This article at SlashDot (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/03/210219) raised some interesting questions. The article, which was written by a DSE salesman1? in NewZealand apparently, says that people wouldn't buy Linux-based computers, partly or mostly because they couldn't understand why the software was free (let alone Free). To them, obviously the software wasn't even good enough that the author(s) thought they could sell it!

So, why is the software free (and Free)?

There are the obvious "freedom to tinker" style arguments that we're familiar with - http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

To most people, (and to computer geeks when considering anything other than software) "you get what you pay for". Why is software different?

The majority of software is not "shrink-wrapped" commercial software. There are estimates that only around 10% of all software is written by commercial software vendors for selling off the shelf. The majority of software is written either "in-house" or for contract, for custom solutions. If software is not your core business, and it is merely a tool to help you conduct your business, then it does not affect you much if other people also have access to that software.

While many developers of Free software are volunteers doing it for fun and/or recognition, there are many developers who are employed to help make the software better for their employers, and add features needed in their particular situation.

For example, the famous Apache software came about because lots of system administrators cooperated to improve the software. They were all trying to make the software better for their own particular purposes, and benefitted from other people's effort to do the same.

1? This is actually a local Linux user, sometimes spotted at WLUG meetings, James Hutton.

Links

OpenSourceSuccessStories

WellThoughtOutReasonsToRunLinux

You can find out how to advocate Linux here: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Advocacy.html or locally at HowToAdvocacy?.

Linux Vs UNIX: WhyUnix

Linux Vs Windows: The TCO argument (Total Cost of Ownership) http://www.enterpriselinux.org/pages.php?page=TCO

http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/19958.html

http://cin.earthweb.com/public/article/0,,10493_1477911,00.html

http://www.vnunet.com/News/1128453

http://www-1.ibm.com/linux/RFG-LinuxTCO-vFINAL-Jul2002.pdf

http://www.members.optushome.com.au/brendanscott/papers/freesoftwaretco150702.html