Open source or proprietary software, which way to go?

In the past week, the Kenyan media has been awash with reports that cyber cafes are ditching proprietary software for the perceived cheaper and user-friendly open source software.

This was prompted by a step up in the fight against piracy by software maker Microsoft in conjunction with the Kenya Copyright Board (Kecobo).

The duo has, in the recent past, raided several businesses suspected to be dealing in unlicensed Microsoft software, confiscating computers and instituting legal action against offenders.

The raid on businesses followed a 30-day amnesty that was issued by Kecobo in November 2011, urging end-users running counterfeit software on their computers to discontinue illegal use and acquire genuine versions without penalty.

Dilemma

So what are the real benefits of adopting open source and at what cost?

This is the big question that users must grapple with in the dilemma of choosing either side of the divide.

Free and open source software is just that; a version of software available free of charge as an alternative to conventional commercial models like Microsoft Operating System.

Open source software can be used and disseminated at will, and the source code is open and can be changed as required.

In a quick survey by BDLife, it emerged that most business owners prefer open source because of reduced dependence on software vendors and to lower the total cost of software ownership.

However, end users have often argued that they find proprietary software more user friendly than open source.

Josphat Gachie, a computer scientist argues that the reason why most people prefer proprietary software like that offered by Microsoft is the belief that it is superior and friendlier than the open source ones.

“It is unfortunate that even in schools and colleges, learners are taught using Microsoft packages making it the only platform they are used to…in real sense, open source is just as good if users get accustomed to its look and feel,” argues Gachie, whose cyber is running on Ubuntu, an open source operating system.

Just like most IT decision makers, Gachie recognises that open source software is not really free.

Whether open source software is less costly to administer than proprietary software, argue the experts, depends largely on a ready pool of resources trained on the system, the availability of administration tools that allow system administrators to manage a greater number of systems, and the number of version upgrades and patches that are issued by the developer.