Posts by Mathew Snyder

Verizon Wireless ends unlimited data plans

New Every Two?

Does "upgrade your phone" mean only mid-contract or does New Every Two (for those of us with one left) fall under the existing users bit?

Dear Obama: Please consider open-source a waste of your time

Speaking of myths

"Open source software has its place, just not in the mission-critical data center."

Tell that to all the enterprises that use it to run their datacenters. Google, Morgan Stanley, the Italian Ministry of Economics among the many.

I'm going to guess, Anonymous Coward, that your opinion is skewed.

All software is buggy. There is no such thing as the perfect app and Microsoft has proven that time and time again. As has all the open source projects which release updates.

"An open source solution is only open source until it finds a buyer."

You are confusing the openness of the software with the freedom (as in beer) of the software. Open source does not imply freeware. Linus Torvalds has expressed this himself, he the creator of the Linux kernel (that said, let's make sure we understand that technically speaking Linux is only the kernel while a distribution comprises the entire package of apps and the kernel). You can easily go to the MySQL website and find its source code. Additionally, you can find different tiers of MySQL licenses; some free some not-so-free. Likewise for going to kernel.org and finding the source code for Linux.

It seems to me the only stodginess is your inability to see past your little world and into that which already exists. A world in which Linux (using the general application of the word) is already running a vast portion of the worlds network infrastructures. No, it isn't top dog. No, it likely won't be for a while, if ever. However, it is here to stay and for good reason: reliability and cost.

Think what you want, Anonymous Coward, about the viability of Linux, but it has already proven you wrong.

I don't understand the hate

So, why are so many people up in arms over this? Especially folks that live in a country with so many socialist mandates?

Quite frankly, I think it is a good idea to consider open source software. While idealogically I'm in favor of the "free as in freedom" side of it, I'm more concerned about the "free as in beer" side of it when it comes to what the Federal government is spending. I don't know if you've looked out your window lately but we're all in what has been called a global economic crisis. Saving money on technology infrastructure is quite a good way help stave off the already growing deficit.

Yes, Red Hat would charge for a consultancy if it were needed. However, bringing in an outside party should always be a last resort. Hiring experts who would provide internal support should always be the number one option. Besides, how much do you think is being spent on commercial licenses AND consultancies to fix problems?

I suppose I just don't understand where the hate comes from.