[Linux-aus] ABC restricts open source option

[Nathan Bailey]

Michael Still <mikal at stillhq.com> wrote:
>How can free _not_ be cost effective?

Cost of development is typically 10-20% of the cost of maintenance.
Open source's price is not its most compelling point, it's the lack of
lock-in that is compelling.

Good standards compliance that ensures low integration costs and the
choice of multiple vendors (if your current vendor folds, you can find
another one, or more typically, if your current vendor tries monopoly
pricing or poor support/service, you can find another one).

No serious IT manager makes a procurement decision based solely on
purchase price.  Maintenance costs and vendor viability[1] are very
important characteristics too, as well as a range of other factors
(implementation/integration costs, interoperability costs with
suppliers, partners, vendors, etc.).

re,
N
1: Most companies aren't development shops, and don't want to be.
They want someone else to stand behind the product.