Comment Beware of anything free from industry giants... (Score 1) 26
This all sounds good, but does anyone really believe that the computer industry will truly embrace a trend that reduces their profits?
Granted, companies like Netscape have been forced in the past to give away their software, but remember that Netscape's true profit base has always been in their server software, which remains highly priced. High-end server applications will certainly never be free, and I suspect that as Linux becomes standardized, client applications will also begin to be charged. It IS possible to distribute Linux applications without source (as many companies such as id Software do, for good reason). After gaining favor with the rapidly growing Linux user-base, companies will probably begin shifting over to commercial products once again... after all, the most important goal of any company is money for the board and shareholders - the idealist that support "open source" will not last long is such an environment unless they make concessions.
Granted, companies like Netscape have been forced in the past to give away their software, but remember that Netscape's true profit base has always been in their server software, which remains highly priced. High-end server applications will certainly never be free, and I suspect that as Linux becomes standardized, client applications will also begin to be charged. It IS possible to distribute Linux applications without source (as many companies such as id Software do, for good reason). After gaining favor with the rapidly growing Linux user-base, companies will probably begin shifting over to commercial products once again... after all, the most important goal of any company is money for the board and shareholders - the idealist that support "open source" will not last long is such an environment unless they make concessions.
