On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 5:15 PM, sathish manohar <[email protected]> wrote: > > My concern is, while open source is a great way to develop software. A > software being open-source doesn't add much incentive to end-user to > adopt or switch to the software. End user expectations are entirely > different. Any software vendor that takes this into account, comes up > with much better software. For Example, Internet Explorer had greatest > market share when Firefox entered the scene, But, Firefox gained a > significant market share because Mozilla was able to deliver a browser > with much superior quality and end user experience. >
You don't tell them you are using F/OSS. In my proposals, I present software that meets or exceeds the client's functional requirements. I suggest clients to go for commercial licensed when their requirements cannot be met with F/OSS. Re your example of browser. A bit of history - Mosaic (developed with US tax payer funds) was the first browser to hit the mainstream Internet users. Netscape Navigator (Mark Andreesesn of Mosaic fame) was the next browser [a]. IE became popular because of MS distribution policy (see above ref.) ; even today most people accept it because it is the *default* browser that comes with the MS Windows. To many IE is synonymous to Net browsing as is Excel to spreadsheet. Most have not heard of visicalc nor Mosaic. > I believe when we deliver software with superior quality, beauty and > ease of use, it gives user incentives to try out/switch softwares and > we may not have to evangelize our softwares. > Much of the above is related to the developer's mind set. There are many instances of disastrous projects coming out of the "cathedral" development model [b]. Acceptance is a mind set with the end user set as well. In a few instances, I have found it is well nigh impossible to change some user's mind set about switching to a F/OSS product, irrespective of it's high value. Life is short -- it is best to leave such people to their preferences and move on. [a] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape_Navigator> [b] <http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/homesteading/> -- Arun Khan Sent from my non-iphone/non-android device (অরুণ খান্/अरुण खान) _______________________________________________ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
