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Open Source for business
The September Personal Computer World carried an excellent article on using Linux. However it also contained a response to a letter from Tom Calloway of the Open Source Consortium that prompted me to respond to the confused views expressed. [You can also read this letter on Steve's blog ]
PCW regular contributor Alan Stevens gave a number of reasons for small business not to use Open Source software. Taking each point in turn:
1) Lack of familiarity affects productivity.
Every company has its own requirements and you cannot expect all to use the same processes and software. Companies will use programs that others don't anyway and even considering only an Office suite (say), companies have their own templates and ways of using them. To be honest Linux and
OpenOffice are now so close in features to Windows and MS Office that familiarity is not really an issue. Vista will mean Windows will be largely unfamiliar again and the gap probably larger. Each release of products such as Office is very different. This is a direct result of the marketing needs of proprietary software to show something new for the money you are forced spent, just look at Office 12. In contrast Open Source programs often release with no obvious changes as the effort has
gone into behind the scenes quality.
It can be a very good short term investment to get over unfamiliarity otherwise you may miss out on using the most productive and safest solution. The trick is to manage the learning process and reduce risk. Schoolforge have some ideas for trying Open Source programs.
2) Difficult and expensive to get support
That completely missed the point made by Tom that companies do provide excellent support and Linux is generally more reliable and secure. An article in the same magazine showed how insecure XP is and how complex it is to secure. In addition the large Open Source projects have excellent on line community support that usually gets a rapid and effective response (but you may miss out on listening to hours musac whilst waiting on the phone). In fact the Open Source business model is
often to focus on providing support as the software is low cost. Thus it is the focus of the vendors efforts, not just a must-supply add on.
3)Don't use Open Source unless you are confident you can master it
Well that could apply equally to Windows or any proprietary software when you don't want to rely on external support, perhaps more so. Again an article in the same magazine showed how insecure and complex Windows is 'out of the box'. Good Linux distrobutions are secure 'out of the box' and much less time is often needed for administration. You can now and Ubuntu 6.0.6 LTS to the list of formally supported Linuxs.
4)Linux is OK when using appliances with OS code hidden behind web User Interfaces
This is ambiguous. Is the argument that Linux is OK when running a web browser used to access web programs. It is true that web UIs can be accessed from any system and look much the same but then Open source is a non issue. Except I want a safe browser that confirms to standards not one that has not been updated for ages due to commercial reasons and FireFox delivers that very well.
Is the assertion that Open Source is best when hidden behind a web UI? Well the UI is usually an integral part of the Open Source program - not a bolt on. The quality of the UI is independant of the development and licencing model used. However Open Source UIs are likely to follow Open Standards closely and thus be usable in any browser. Finally if the inference is that Open Source is not user friendly and needs to be hidden then projects such as Firefox have utterly disproved that out of
date notion. FireFox arguably leads the browser features at this point in time.
A very important issue for small business is that using proprietary solutions can mean that your data is stored in 'secret' formats and is thus effectively owned by the vendor. This so called 'lock in' can be avoided by using programs that support Open Standards and they are usually Open Source. In addition though upgrades and patches are often rapidly released with Open Source, you are not forced to fork out on upgrades at the whim of the vendor (and then have to learn to use all
those changed features).
Members of the OSC and other companies are supporting Open Source solutions that make every sense for small businesses and especially charities and religious organisations. These organisations often have better uses for cash than spending it on expensive software licences, support and administration costs.
Steve Lee
Company Names - MOBILE2WORLD LIMITED
Registered No.05467565a
Address: 310 HARROW ROAD, WEMBLEY, HA96LL
Phone number: +44-7031851884
We are the leading company in the World of Mobile phones, the name of our company is MOBILE 2WORLD LIMITED . We have all brand and Model of Mobile phones , we specialised in the sales and promotion of the most demanding Network services e.g like T-MOBILE US, T-Mobile UK, ORANGE SERVICES, VODAFONE SERIVES and CINGULAR WIRELESS. Our phones are accompany with letter of authenticity and has 18months international warranty and information warranty. We operate a 100% RETURN POLICY GUARANTEE , we reach the world through realiable courier like DHL, FEDEX and EMS with 48hrs fast delivery.We have the integrety that we have been maintaining for the past five years of operation ,we have never for once disappointed our invaluable customers our rules and regulation are so soft to comply with.Buyers enjoy our prefential treatment. For the purchase of Mobile phones you can contact us via email at mobile2worldltds@yahoo.co.uk
mobile2worldltds@hotmail.com. Here are some of our stock.
