Hmmm. I attended the ACA session on Open Source software, so I can see both
sides of this argument. I thought it was an excellent, thought-provoking
session; there are pros and cons to both approaches, and it depends on the
mandate of your institution and its resources.
However, I question whether this debate is best posed by a commercial
entity trying to sell us software. This discussion seems motivated by
commercial interests and not genuine debate. While Eloquent may provide
wonderful products and services, this is perhaps not the most appropriate
channel. I seem to remember Eloquent being informed back in March not to
solicit business on this list. This seems to much like solicitation to me.
What does everyone else think? Fine line?
Krystal Rycroft
Archivist, Sun Life Financial
227 King St. S, Waterloo, ON
(519) 888-3900, ext. 5476
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Eloquent ListServ
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YSTEMS.COM> [log in to unmask]
Sent by: "A forum for cc
discussion for the
Archives Assoc. of Subject
Ontario" The cost of free software
<[log in to unmask]>
2008/06/23 03:48 PM
Please respond to
Eloquent ListServ
<listresponse@ELOQUENT-
SYSTEMS.COM>
The cost of free software?
In our consulting work with archivists we are asked for numbers that
represent the cost of free software and open source solutions, especially
when comparing them to supported commercial software or Software as a
Service. How do you price the hidden costs for things such as?
• Opportunity loss for the delay of projects
while the professional staff is learning technical skills,
• The costs of re-training the archives
professionals in the technical skills,
• The cost of redirecting the professionals
into technical tasks and away from professional duties,
• The cost of teaching in-house computer
programmers about the requirements of archives applications,
• The productivity loss if support is not
available or responsive to software downtime,
• The risk cost when support that might be
available today is discontinued; or is free today and may become
billable or discontinued entirely,
• The risk-factor cost for the eventuality that
in a couple of years the software product is no longer endorsed by
professional associations and subsidized by various organizations.
You are stuck with it while the current excitement is about a new
the “flavor of the month” technology.
It is easy to find anecdotal stories from the past, but I expect there has
been an academic study reported somewhere. Please forward any information
you might have about such a study. Failing that, even some general
statements of your personal experience would be great if they could be
quoted to my clients.
Thank you,
Merv Richter
Eloquent Systems Inc.
Organizing data for eloquent presentation!
www.eloquent-systems.com
604-980-8358/101
800-663-8172/101
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