OSDCM

A Storm Is Coming And Some Will Perish

Posted on May 9th, 2008 in Main, Uncategorized

Did you ever wonder why hurricanes still manage to kill people? We have advanced notice, most have the ability to evacuate, but some still fall. It is human nature to keep with old paradigms, to make judgments based on tradition or filamentary, to fear change. We have weathered storms this size before, we don’t need to change our behavior. Because this is the human condition, we see this attitude paralleled in the software industry. The unexperienced seek the advice of the experienced. The problem is sometimes the shepherds by no fault of there own, lead their flock astray into the eye of the storm.

When I was a child DOS was king. Few people had computers, schools were coned by apple’s marketing, a sin for which I don’t think they will ever be forgiven. So I was a pro PC guy, then a collage kid found a way to sell licenses to use his software, and Microsoft revolutionized the industry. Eventually eating up little DOS. In the background the telecoms were developing and expanding UNIX, because the home PC OS was just not robust enough to do the job. As time passed I was an advocate for the super power that is windows because my only alternative was macs. Even as a young man I saw that open compatibility, in a hardware setting was a good thing. It took some time for me to find an OS that embraces that same philosophy.

Linux is a powerful force, moving through our world , forcing the old guard to change.

Linux is a powerful force, moving through our world , forcing the old guard into that uncomfortable, place where new meets old. Some get it, and embrace it while others run in fear. I heard a story last night that a certain computer vendor would never recommend an open source solution. This I am tying to understand, with all of the BSOD, worm viruses of all kinds, hacker target number one. I mean seriously who do you blame when something goes wrong? Is it the customers fault for not properly educating himself, the vendor for the bad recommendation, or the software supplier? I would and do recommend Open Source software when it fits the needs of the customer. There are many reasons why, its secure, its obscure so not as much of a target for hackers, and its configurable. Do you work as a software consultant? Do you shy away from open source software? Can you tell me why?