On Thu, 2005-06-23 at 12:37 -0400, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > There's also the cost of rewriting any customized applications particularly > those written originally in VB. Speaking of which, I found a porting guide > but, not really having enough interest to go over it, I can't tell how much > work it'll take. > http://www.realsoftware.com/support/whitepapers/portingvisualbasic/ >
I agree. However, if the company in question has any plans of migrating from any one platform to another wherein inherent paradigms and systems differ, there will always be significant costs involved. It would be considerably high (the cost) especially if the company in question has been a victim of "vendor lock-in" wherein they become dependent on a single vendor for most of the core business operations solutions they use. Consider a company that has spent a significant sum of money on acquiring or developing MIS Software closely coupled with a single vendors' platform -- try some custom created MIS Software developed for OS2 running on legacy hardware from IBM. In case they see that they need to shift to a different platform for valid reasons (management change, business rules change, needs and operations change, etc.) then they will have to pay for the fact that they are very much dependent on one vendor (in this case, IBM). Now, this is good business for whomever gets to provide the company in question the services they require. However, it's not good business for the company in the first place -- because they're paying for something that they already supposedly have. In case they do it on their own, it's double the effort, with training, business process changes, and the list goes on. Another issue in this scenario is the fact that the company will make the same mistake over and over again as their business grows -- unless they can't afford to do so. So where does Linux come in? Picture this -- let's say they do have to change systems, and that's inevitable. If they decide to do it on their own (in-house), the investment would be great for the initial switch but in the long-run, maintaining a working and efficient Linux based solution will benefit them not because it's free software, but because of a lot of business related issues. Before I enumerate reasons, let me say that I'm not an expert, so don't quote me on this. ;) One reason: Open Systems Standards. OK, not all standards are great, and some become deprecated eventually. By being able to adhere to and develop internal business-related standards, the in-house development process becomes more maintainable, and more well-defined. Another reason: Open Systems Compatibility. You can make the Linux systems work (either on your own or with the help of Open Source solutions) with existing legacy systems as you go along in the migration process -- though not fully, but there are ways that cost less (monetarily) by using Open Systems Standard compliant applications and practices. One more reason: Cost/Value Optimization -- basically with less cost and more value, it shows that it's a better cost/value ratio than solutions with more cost and less or the same value. This is called cost- effectiveness: at the same price, how much value do you get from different solutions? If in case you develop an in-house software solution that is more extensible and easier used than a vendor-provided solution, you can say that you're getting a more cost-effective solution over time. This is true for dynamic and closely coupled technologically inclined companies/entities. However, in the case of other non-technologically coupled industry like basket weaving or cup-cake making, then the benefit will not likely be in the software development costs, but in the software acquisition costs. One sample scenario would be: how much would it cost non-techie company A to set-up a bare website using the existing solutions out there? Then everyone who understands that Linux+Apache+Mysql+PHP may be acquired and used freely on entry level server hardware will say that it's cheaper than the Microsoft+IIS+ASP+Frontpage solution on the same server hardware. I won't go into the technical "pro's and con's" because company A may not care about these technical gibberish -- what they're concerned about is cost-effectiveness and getting the most value for their money. So who said Business and Open Source do not mix well? There's a market out there, and I'm determined to get to it. ;) > Mabuhay. Mabuhay rin kapatid. ;) -- Dean Michael C. Berris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> GPG Key: 0x08AE6EAC http://mikhailberis.blogspot.com Mobile: +63 921 7841815
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