http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/ "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards" Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:18:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18019 Adriana Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:47:22 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18019 This should be closer to home... Tablet PC. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/16/intels-mid-umpcs-so-long-xp-vista-hello-linux/" rel="nofollow">So long XP/Vista, hello Linux</a> This should be closer to home… Tablet PC. So long XP/Vista, hello Linux

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18018 James Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:41:31 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18018 @James O'Neill I've heard how MS used to be, I don't doubt that at all. I know that in today's Microsoft, as far as the small business is concerned, they make me feel like I'm a valued member. It's the little things, like the phone calls regarding training or the newsletters of partner only promotions, or giveaways for being part of the first 100 to act on filling out feedback forms on how Microsoft is meeting the needs of the Small Business. Requests for feedback is a major indication they are working on changing their ways and it's a good feeling they are asking "me" how I view them. I got a phone call at 8am on Friday by an honest to god live person informing me of a new product that was being released for testing and wanted to know if I'd be interested in having a CD shipped to my house. Things like that make you feel valued. Anyway, I think I'm off-topic here (don't shoot me!) so I'll close this with Microsoft is doing a great job in involving it's Partners. As for the OS thing, I'm too set in my ways at my age to want to fool with Linux, etc. I played with it several years back and just found it to be too much hassle to be worth the little bit of cash I was saving. That extra expense was well worth the full head of hair I still have on my head. The clients I serve are end-users and small businesses that don't need specialized applications, so I'll be sticking with Microsoft for filling their needs as I'm very comfortable with the products and can serve their needs better and faster. If I come across a client that needs something special that MS can't provide, I'll pass them on to my good friend who specializes in Open Source solutions. He does the same for me, so it's a good synergy. @James O’Neill
I’ve heard how MS used to be, I don’t doubt that at all. I know that in today’s Microsoft, as far as the small business is concerned, they make me feel like I’m a valued member.
It’s the little things, like the phone calls regarding training or the newsletters of partner only promotions, or giveaways for being part of the first 100 to act on filling out feedback forms on how Microsoft is meeting the needs of the Small Business. Requests for feedback is a major indication they are working on changing their ways and it’s a good feeling they are asking “me” how I view them.
I got a phone call at 8am on Friday by an honest to god live person informing me of a new product that was being released for testing and wanted to know if I’d be interested in having a CD shipped to my house. Things like that make you feel valued.
Anyway, I think I’m off-topic here (don’t shoot me!) so I’ll close this with Microsoft is doing a great job in involving it’s Partners.
As for the OS thing, I’m too set in my ways at my age to want to fool with Linux, etc. I played with it several years back and just found it to be too much hassle to be worth the little bit of cash I was saving. That extra expense was well worth the full head of hair I still have on my head. The clients I serve are end-users and small businesses that don’t need specialized applications, so I’ll be sticking with Microsoft for filling their needs as I’m very comfortable with the products and can serve their needs better and faster. If I come across a client that needs something special that MS can’t provide, I’ll pass them on to my good friend who specializes in Open Source solutions. He does the same for me, so it’s a good synergy.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18017 Steve Holden Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:11:34 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18017 There's a lot that Microsoft does right to support their direct customers, but despite their best efforts I think the channel lets the smaller customers down sometimes. Your question is quite a good one, as it acknowledges that open source software is not about saving costs ("free as in beer") it's about retaining the freedom to modify the software to suit your purposes. This will ultimately provide a more viable infrastructure. Now, since open source isn't really an "industry" or a single company it's apparent that (at the moment) it isn't as focused on meeting the customer's needs out at the sharp end as businesses are. Nevertheless if you look at the way the Apache web server provides the infrastructure for a huge number of service providers as well as large private companies I think that the way forward has been mapped out. This is what has been making Microsoft nervous (starting with the evidence of the infamous Halloween papers, and more recently leading to their focus on "software as a service"). They have a duty to provide a return to their stockholders, and yet they mis-perceive open source as "the enemy". Their real enemy is their own size, which has led to an inability to be as fleet of foot as smaller competitors, or to innovate as quickly as, say, Google. Remember when IBM had 75% of the <i>world</i> computer market? They are still a significant business, but they no longer dominate the whole industry. Microsoft have saturated their market, and must adjust to being the first IBM of the twenty-first century. Open source will continue to develop and will meet the needs of its user base better as time goes by. It needs the involvement of a larger section of the community before it meets their needs. So, to answer your question: "It will". There’s a lot that Microsoft does right to support their direct customers, but despite their best efforts I think the channel lets the smaller customers down sometimes. Your question is quite a good one, as it acknowledges that open source software is not about saving costs (“free as in beer”) it’s about retaining the freedom to modify the software to suit your purposes. This will ultimately provide a more viable infrastructure.
