Is There Such a Thing as Free Software? The Pros and Cons of Open-Source Software

A helpful overview of Open Source Software is available in Educuase Quarterly.

Today’s higher education environment is marked by heightened accountability and decreased budgets. In such an environment, no higher education institution can afford to ignore alternative approaches that could result in more effective and less costly solutions. Open-source software (OSS) can serve as a viable alternative to traditional proprietary software (PS), but to ensure that OSS is selected and deployed effectively requires: 1) Understanding the OSS licensing model; 2) Understanding how to determine when it makes sense to use OSS; and 3) Managing your OSS use effectively.

View the complete Educause Quarterly article at:
linktext.http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/IsThereSuchaThingasFreeSoftwar/174575

Here’s another take on open source software and its utility for the UCs, from a colleague at UCI. Strategies for Efficient IT at UC