On Nov 11, 7:36*pm, Lawrence D'Oliveiro <l...@geek-
central.gen.new_zealand> wrote:
> <http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=27130>
>
> I believe they're the second-largest proprietary-software company. First
> Microsoft had to go beyond the target of 5000 layoffs it announced earlier
> in the year, now this.
>
> Proprietary software is in decline.
but is OS in asendence?
I think the answer is a mixed no.....the increasing cost of proprietry
software is interesting, generally we are noticing hefty cost
increases usually a mixture of licencing changes that impact badly and
a % increase in the annual maintenance fee. So we are cutting back,
and/or user pays where we can. This raises some interesting results,
the biggest issue is the disconnection between the payer and the user,
if the user doesnt pay they want the latest and greatest....if they
are asked to cough up...the difference is startling....a huge % dont
and in fact ask for OS instead (where its available).
On the flip side with the release of "R" SAS is now offering a greatly
reduced site licence to defend its market and brain share, result we
are saving a packet and can run it just about any where, thanks to
open source competition...
In the private world my admittedly limit contact points to continuing
use of products like Office97/2000..some use of oOo, or pirating seems
to be increasing...in small businesses. Pirating can be a mixture of
straight out, or getting hands on acedemic/student versions...its
almost cheaper to do a course and become eligable student software
than pay list.
regards
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