Enterprise open source Toolkit

The problems with open source

Robert L. Bogue Tech Republic

Published: 08 Aug 2005 11:00 BST

There are few topics more heated than the discussion surrounding open source vs Microsoft. This discussion typically focuses on the differences between Linux and Windows as an operating system. This is, however, only one dimension of the problem. You have to consider both the operating system and the office software that most users use. You must add to that everything else you have to support that isn't included in the basic office applications.

Comparable and compatible
One of the arguments towards placing open source software on the desktop is that it's "comparable and compatible". Comparable means it's largely similar; it performs the same functions. Compatible is saying simply that it works with the recognised leader in the area (Microsoft). For instance, Linux is comparable to Windows in that it's an operating system. It's compatible because it can read and write files to a Windows-based server (through Samba and some configuration.) Similarly, OpenOffice is comparable to Microsoft Office in that it offers the same basic functions. It's compatible in that it can read and write Microsoft Office files.

The rub comes in when you evaluate how comparable and compatible the solution is. From a comparable standpoint, does the solution offer the same user experience in terms of ease-of-use? How much will change from what's already familiar? How about help? Despite the challenges with the help in commercial systems, it's substantially better than the help files that exist for open source software.

So how compatible is compatible? OpenOffice warns you the first time you start OpenOffice Write the ability to write Microsoft Word format is not guaranteed. It does, in fact, warn you that you may lose some of your formatting. How many documents need to be reformatted to pay for a licence of Microsoft Office? How much embarrassment will it cause to have your documents arrive at a customer in a poorly formatted state?

In the end, you have to ask hard questions about how comparable it is — and how much the differences are worth. You'll have to ask how much time you're willing to give up when compatibility requires extra steps or when it isn't compatible.