What answers can I provide to most common arguments for proprietary providers?

Please see the training material  Block11-Barriers to Open Source adoption.pdf (316Ko). Common arguments and the potential of FOSS are explained.

Additionally, arguments might be as follows:

Argument 1: Linux is not more secure than Windows, it is just less used and hence not so attractive for hackers.

Answer 1 :
This is only true up to a certain point. Windows has some design constraints that make it more vulnerable to viruses compared to Linux or Unix. For example user right control; see above. Since the code is open, many bugs are identified before an exploit for this bug can be developed. This is not possible with closed source code.

Argument 2:: Because the code is open, hackers can easily create new threats for FOSS users.

Answer 2:
This is true up to some point. However, since the “good guys” also have the code, chances are the hole is found and closed before it can be exploited. This can not be done with close source software. The open code even gives one the chance to fix the hole by oneself, if a patch is not released fast enough by the FOSS developers.

Argument 3: Continuity and support are not guaranteed.

Answer 3:
If it is a FOSS project that is only maintained by volunteers, this is indeed true. Most big FOSS projects however are backed by large companies. For example, Eclipse is backed by IBM, Mozilla – the maker of Firefox – by Google, JBoss  by Redhat, Java by Sun Microsystems, just to name a few. Furthermore, there are plenty of service providers which give the same level of support as is available for commercial products – albeit for a fee.

Argument 4: If a FOSS product violates IP (Intellectual Property) rights of a third party, the user of this software is liable. (Steve Ballmer, 18.11.2004)

Answer 4:
For most professional FOSS products with a large community, this risk is pretty small, as copyrighted code is unlikely to escape that many eyes for very long.
Many providers of professional FOSS products offer an insurance against this.

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