Open source software has a relatively small market share percentage when compared to proprietary alternatives (those created and owned by companies such as Microsoft). Since open source software is free, why more people don’t use them?
Open source software?
Open source software has a relatively small market share percentage when compared to proprietary alternatives (those created and owned by companies such as Microsoft). Since open source software is free, why more people don’t use them?
4 Responses
March 27th, 2009 at 4:00 am
The main reason from a corporate point of view is that open source softwares don’t have support like licensed softwares. For personal use, linux is better than windows. especially OpenSuse. But its all your personal choice.
March 27th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Mainly because open source software to some people is harder to use and may be off putting … I know that’s not always the case but big funded programs are usually hard to beat (MS, Adobe) and are advertised.
Also most schools, works use payfor stuff so it’s being used to it as they have support, etc
Personally I don’t see the point in paying for something when you could try a free alternative.
March 29th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Also, a lot of people aren’t aware of the open source applications. Most people just use what comes with the computer. Only those who really use the computer a lot will use open source applications, and even then the majority will use something like Firefox, and not necessarily other apps. I think the biggest reason is lack of knowledge that they’re out there.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I can think of 3 reasons.
1. Many people just don’t know about the alternatives apart from Mac and PC.
2. People feel that if they pay for something, it must be more valuable and better in quality than something that is free.
3. Marketing. Mac and Windows advertise and run ads all the time. Linux and other open source software does not have a corporation behind it, so no push to advertise.