MOTORLA V6............................... $150
MOTOROLA RAZOR V3 .........................$100
Motorola w220 .............................$110
Motorola A1200 ............................$120
Motorola A728..............................$120
Motorola v3x...............................$125
Motorola E895............................. $130
Motorola L6................................$130
Motorola E680i.............................$135
Motorla A1010..............................$140
Motorola SLVR l7...........................$140
NEXTEL i930 .............................. $130
NEXTEL i860 ...............................$120
Nextel i870................................$120
SONY ERICSSON P910i ......................$150
SONY ERICSSON W800i .......................$150
MOTOROLA MPX 220 ......................... $130
MOTOROLA MPX 300 ......................... $140
Sony Ericsson M600 ........................$200
NOKIA 9500 ................................$200
Nokia 7610 ................................$120
Nokia 6680 ...............................$130
NOKIA 9300 ................................$140
Nokia N70..................................$160
Nokia N73..................................$165
Nokia N80..................................$170
Nokia N90..................................$180
Nokia N91..................................$190
Nokia N92..................................$190
Nokia N93..................................$240
NOKIA 7380.................................$150
Nokia 7370.................................$140
Nokia E61..................................$135
Nokia 6234.................................$125
Nokia 7710.................................$145
SAMSUNG D500 ............................. $150
Samsung SCH-i730.......................... $160
Samsung SPH-i500 .........................$150
Samsung p777 ............................. $170
Samsung SPH-i330 ......................... $170
Samsung SCH-A890 ..........................$180
JUICY COUTURE SIDEKICK
Juicy couture sidekick ii..................$130
T-Mobile mister cartoon ...................$150
T-Mobile MDA ..............................$200
NOW RELEASED SIDEKICK 3....................$250
NOKIA 8800 ................................$220
Nokia 3230 ................................$120
Nokia 7280 ............................... $140
Nokia 3250 ................................$150
Sony Ericsson S710a ...................... $150
sony ericsson k750i .......................$150
Sony Ericsson V800 ....................... $145
Sony Ericsson DPY1011451/8 ................$130
Nokia 6670 ............................... $150
SONY ERICSSON S700i ...................... $150
Sony Ericsson w800i........................$160
Sony Ericsson w900.........................$160
Sony Ericsson v630.........................$155
Qtek 9000 .................................$200
Qtek 9100 .................................$180
Qtek 8100..................................$160
Qtek 2020i.................................$120
Qtek 1010..................................$100
Qtek 8080..................................$165
Qtek 8310..................................$160
Qtek 9090..................................$170
Cingular 8125 .............................$270
PLAYSTATION
playstation 1 .............................$120
playstation 2..............................$150
Apple Ipod
Apple 20 GB iPod Nano .....................$60
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Pink M9435LL/A .......$70
Apple 40 GB iPod photo……$80.00USD
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9160LL/A ....$70
Apple 60 GB iPod Photo M9830LL/A ..........$100
Apple 60 GB iPod photo ...................$55
Apple 30 GB iPod Photo M9829LL/A ..........$95
Apple 512 MB iPod Shuffle MP3 Player ......$50
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Blue M9436LL/A .......$70
Apple 2 GB iPod Nano ......................$90
Apple 30 GB iPod Vidoe ....................$110
