ESN 4717107110838884717

Rate Content: 1 vs Document Name: SMB's and Open Source Document Description: FEATURE SET - AS I STATED ABOVE, SMB'S TYPICALLY DON'T NEED OR DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO EVEN USE MANY OF THE FEATURES IN THE BIG VENDOR ENTERPRISE PACKAGES. OUT OF NECESSITY, MOST SMB'S NEED TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND MANAGEABLE AND USE ONLY WHAT MAKES SENSE. INTEGRATION - I LAUGH WHEN BIG VENDORS RAISE FLAGS ABOUT OPEN SOURCE AND INTEGRATION. THE BIG VENDORS' PRODUCTS HAVE SO MANY INTEGRATION ISSUES AMONGST THEIR OWN PRODUCTS BECAUSE HALF OF THEIR PRODUCTS ARE THE RESULT OF PURE PLAY PURCHASES. THEY USUALLY HAVE TO BRING IN SALES PEOPLE FROM FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS (FORMER PURE PLAY COMPANIES) JUST TO ANSWER YOUR BASIC QUESTIONS. SUPPORT - NOTHING IS MORE FRUSTRATING THEN PAYING 20% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR MAINTENANCE ANNUALLY TO HAVE SOME COLLEGE KID FROM INDIA SEARCH A KNOWLEDGE BASE ARTICLE ON THE WEB IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE YOUR SUPPORT PROBLEMS. EVEN WHEN YOU GET YOUR CASE ESCALATED TO PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY KNOW THE PRODUCT, SMB'S RARELY GET THE NECESSARY PRIORITY BECAUSE THE VENDORS CATER TO THEIR BILLION DOLLAR CUSTOMERS. SMB'S TYPICALLY CAN'T AFFORD PLATINUM LEVEL SUPPORT WHICH GETS YOU IMMEDIATE ATTENTION WHEN YOU HAVE ISSUES. MY EXPERIENCE WITH OPEN SOURCE SUPPORT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE. THERE ARE ALSO OPEN SOURCE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHOSE CORE COMPETENCY IS SUPPORT. QUALITY - THIS IS THE MYTH O Author: Michael Kavis - Contact Author Publisher: Michael Kavis Licensee Name: Michael Kavis Reference URL: http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/eai/madgreek/archives/smbs-and-open-source-20370 Copyright: All Rights Reserved Registration Date: 11/9/2007 4:25:04 AM UTC Views: 423

NUMLY.COM