1.What are the pros and cons of having so much open source software enabling the Internet?
Pros- Few if any licensing fees, which means it can be widely installed in many places with out having to pay multiple times. If there is a failure with the code’s creator, the code will still continue to exist and be edited, independently of the company. Because everyone can access the code, the improvements and fixes can be updated much quicker than if a company’s programmer is updating the code to perfection then releasing the updates. For a large company, the IT staff can use the open-source software as a shell and tailor it fit the needs of the company.
Cons- Some open-source software can involve small feels, so it’s not completely free all of the time. Because there are constant updates and changes, it can be hard to keep up with the latest version of the software. If you need help or troubleshooting tips, there is no company to call for customer service, which leaves the user on their own to solve problems with the software.
2.For what types of applications do you think open source is better than non-open source software? When is it worse?
I think web browsers are better when open-sourced versus non-open source. For word processing, spreadsheets, etc., I would state the opposite, than non-open source software is better than open-source. It all depends on what you are looking for in the software, and which version of the soft-ware better fits your needs.
3.Find a for-profit company that is distributing open source software. What is the software? How does the company make money? Is it revenue sustainable?
Redhat.com is the world's leading provider of Linux, but it also offers a variety of other open-source softwares. It is used by more than 90% of Fortune 500 Copmanies. The company is publicly traded with revenues over $400 million a year.
4.Do you use any open source software on your personal computer, such as the Linux operating system or the Firefox browser? Why or why not?
I use Firefox web browser. I think the web browser works a lot more efficiently than other comparable web browsers and supports the majority of web pages, unlike other browsers.
Case Two:
Week 12/ Chapters 8 & 9 23