Week 8 - Response to Content

Advantages and disadvantages of proprietary software vs. free software?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68X9xI6R-QI

The main difference between proprietary software and open source software is that the proprietary software is obligatory and the open source software is optional.

Proprietary software is software developed by a supplier and made available for you to use under a licence. The licence sets out how the software can be used and usually prohibits you from doing certain things.

Advantages of proprietary software include:
1. Reliable, professional support and training available
2. Packaged, comprehensive, modular formats
3. Regularly and easily updated.

The main disadvantages are:
1. Costly
2. has closed standards that hinder further development.

Open source software is made available under a licence that allows you to make copies and pass them on to anyone. The software comes with its source code - which you can change to meet your needs.

The advantages of open source software include:
1. lower software licensing costs
2. no supplier lock-in
3. freedom to do what you want with the software
4. open standards that support collaborative development
5. freedom to upgrade software as it suits your business

The main disadvantages are:
1. it may be difficult to get support
2. some proprietary formats such as Microsoft Word's '.doc' format are so widely used that other formats may be less acceptable for business



References:
Computer software: the basics (n.d.). In Business Link. Retrieved September 20, 2011, from http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1073791277&type=RESOURCES


Open Source Software vs. Proprietary Software (n.d.). In iVERTECH. Retrieved September 20, 2011, from http://software.ivertech.com/_ivertechArticle13894_OpenSourceSoftwarevsProprietarySoftware.htm