I don’t really know much about open source. I know it is some kind of open code that allows the user to modify programs that have been purchased. In some ways it makes sense, so the company doesn’t have to issue so many patches after so many people have complained, and that competent users can modify a program into what they need, but in other ways it is basically just like writing another program that can then be re-worked and sold as a better model by someone else. I don’t get the benefits from a business standpoint.
After watching the film, open source makes a little more sense to me. I think it’s nice that people feel that it’s more important for people to have access to good software than to make money, even if it’s not the smartest business decision. The whole open source subculture was interesting. Those are very different people than the executives at Microsoft or Apple, who value profits above service. I’m not sure the whole thing will catch on the way it was hoped, though. I myself would still rather buy a program from a major software manufacturer and have a support number to call than download a program that I would have to find my own support for. I would probably not involve myself in this community because there is not much career potential there; like it or not, people need to make money, and this movement does not allow enough for that in order to be a full-time job. However, it would be great if I were able to download patches as soon as anyone figured out how to fix holes in the program, instead of waiting for certain programmers to fix it and have it go through all the necessary corporate channels. It’s also great in terms of cost – everyone knows how expensive the major programs are that have basically become essentials in computing. The only OS program I have used is Firefox, and I actually don’t like it as much as Internet Explorer – I’m not entirely sure why, there’s just something about it that I don’t like. I do find it to be more reliable, though. Explorer crashes a lot, and when it does I can always use Firefox. For some reason I’m not convinced on the full switch though. Overall, I think OS is a great idea, but with not a whole lot of practicality. It appeals to a small subset of the computer community, but as a greater whole I feel that larger computer companies will always be more appropriate.