Apple 60 GB iPod Vidoe ....................$150
O2 PHONES
XDA Trion .................................$210
xda Neo .................................$200
xda Atom .................................$230
xda Orion .................................$230
xda Exec .................................$240
xda Mini 5 ................................$235
xda IIi ...................................$180
xda II ....................................$200
BenQ PHONES
M580 ......................................$220
U700 ......................................$250
z2 ......................................$230
M315 ......................................$210
M350 ......................................$210
P50 .......................................$210
P31 .......................................$205
Eten PHONES
M600+ .....................................$220
G500 .....................................$210
M600 .....................................$210
M500 ......................................$200
P300 ......................................$190
P700 ......................................$200
XCute PHONES
DV80 ......................................$200
DV50 ......................................$190
DV2 ......................................$180
DV1 ......................................$180
VK Mobile PHONES
VK2200 ....................................$220
VK7000 ....................................$250
VK5000 ....................................$230
VK4000 ....................................$220
VK4500 ....................................$220
HAIER PHONES
N60 ........................................$250
T3000 ......................................$245
V7000 .....................................$260
V280 .......................................$255
BLACKBERRY PHONES
8707V .................................... $220
8700C .................................... $200
7100X .................................... $230
7100V ................................... $220
7730 .................................... $230
PALM PHONES
Treo 650 ................................ $200
Treo 600 ................................ $180
Treo 270 ................................ $170
Treo 180 ................................ $160
PANTECH PHONES
PU 5000 .................................... $300
PG 1600 ................................... $250
PG 3600V ................................ $270
PG 2800 .................................. $260
PG 3500 .................................. $265
PG 8000 ................................... $300
Our product are brand new unlocked , you can book your order at E:mail :
mobile2worldltds@yahoo.co.uk
mobile2worldltds@hotmail.com
Advertiser
SCOUT
SALES DIRECTOR.
Thanks for the interest you have in us all a while.
for sale
Posted by ms terry smith | August 26, 2006 3:34 AM
Company Names - MOBILE2WORLD LIMITED
Registered No.05467565a
Address: 310 HARROW ROAD, WEMBLEY, HA96LL
Phone number: +44-7031851884
We are the leading company in the World of Mobile phones, the name of our company is MOBILE 2WORLD LIMITED . We have all brand and Model of Mobile phones , we specialised in the sales and promotion of the most demanding Network services e.g like T-MOBILE US, T-Mobile UK, ORANGE SERVICES, VODAFONE SERIVES and CINGULAR WIRELESS. Our phones are accompany with letter of authenticity and has 18months international warranty and information warranty. We operate a 100% RETURN POLICY GUARANTEE , we reach the world through realiable courier like DHL, FEDEX and EMS with 48hrs fast delivery.We have the integrety that we have been maintaining for the past five years of operation ,we have never for once disappointed our invaluable customers our rules and regulation are so soft to comply with.Buyers enjoy our prefential treatment. For the purchase of Mobile phones you can contact us via email at mobile2worldltds@yahoo.co.uk
mobile2worldltds@hotmail.com. Here are some of our stock.
