bought out or goes out of business or otherwise decides to substantially raise the rent or to stop supporting and upgrading software that has become critical to the operation of your hospital. Fair enough. I could substitute the phrase "cost of utilization" and I don't think my point would be significantly changed. It seems that certain terms carry a lot of emotional weight in the open source community and, well, and I'm not always sensitive to when the use of a common phrase will provoke a reaction such as this. Not only do I not wish to dispute your analysis of the term ownership, I don't even think I disagree with it. It does bother me, though, when people essentially jump down my throat for not using the terminology preferred by the open source community. I'm not the enemy, and I guess I just get tired of being treated as if though I was. Gregory Woodhouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] Metaphors be with you.

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