Is Open Source Different In Europe Than In the US? 399
An anonymous reader writes "The first Europe Open Source Think Tank just concluded and Larry Augustin posted some interesting observations on open source in Europe versus the US. Essentially, he says that users in Europe care more about the open source nature of a product than do US users. US users are just trying to save a buck while European users actually care about access to the source code. Do Slashdot readers observe the same thing? Are the reasons for using open source software different in other parts of the world as well?"
Oh behold the difference.. (Score:2, Funny)
>> Are the reasons for using open source software different in other parts of the world as well?
In Soviet Russia open source software uses you.
I know, I know.. Mod me down now. Thank you.
Yes (Score:2, Funny)
In Europe, OSS is metric
Re:EU Attitudes In General Are Different (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Get real (Score:1, Funny)
C'mon.
American -- GNU Hurd
European -- Linux.
Any questions?
Re:For shame (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Primary vs Secondary (Score:5, Funny)
Once activation is complete every time you start the software it will connect to our server that is online most of the time to verify your access. This process is very quick due to our server's high speed 56k modem. Also, periodically while you are using the software it will take a screenshot and send it to the server for a specialist to determine if you are using the software in accordance with the EULA. This is to ensure the highest quality service support.
Re:Gee not a little biased. (Score:3, Funny)
I am from Europe (Score:2, Funny)
I like to think of myself as someone who cares a lot for Open Source.
Then again, I like to think of myself as someone who likes to distance himself from the masses.
This article discomforts me.
US: land of the free (Score:4, Funny)
Microsoft is an American company (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Say what? (Score:3, Funny)
...and some people have a problem with understanding what a generalization is..
generalization (noun)
A substitution for understanding, itself generally wrong in a sort of recursive intentional ignorance which leads to the production of millions upon millions of bumper stickers.
Re:Really? (Score:3, Funny)
It will really depend on the nature of your clients, regardless of the country...
As an example: we're a -medium- (not large) size retail company here... Licensing cost is so freagin insignificant to us, we don't even -consider- it when picking a product (unless its something huge, like 200k a year for a single server license, like some enterprise solutions can be).
When we open a store, you need the building (in downtown that can be millions), the licenses for the POS services (not even the software, just the deal with the banks), the custom development (need an army of admins and project managers to do it), etc.
Then when we throw on the balance "Oh, and the guy in the backstore needs Office", you're talking a 1 to 20 million dollar project, and you're tossing an extra license on our volume licensing agreement...its going to end up something like 60$. It gets lost in the round, and would even if instead of Office, it was 3D studio max or whatever. We do .NET development, and recently we asked for extra MSDN licenses, which, for our needs, are about 1400$ or something like that (MSDN Pro with Visual Studio Pro). The first thing the guy handling the budget said was "Oh, why don't you want the full Team Suite? Its only a bit over 10 grands per license, and you only need 10".
Because really, compared to the cost of other things, and the salary we need to pay for our employees, a company with a few thousand employees is spitting millions left and right to begin with. So you'll really go for whatever solution either fits your needs best, or makes your employees happiest and comfy (because you don't want them stressed out, or quitting, requiring more training, etc, because that costs a heck of a lot more).
In opposition, if you have, let say, a small real estate investment firm right now... every CAL of Exchange and license of Windows stings. They'll have a totally different vision.
Re:For shame (Score:3, Funny)
Where the hell is "Redmond, Seattle"?
Re:For shame (Score:4, Funny)
No, come on, you didn't. Not the first time around anyway. However it would have looked better to get it wrong first and right later than the other way around.
Re:Holy FUD Batman! (Score:1, Funny)
What the hell is OpenSQL? Is it a fork of MySQL or PostgreSQL? And surely by "real SQL" you don't mean MS's pitiful SQL Server?
Hey now, ease up on SQL Server. I'd use it over MySQL any day of the week.
Granted, I prefer PostgreSQL over SQL Server, and would also consider Firebird or Ingres if Postgres wasn't around..
Re:For shame (Score:4, Funny)
Re:For shame (Score:5, Funny)
In America we call that Lazy, Elitists, who do not contribute positive to the overall society.
In Europe we call that bad punctuation.