MOTORLA V6............................... $150
MOTOROLA RAZOR V3 .........................$100
Motorola w220 .............................$110
Motorola A1200 ............................$120
Motorola A728..............................$120
Motorola v3x...............................$125
Motorola E895............................. $130
Motorola L6................................$130
Motorola E680i.............................$135
Motorla A1010..............................$140
Motorola SLVR l7...........................$140
NEXTEL i930 .............................. $130
NEXTEL i860 ...............................$120
Nextel i870................................$120
SONY ERICSSON P910i ......................$150
SONY ERICSSON W800i .......................$150
MOTOROLA MPX 220 ......................... $130
MOTOROLA MPX 300 ......................... $140
Sony Ericsson M600 ........................$200
NOKIA 9500 ................................$200
Nokia 7610 ................................$120
Nokia 6680 ...............................$130
NOKIA 9300 ................................$140
Nokia N70..................................$160
Nokia N73..................................$165
Nokia N80..................................$170
Nokia N90..................................$180
Nokia N91..................................$190
Nokia N92..................................$190
Nokia N93..................................$240
NOKIA 7380.................................$150
Nokia 7370.................................$140
Nokia E61..................................$135
Nokia 6234.................................$125
Nokia 7710.................................$145
SAMSUNG D500 ............................. $150
Samsung SCH-i730.......................... $160
Samsung SPH-i500 .........................$150
Samsung p777 ............................. $170
Samsung SPH-i330 ......................... $170
Samsung SCH-A890 ..........................$180
JUICY COUTURE SIDEKICK
Juicy couture sidekick ii..................$130
T-Mobile mister cartoon ...................$150
T-Mobile MDA ..............................$200
NOW RELEASED SIDEKICK 3....................$250
NOKIA 8800 ................................$220
Nokia 3230 ................................$120
Nokia 7280 ............................... $140
Nokia 3250 ................................$150
Sony Ericsson S710a ...................... $150
sony ericsson k750i .......................$150
Sony Ericsson V800 ....................... $145
Sony Ericsson DPY1011451/8 ................$130
Nokia 6670 ............................... $150
SONY ERICSSON S700i ...................... $150
Sony Ericsson w800i........................$160
Sony Ericsson w900.........................$160
Sony Ericsson v630.........................$155
Qtek 9000 .................................$200
Qtek 9100 .................................$180
Qtek 8100..................................$160
Qtek 2020i.................................$120
Qtek 1010..................................$100
Qtek 8080..................................$165
Qtek 8310..................................$160
Qtek 9090..................................$170
Cingular 8125 .............................$270
PLAYSTATION
playstation 1 .............................$120
playstation 2..............................$150
Apple Ipod
Apple 20 GB iPod Nano .....................$60
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Pink M9435LL/A .......$70
Apple 40 GB iPod photo……$80.00USD
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9160LL/A ....$70
Apple 60 GB iPod Photo M9830LL/A ..........$100
Apple 60 GB iPod photo ...................$55
Apple 30 GB iPod Photo M9829LL/A ..........$95
Apple 512 MB iPod Shuffle MP3 Player ......$50
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Blue M9436LL/A .......$70
Apple 2 GB iPod Nano ......................$90
Apple 30 GB iPod Vidoe ....................$110
Apple 60 GB iPod Vidoe ....................$150
O2 PHONES
XDA Trion .................................$210
xda Neo .................................$200
xda Atom .................................$230
xda Orion .................................$230
xda Exec .................................$240
xda Mini 5 ................................$235
xda IIi ...................................$180
xda II ....................................$200
BenQ PHONES
M580 ......................................$220
U700 ......................................$250
z2 ......................................$230
M315 ......................................$210
M350 ......................................$210
P50 .......................................$210
P31 .......................................$205
Eten PHONES
M600+ .....................................$220
G500 .....................................$210
M600 .....................................$210
M500 ......................................$200
P300 ......................................$190
P700 ......................................$200
XCute PHONES
DV80 ......................................$200
DV50 ......................................$190
DV2 ......................................$180
DV1 ......................................$180
VK Mobile PHONES
VK2200 ....................................$220
VK7000 ....................................$250
VK5000 ....................................$230
VK4000 ....................................$220
VK4500 ....................................$220
HAIER PHONES
N60 ........................................$250
T3000 ......................................$245
V7000 .....................................$260
V280 .......................................$255
BLACKBERRY PHONES
8707V .................................... $220
8700C .................................... $200
7100X .................................... $230
7100V ................................... $220
7730 .................................... $230
PALM PHONES
Treo 650 ................................ $200
Treo 600 ................................ $180
Treo 270 ................................ $170
Treo 180 ................................ $160
PANTECH PHONES
PU 5000 .................................... $300
PG 1600 ................................... $250
PG 3600V ................................ $270
PG 2800 .................................. $260
PG 3500 .................................. $265
PG 8000 ................................... $300
Our product are brand new unlocked , you can book your order at E:mail :
mobile2worldltds@yahoo.co.uk
mobile2worldltds@hotmail.com
Advertiser
SCOUT
SALES DIRECTOR.
Thanks for the interest you have in us all a while.
for sale
Posted by ms terry smith | August 26, 2006 3:35 AM