Now, since open source isn’t really an “industry” or a single company it’s apparent that (at the moment) it isn’t as focused on meeting the customer’s needs out at the sharp end as businesses are. Nevertheless if you look at the way the Apache web server provides the infrastructure for a huge number of service providers as well as large private companies I think that the way forward has been mapped out.
This is what has been making Microsoft nervous (starting with the evidence of the infamous Halloween papers, and more recently leading to their focus on “software as a service”). They have a duty to provide a return to their stockholders, and yet they mis-perceive open source as “the enemy”. Their real enemy is their own size, which has led to an inability to be as fleet of foot as smaller competitors, or to innovate as quickly as, say, Google.
Remember when IBM had 75% of the world computer market? They are still a significant business, but they no longer dominate the whole industry. Microsoft have saturated their market, and must adjust to being the first IBM of the twenty-first century. Open source will continue to develop and will meet the needs of its user base better as time goes by. It needs the involvement of a larger section of the community before it meets their needs. So, to answer your question: “It will”.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18016 James O'Neill Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:39:09 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18016 "If Open Source software is free, then why bother spending money on Microsoft Partner stuff?" Simple. The cost of the software license isn't the end of the story. Let's take two sets of people out of the picture. The feeble IT manager who thinks "No one gets fired from buying from the big player". And the "Anyone but Microsoft" Biggot. Neither actually makes a decision. If you're talking about the comparison of two sets of desktop software how much more can people do with X Vs Y ? In business, over the 3 year life most people work, someone has to be less than 1% more productive to pay for cost of the Microsoft software. (If you're a lawyer billing at £200 per hour it's a LOT less than 1%). In the home Apple sell at a premium because - they argue - they can do things better / more nicely. You could ask Apple customers why they pay more than Windows ones - their answer would be "because it's worth it". If you ask Windows customers "Why not linux" - the answer is basically the saving isn't worth it. For deployment, infrastucture and servers you look at support, solution availabilty (partners etc) ease (cost) of maintaining it and the people who do go with Microsoft conclude that overall story is better with Microsoft. And the people who don't figure the story is better with Linux, Old-school Unix, or (yikes) mainframes. “If Open Source software is free, then why bother spending money on Microsoft Partner stuff?”
Simple. The cost of the software license isn’t the end of the story.
Let’s take two sets of people out of the picture. The feeble IT manager who thinks “No one gets fired from buying from the big player”. And the “Anyone but Microsoft” Biggot. Neither actually makes a decision.
If you’re talking about the comparison of two sets of desktop software how much more can people do with X Vs Y ? In business, over the 3 year life most people work, someone has to be less than 1% more productive to pay for cost of the Microsoft software. (If you’re a lawyer billing at £200 per hour it’s a LOT less than 1%). In the home Apple sell at a premium because — they argue — they can do things better / more nicely. You could ask Apple customers why they pay more than Windows ones — their answer would be “because it’s worth it”. If you ask Windows customers “Why not linux” — the answer is basically the saving isn’t worth it.
For deployment, infrastucture and servers you look at support, solution availabilty (partners etc) ease (cost) of maintaining it and the people who do go with Microsoft conclude that overall story is better with Microsoft. And the people who don’t figure the story is better with Linux, Old-school Unix, or (yikes) mainframes.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18015 James Cherkoff Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:27:58 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18015 The strength of Open Source lies in its innovation around the outdated licensing model. That's where OS delivers - plenty - to CEOs and shareholders. The strength of Open Source lies in its innovation around the outdated licensing model. That’s where OS delivers — plenty — to CEOs and shareholders.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18014 John Dodds Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:49:49 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18014 How well does provoking two opposing interest groups promote a conversation across the blogosphere? How well does provoking two opposing interest groups promote a conversation across the blogosphere?

