Proprietary software vs OSS

Some states and some companies are turning to open source software for a variety of reasons, some mentioned in this chapter. Some companies (say Microsoft) have gone on the record against open source software. Explain some of the advantages of using proprietary software and cite your advantages with websites that take or mention these positions.

Open source software, according to Wikipedia, "is computer software that is available in source code form for which the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits users to study, change, and improve the software." Proprietary software is "computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of its owner. The purchaser, or licensee, is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, but restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering." The main difference between open source software (OSS) and proprietary software is OSS is free to download, therefore is costs a lot less than proprietary software.

However, proprietary software has its own advantages over OSS. According to the Ivertech website's article, "OSS vs. Proprietary software", the "advantages of proprietary software include: 1) Reliable, professional support and training available; 2) Packaged, comprehensive, modular formats; and 3) Regularly and easily updated." Also, from cnet news article, "Why choose proprietary software over open source?", it states the biggest advantage for proprietary software, "that proprietary software is easier to adopt--captures a moment in time, but one that is also in retreat." Therefore, OSS may be free to download, but proprietary software seems to be a lot easier to use. Who wouldn't want a software that's reliable and regulated and easily updated? The disadvantages of OSS according to Ivertech, which hand in hand are the advantages to proprietary software are, "1) Lack of professional support; 2) Evolving developer communities; 3) Lack of release co-ordination; and 4) Erratic updates." OSS just doesn't seem as organized and well led as proprietary software and that's a huge advantage for proprietary software. Especially when consumers are looking for all of those advantages when looking for software. They want something they can rely on, and proprietary software, they can definitely rely on.


References:

http://software.ivertech.com/_ivertechArticle13894_OpenSourceSoftwarevsProprietarySoftware.htm

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9789275-16.html