[KLUG Advocacy] This from Internet Week

[Adam Williams]

> Enderle argues that Linux and other open source projects require too
> much customization, 

This is absurd, and clearly the guy hasn't used something like Samba or
Apache.  Unless he considers configuration to be customization.

It *permits* a terrible level of customization,  but companies need to
pay better attention to their IT practices.  There are a great many
Linux boxes administered by admins who view them as their own personal
fiefdom - standards and general practices be damned - where if they [the
admin] get hit by a truck no one is going to be able to manage those
servers.  But neither do I think that is limited to Linux boxes - I've
seen both AIX and NT servers in the same condition (WTFM is that for?
etc....)

> and that doubts about the legitimacy of open
> source code could get users tangled up in lawsuits. 

There may be some truth to this, but I expect vigilance about such
things will be stepped up after the latest debacle (not that I think it
has much merit).  But I this Open Source developers are really quite
vigilant about these issue, possibly even more so than closed source
developers.

> Open source software gives developers too much control and authority.

This I just don't understand.

>  Besides,
> many Linux supporters are a bunch of potty-mouthed malcontents.

Well, I gotta give him this one.

> Enterprises are better off staying away from Linux and open source --
> or at least thinking through the possible liabilities, Enderle argues.
> 
> Strong opinion? Perhaps. We do not enjoy stirring up controversy and
> inviting criticism, we do it all for YOU, in the interest of serving

I'd feel better about this if more of the critisim was legitimate and/or
more specific (less vague).  I do think there are lots of things about
Linux & Open Source to critisize,  but then you have to know something
about them to identify those - something these pundits clearly don't.

> Oh, who the heck am I kidding? Journalists LOVE to stir up
> controversy. When we were kids, we used to whap at hornets' nests with
> big sticks, just to see what would happen. I figure if we're lucky,

A sign possibly of these guys level of innate intelligence?

> But there's a serious point underlying all this foofaraw, and that is
> that enterprises committing to Linux are taking a big risk, never

Better a big risk than a lost cause (M$).