Comments on: Free software doesn't come cheap http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/ Editors from FSB magazine answer your pressing small-business questions. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:49:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: sqweezmind http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-1705 sqweezmind Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:36:45 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-1705 i love to shopping this product is to cheap i love to shopping this product is to cheap

]]> By: James McCennaugh http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-1466 James McCennaugh Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:33:52 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-1466 I disagree with the old adage of "you get what you pay for". There have been significant advancements in opensource software and having used both open and premium softwares, I would choose many of the open source solutions over a premium any day. Using open source software is like saying "hey I support the community!" --------------- James McCennaugh <a href="http://realestatelicensedirect.com" rel="nofollow">Real Estate License Direct</a> I disagree with the old adage of "you get what you pay for". There have been significant advancements in opensource software and having used both open and premium softwares, I would choose many of the open source solutions over a premium any day.

Using open source software is like saying "hey I support the community!"

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James McCennaugh
Real Estate License Direct

]]> By: Karthik, Norristown, PA http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-1340 Karthik, Norristown, PA Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:30:45 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-1340 I have extensively implemented Open Source e-Commerce solutions. I shall strongly recommend Zen Cart. It is robust and less buggy when compared to others. For info regarding Open Source E-Commerce solutions see.. http://gplpedia.com/index.php?id=&act=domain&did=21 I have extensively implemented Open Source e-Commerce solutions. I shall strongly recommend Zen Cart. It is robust and less buggy when compared to others. For info regarding Open Source E-Commerce solutions see..

http://gplpedia.com/index.php?id=&act=domain&did=21

]]> By: johnyymathew http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-1122 johnyymathew Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:17:43 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-1122 Thanks for your post. Actually I am unaware of the SEO before seeing this topic but I am now clear of it. ------------------ johnyymathew <a href="http:// mls.fastrealestate.net" rel="nofollow">MLS</a> Thanks for your post. Actually I am unaware of the SEO before seeing this topic but I am now clear of it.
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johnyymathew
MLS

]]> By: frank bennett http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-780 frank bennett Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:56:16 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-780 yep maintenance and fixing bugs is almost as important as the software. <a href="http://save-gas-tips-ideas-products.com" rel="nofollow">Ways To Improve My Gas Mileage</a> http://save-gas-tips-ideas-products.com yep maintenance and fixing bugs is almost as important as the software.

Ways To Improve My Gas Mileage

http://save-gas-tips-ideas-products.com

]]> By: Arsen, New York, NY http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-761 Arsen, New York, NY Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:06:56 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-761 I believe there is a misconception people have about open source software. Many people think that you download the software, configure it a bit and boom... your off and rolling. Although this may be true for most cases, some people tend to forget that once the site is up and running, changes and maintenance is required. Who will do the changes? Who will do the functionality upgrades? Who will fix things when they break? All this has to be kept in mind before choosing the open source software. Yes, there are plenty of "support services" you can get to maintain the product, but then finding resources may be a pain, versus the traditional approach of buying software. All this has to be taken into consideration. <a HREF="www.ecompetitors.com" rel="nofollow">eCompetitors.com</a> I believe there is a misconception people have about open source software. Many people think that you download the software, configure it a bit and boom… your off and rolling. Although this may be true for most cases, some people tend to forget that once the site is up and running, changes and maintenance is required. Who will do the changes? Who will do the functionality upgrades? Who will fix things when they break? All this has to be kept in mind before choosing the open source software. Yes, there are plenty of "support services" you can get to maintain the product, but then finding resources may be a pain, versus the traditional approach of buying software. All this has to be taken into consideration.

eCompetitors.com

]]> By: Mike, Orange, CA http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-735 Mike, Orange, CA Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:04:17 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-735 Time is money and some of these OS programs are not easy to work with. I tried a few and decided to pay a little something and save my sanity. Overall, things have come a long way since the days when you had to know Perl in order to make a website. Unless your technically savvy and have time on your hands, pay a little something. Time is money and some of these OS programs are not easy to work with. I tried a few and decided to pay a little something and save my sanity.