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18013 James O'Neill Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:42:58 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18013 @ James. I've worked for Microsoft since 2000 and for the 5 years before that I ran a small partner. In those days I felt lower than food. Since I've been with Microsoft I've heard a lot of people who are trying to change that, but since I don't work in that area, I don't know if that is working. It sounds like it is. I keep telling people that Microsoft today is not the Microsoft of the late 90s. Some People (Maggie) don't beleive that we can change. @ James.
I’ve worked for Microsoft since 2000 and for the 5 years before that I ran a small partner. In those days I felt lower than food. Since I’ve been with Microsoft I’ve heard a lot of people who are trying to change that, but since I don’t work in that area, I don’t know if that is working. It sounds like it is. I keep telling people that Microsoft today is not the Microsoft of the late 90s. Some People (Maggie) don’t beleive that we can change.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18012 Darcy Moen Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:05:36 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18012 Hugh, I have to agree with you, you don't know much about software. Are you aware that your GapingVoid blog is driven by PHP (an open source pre-hypertext parsing language) and MySQL (another open source project, database system)? It's okay if you don't know the ins and outs of software, you have a lot of company, as many of CEO's and Shareholders know little about software either. Hugh, did you install Moveabletype (the software that drives the Gapingvoid blog) yourself? Or did you have someone do it for you? I suspect you had people for that. Most CEO's and Corporations have people for that too, they are called geeks or IT departments. They invest or pay people to do the geek thing for them so they don't HAVE to learn much about software. They can stick to more lofty things like production, marketing, accounting, P&L, competing for and developing their business. There are two ways to invest in technology to leverage your business: 1) you can license the use of proprietary software and invest time (and sometimes money) learning how to use it. 2) you can download, install, configure opensource software and invest time (and sometimes money) learning how to use it. The big difference is: when your business or business model does not fit into the pretty little boxes software designers of proprietary software, you and your business are held captive to the systems provided to you, and you may wait for change or your software provider to adapt to your needs (if that ever happens). With opensource software, I can hire geeks to CHANGE sourcecode, or expand curent software functions to fit my business' needs. When I have a need, I am free to change or modify the systems my business is based upon. I can't do that with Microsoft CRM, Word, Excel, or Vista. I'm sorry Microsoft, I prefer to move my business at the speed of my needs, not yours, and as such, your systems will not restrain or restrict my companies' progress (and ultimately my bottom line). Hugh, the question you need to answer is: Does software drive business development, or does need drive software development? Hugh, I have to agree with you, you don’t know much about software.
Are you aware that your GapingVoid blog is driven by PHP (an open source pre-hypertext parsing language) and MySQL (another open source project, database system)?
It’s okay if you don’t know the ins and outs of software, you have a lot of company, as many of CEO’s and Shareholders know little about software either.
Hugh, did you install Moveabletype (the software that drives the Gapingvoid blog) yourself? Or did you have someone do it for you? I suspect you had people for that. Most CEO’s and Corporations have people for that too, they are called geeks or IT departments. They invest or pay people to do the geek thing for them so they don’t HAVE to learn much about software. They can stick to more lofty things like production, marketing, accounting, P&L, competing for and developing their business.
There are two ways to invest in technology to leverage your business:
1) you can license the use of proprietary software and invest time (and sometimes money) learning how to use it.
2) you can download, install, configure opensource software and invest time (and sometimes money) learning how to use it.
The big difference is: when your business or business model does not fit into the pretty little boxes software designers of proprietary software, you and your business are held captive to the systems provided to you, and you may wait for change or your software provider to adapt to your needs (if that ever happens). With opensource software, I can hire geeks to CHANGE sourcecode, or expand curent software functions to fit my business’ needs. When I have a need, I am free to change or modify the systems my business is based upon. I can’t do that with Microsoft CRM, Word, Excel, or Vista. I’m sorry Microsoft, I prefer to move my business at the speed of my needs, not yours, and as such, your systems will not restrain or restrict my companies’ progress (and ultimately my bottom line).
