Why aren't we all using Open Source Software?

Listening to Axel Brun’s Podcast on open source software, I began to wonder why we all aren’t using open source software. Why commercial software, in particular Microsoft, has not become redundant?

The first appeal of open source software is that it is free. Why do we pay to use commercial products such as Windows and Microsoft Office when we can use Linux and OpenOffice for free? Rather than waiting extended periods of time for the next commercial software upgrade, we can get continually download open source software upgrades as they occur. And we can download them for free.

Commercial companies are restricted as they can only employ a limited amount of staff to work on their software. Open source has an unlimited number of volunteers working on and improving software for a combination of both altruistic and individual motivations (Feller et al, p.xix). Therefore with the potential of more people working on the software, there is the potential for much faster development. Also, with more transparency, developments occur in direct response to user requests and suggestions.

Open Source seems to good to be true until you consider its limitations discussed by Axel Bruns. Open Source software relies on attracting and maintaining a viable community. If at sometime the community drops off then the software will cease to exist. Similarly, open source relies on maintaining interest in its community of user and redevelopers. If there is no interest in the project then it won’t continue. Open source software evolves to answer developers needs not end users. And therefore many open source projects do not focus on user interface. Commercial software companies can motivate there employees to do tasks that are seen as boring but are vital to the products success. In open source, the necessary and boring parts of project may not be done. Therefore, users may feel reluctant due to a lack of trust with the reliability of such software.

Finally, the point that Axel made that people become comfortable and familiar with commercial products and don’t like the idea of moving and learning new ways of doing things is something that I am guilty of. While this is off the topic of open source software, I am reluctant to change from a PC to a Mac purely because I have only ever used a PC. I know how it works and I am comfortable using it. The Mac seems so foreign to me and so while I can still use a PC, i don’t see a reason to learn how to use a Mac. I feel the same with open source, while it does have its benefits, until there is a real need for me to use it, I will stay put with commercial software.