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Open Source Recession-Proof

Microsoft may have ROI and TCO reports that claim open source is more expensive to operate, but IT pros in this recession aren't buying it. The claim, that is. What they are buying is open source -- lots of open source, apparently. IDC reports that open source will grow almost 25 percent this year, and it may even go higher.

While OSes have driven the bulk of open source sales, apps and middleware are starting to really take off. Some of these apps are even running in the cloud.

Incidentally, I like the honesty of releasing predictions and then qualifying them based on changing circumstances. That's the same reason I don't always mind when politicians flip-flop; changing one's mind as the world changes is a good thing.

Are your open source views changing? Is it more or less expensive and more or less polished than commercial software? Answers can be sent free of charge and without license to [email protected].

Posted by Doug Barney on August 07, 2009


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