Overall, things have come a long way since the days when you had to know Perl in order to make a website.

Unless your technically savvy and have time on your hands, pay a little something.

]]> By: Eric, Newton MA http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-734 Eric, Newton MA Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:18:19 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-734 Open source has it's uses however, it's not a fix for everyone. I see it daily with my clients using open source on Multi million dollar SAN environment because they're no longer willing to pay for high end OS's such as AIX or Solaris operating systems. Ironically, they pay in the end with untimely outages with a technology that hasn't worked all the glitches out. From what I see, you get what you pay for. You want 6 nines of reliability, plan on spending the money up front and purchasing high end. Want to save money and struggle for 2 nines, your call. Either way, You'll come to us to fix your SAN! Open source has it's uses however, it's not a fix for everyone. I see it daily with my clients using open source on Multi million dollar SAN environment because they're no longer willing to pay for high end OS's such as AIX or Solaris operating systems. Ironically, they pay in the end with untimely outages with a technology that hasn't worked all the glitches out. From what I see, you get what you pay for. You want 6 nines of reliability, plan on spending the money up front and purchasing high end. Want to save money and struggle for 2 nines, your call. Either way, You'll come to us to fix your SAN!

]]> By: Keith, Duluth, MN http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-733 Keith, Duluth, MN Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:59:39 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-733 Regardless of whether you use an open source solution or purchase a vendor product you have to ask yourself this question "Do I want to concentrate on running my business or baby sit the software that the business runs on...". You need someone you can trust to setup and maintain your software. Regardless of whether you use an open source solution or purchase a vendor product you have to ask yourself this question "Do I want to concentrate on running my business or baby sit the software that the business runs on…". You need someone you can trust to setup and maintain your software.

]]> By: Otbricki, ternton NJ http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-732 Otbricki, ternton NJ Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:54:51 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-732 The software may be free and is often better quality than commercial stuff because the authors aren't under commercial pressures to take shortcuts to get the product out the door. But that doesn't mean you won't have costs. You still have to set up hosting and configure the software for your business, and it may be a good idea to have someone on staff that has familiarity with what is available, and experience with using it. The software may be free and is often better quality than commercial stuff because the authors aren't under commercial pressures to take shortcuts to get the product out the door.

But that doesn't mean you won't have costs. You still have to set up hosting and configure the software for your business, and it may be a good idea to have someone on staff that has familiarity with what is available, and experience with using it.

]]> By: Jo, Palmdale, California http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-731 Jo, Palmdale, California Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:44:52 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-731 I am taking a Computer Class at AV College and our tutor sings the praises of Linux. I am taking a Computer Class at AV College and our tutor sings the praises of Linux.

]]> By: tiffany, atlanta, ga http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-730 tiffany, atlanta, ga Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:21:57 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-730 There's also Magento Commerce, which is fairly easy to install and is developed and maintained by a web development company (Varien) and a community of contributors. If you use Drupal for forums and blogs, there's also Ubercart. There's also Magento Commerce, which is fairly easy to install and is developed and maintained by a web development company (Varien) and a community of contributors.

If you use Drupal for forums and blogs, there's also Ubercart.

]]> By: Eric Erb, Mims, FL http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2008/06/26/free-software-doesnt-come-cheap/#comment-727 Eric Erb, Mims, FL Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:54:41 +0000 http://askfsb.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-727 I strongly disagree with the author when he says "you get what you pay for". In the open source world there are many programs that are as good and sometimes better than any software program you will pay for and open source is more secure and more stable. I have used open source (Linux) software for personnel use with great success and am very happy with it. I strongly disagree with the author when he says "you get what you pay for". In the open source world there are many programs that are as good and sometimes better than any software program you will pay for and open source is more secure and more stable. I have used open source (Linux) software for personnel use with great success and am very happy with it.

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