Re: Good open source primer?
on Tue, Mar 25, 2003 at 01:47:57PM -0500, stan (sdb13@meadwestvaco.com) wrote:
> I found myself in a discussion wiht my bosses boss this morning. It was
> about how we had time synched all the *NIX boxes.
>
> Somewhere in the middle of the discussion, it became quite clear that he
> simply _did not understand_ the concept of obtaining a peice of software
> that he did not have to pay for :-(
>
> I guess it never occured to me that there could be this lack of
> understanding.
>
> I would like to provide him with a gentle introduction to open
> source/public doamin software.
>
> Any susgestions?
Several.
This is something I *really* need to put down someplace I can
remember...
For starters:
- Business case: Open Source Initiative http://www.opensource.org/
OSI was formed specifically to address the concerns of "selling"
free software to business.
- Free software case: http://www.fsf.org/ This tends to go over
better with people who've been around long enough to understand what
this is about, and what the benefits of true freedom are.
- _Open Sources_, DiBona, et al, O'Reilly & Associates. A collection
of essays addressing free software, much addressed at FSF and OSI.
1999. Recommended.
In addition to these:
- IBM did a very in-depth early study ~1999, some of which was
published as marketing material, though I haven't dug for it on
their website. Very persuasive stuff.
- You might want to look over the following which make a case for why
free software works on a pragmatic basis:
http://zgp.org/pipermail/linux-elitists/2003-January/005558.html
Peace.
--
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com> http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
What Part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?
Support the EFF, they support you: http://www.eff.org/
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