Hugh, the question you need to answer is:
Does software drive business development, or does need drive software development?

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18011 Rick Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:27:35 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18011 If you're question really is "how does Open Source meet the needs of shareholders and CEOs" I would have to tell you I have no idea. And like most "open source people" I really don't care. Open Source solves a lot of problems, and even if it's not better at it then Microsoft (although I firmly believe it is) it is certainly a hell of a lot more enjoyable. The freedom, the openness, the global exchange of ideas and solutions is such a breath of fresh air compared to the stale controlled environment of the MS-world. But if your real question is "how come MS still makes money?" I would have to say it's just fear an inertia on the part of it's clients. The MS-way stands to Open Source as traditional media stands to blogging. If you’re question really is “how does Open Source meet the needs of shareholders and CEOs” I would have to tell you I have no idea. And like most “open source people” I really don’t care. Open Source solves a lot of problems, and even if it’s not better at it then Microsoft (although I firmly believe it is) it is certainly a hell of a lot more enjoyable. The freedom, the openness, the global exchange of ideas and solutions is such a breath of fresh air compared to the stale controlled environment of the MS-world.
But if your real question is “how come MS still makes money?” I would have to say it’s just fear an inertia on the part of it’s clients. The MS-way stands to Open Source as traditional media stands to blogging.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18010 James Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:31:25 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18010 ehhh, being a Microsoft Partner myself, I can safely say I'm not treated as food. Whenever I have questions, it's only a phone call or e-mail away and I get the information I need to make an informed decision. Employees, like Steve Clayton, are going out of their way to make personal connections, leading me to believe there's a growing air of change in the way Microsoft will be conducting it's affairs (at least in regards to their Partners). I can guarantee you that I have gotten more from Microsoft than they have asked of me. Microsoft has gotten $300 of my earnings so far, which went to the purchase of an Action Pack, worth considerably more than $300. I've gotten hours upon hours of free training, virtual servers/desktops online for hands on training, etc. which allowed me to pass the 70-282 Exam to qualify as a Small Business Specialist. That alone has netted me several clients that were in negotiations with other service consultants. They may have had that mentality awhile ago, I can't say, but the picture you paint is definitely different than how they treat their Partners now.(at least in my experiences) If I sign up for a webinar, I get a phone call a week before, and the day before the webinar to remind me. This is something I don't pay them a dime for, and they still take the time to give me a friendly reminder. That shows concern for the partnership imho. ehhh, being a Microsoft Partner myself, I can safely say I’m not treated as food. Whenever I have questions, it’s only a phone call or e-mail away and I get the information I need to make an informed decision. Employees, like Steve Clayton, are going out of their way to make personal connections, leading me to believe there’s a growing air of change in the way Microsoft will be conducting it’s affairs (at least in regards to their Partners).
I can guarantee you that I have gotten more from Microsoft than they have asked of me. Microsoft has gotten $300 of my earnings so far, which went to the purchase of an Action Pack, worth considerably more than $300. I’ve gotten hours upon hours of free training, virtual servers/desktops online for hands on training, etc. which allowed me to pass the 70–282 Exam to qualify as a Small Business Specialist. That alone has netted me several clients that were in negotiations with other service consultants.
