I originally thought the article from Silicon.com, "Naked CIO: Open source ain't cheap" was written by a troll. Most IT authors realize that the quickest way to get a rise out of readers is to say something negative about one of two topics, Apple computers or open source. This author decided to write about the latter. Reluctantly, I have to agree with the author that for most enterprises running while open source is no more expensive than proprietary solutions it also certainly is not compellingly cheaper.
A few sources of costs for the enterprise running open source given by the author include:
- The subscription fees for open source products are ongoing costs that for larger organizations can be quite expensive.
- The cost of experienced and knowledgeable support IT support staff can be more expensive compared to support for traditional software platforms.
- The cost of integration in a mixed environment is more expensive than in a pure Windows shop.
In my own organization, I've observed the need to support open source in the enterprise often brings a rise in the yearly subscription costs. Also, it still is quite a hassle to integrate Linux and Windows clients under one roof (usually by bringing the Linux desktop into Active Directory for consolidated management control). However, I'll argue by utilizing your IT staff properly, the costs for subscription fees and proprietary/open-source integration can be lowered.
So yes, I agree that when it comes to proprietary and open source, "in both cases the cost models are significantly different but the total cost of ownership and support are very similar". However, this fact does not quite answer why open source is gaining traction in the enterprise. Instead, the author points out the very reasons why enterprises are adopting open source solutions.
If you believe open source is right for your organization you must concentrate on the value that it will bring in terms of effectiveness and not the fallacy of cost reduction. Your business plan should concentrate on which product is best for your overall business.
I'll argue that enterprises are not adopting open source solely on the belief in the myth that open source is cheaper. Enterprises are seeing value in open source software that they can't find in proprietary software. The value of open source may vary from one enterprise to another, but the value is real.