Open-source companies see profit aplenty

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Do companies 'exploit' their customers?

I contend the answer is 'yes,' according to the Webster's on my desk.

To utilize to the greatest possible advantage.

I expect the manufacturer to solicit feedback from the customer, or read appropriate trade press, as well as competitors' literature, for continuous improvement. I personally receive questionnaires after service calls and am invited to fill feedback forms in hotels and restaurants - these people want your ideas, to gain a leg up on the competition. Toyota touts that its Lexus 'relentless pursuit of perfection' is heavily based on customer feedback.

In the case of MySQL, the customer has a device not only for providing suggestions, but for providing explicit 'instructions' (that's what code is) for making the improvement. This is admittedly a more explicit means of communication, but in the same spirit. And I expect this collaborative device serves to migrate the product more rapidly than traditional development, but it is an 'everybody wins' approach.

But what of the Linux model? Is it a different kind of exploitation?

To make use of unethically or selfishly.

Hmm. HP or Unilever contributes an enhancement or bug fix. All IBM customers benefit, and yet they have not participated in any tangible way to the contribution. But the next contribution comes from IBM, whose customers have paid, either in the form of product pricing or overhead on service - or, heaven forfend, actually paid as direct labor on a service contract, and HP and its customers reap the 'uncompensated' benefit. Is this unfair to any party? They are spreading development cost over a far greater base of developers and of revenue. Lower cost for certain, but again, a win-win.

Maybe you were actually referring to the noun definition.

An act or deed, esp. a brilliant or heroic feat.

Posted by: IT_User   Posted on: 05/20/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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