They may have had that mentality awhile ago, I can’t say, but the picture you paint is definitely different than how they treat their Partners now.(at least in my experiences) If I sign up for a webinar, I get a phone call a week before, and the day before the webinar to remind me. This is something I don’t pay them a dime for, and they still take the time to give me a friendly reminder. That shows concern for the partnership imho.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18009 steve clayton Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:22:14 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18009 Hugh - away on vacation but found an internet terminal while passing through Doha. The terminal was running XP on a ThinkPad :) Not sure if we're debating the right question here and it seems the old MS vs open source chestnut is the hot topic for people. As I think Adriana said, Microsoft is involved in open source projects. check out <a href="http://port25.technet.com/" rel="nofollow">http://port25.technet.com/</a> I think the more interesting conversation in light of microsoft partners was technology companies and their profitability selling open source vs. commercial software. I gotta go run and catch a flight but I liked some of JP's list - if I were setting up a business to sell tech would I go with commercial or open source as my offering? I have a bias so i'm not the right guy to answer but keen to see the discussion evolve :) Hugh — away on vacation but found an internet terminal while passing through Doha. The terminal was running XP on a ThinkPad
Not sure if we’re debating the right question here and it seems the old MS vs open source chestnut is the hot topic for people. As I think Adriana said, Microsoft is involved in open source projects. check out http://port25.technet.com/
I think the more interesting conversation in light of microsoft partners was technology companies and their profitability selling open source vs. commercial software. I gotta go run and catch a flight but I liked some of JP’s list — if I were setting up a business to sell tech would I go with commercial or open source as my offering? I have a bias so i’m not the right guy to answer but keen to see the discussion evolve

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18008 hugh macleod Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:12:00 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18008 Hey Maggie, fair enough, and thanks for the kind words, notwithstanding. Yeah, I got a lot of "shark jumping" comments both when I started the English Cut project, and the Stormhoek project. It goes with the territory. And yes, it isn't risk-free, either. But that's what keeps it interesting... Hey Maggie, fair enough, and thanks for the kind words, notwithstanding.
Yeah, I got a lot of “shark jumping” comments both when I started the English Cut project, and the Stormhoek project. It goes with the territory. And yes, it isn’t risk-free, either.
But that’s what keeps it interesting…

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18007 NotParker Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:10:30 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18007 One really good reason to avoid open source is the Microsoft/Novell deal. Essentially the open source fanatics attempted to have SUSE and mono (open source .net) and Miguel Icaza excommunicated for making a deal with the devil (Microsoft). The hate that poured out was incredible. I would NEVER trust that kind of fanaticism in my datacenter. What would happen to a business if it bet the company on the wrong distro - one that suddenly was hated by the faithful for doing something wrong. A 2nd really good reason is that open source is essentially a dishonest proxy war against Microsoft funded by IBM and others. One really good reason to avoid open source is the Microsoft/Novell deal.
Essentially the open source fanatics attempted to have SUSE and mono (open source .net) and Miguel Icaza excommunicated for making a deal with the devil (Microsoft). The hate that poured out was incredible.
I would NEVER trust that kind of fanaticism in my datacenter.
What would happen to a business if it bet the company on the wrong distro — one that suddenly was hated by the faithful for doing something wrong.
A 2nd really good reason is that open source is essentially a dishonest proxy war against Microsoft funded by IBM and others.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18006 Maggie Leber Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:42:06 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18006 I've been a fan of Hugh's work for quite some time. But when I listen carefully lately, I can hear the sound of Gapingvoid jumping over a very large Redmond shark, with a Koolaide chaser. It's very intoxicating to think one might get a piece of MSFT action, because the action is very large, and even a small fraction of it could make you a Paul Allen or a Charles Simonyi. Heady stuff, indeed. There was some discussion earlier about being a "Microsoft partner". Based on over 30 years in the computing business, I can tell you what "partner" really means in Microsoftian. It's a synonym for "food". I’ve been a fan of Hugh’s work for quite some time. But when I listen carefully lately, I can hear the sound of Gapingvoid jumping over a very large Redmond shark, with a Koolaide chaser. It’s very intoxicating to think one might get a piece of MSFT action, because the action is very large, and even a small fraction of it could make you a Paul Allen or a Charles Simonyi. Heady stuff, indeed.
There was some discussion earlier about being a “Microsoft partner”. Based on over 30 years in the computing business, I can tell you what “partner” really means in Microsoftian. It’s a synonym for “food”.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2007/04/16/how-well-does-open-source-currently-meet-the-needs-of-shareholders-and-ceos/comment-page-1/#comment-18005 Adriana Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:40:22 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=3664#comment-18005 Just remember that JP Rangaswami blogged about <a href="http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/04/12/10-reasons-for-enterprises-to-use-opensource/" rel="nofollow">10 reasons for enterprise to use open source</a> recently. And he is a man who ought to know. :) Just remember that JP Rangaswami blogged about 10 reasons for enterprise to use open source recently. And he is a man who ought to know.

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