jim wrote:

> I have been chatting with people about my frustration with getting
> simple stuff to work "out-of-the-box" with Linux.
>
> Things like simply plugging into a network and being able to browse XP
> folders on a peer to peer XP network (that means no server and no
> authentication needed) that are not password protected. Still don't
> have an answer to that one....
>
> But, yesterday, I ran into a shining example of one reason that FOSS
> will never work for small business (which is MUST to be able to
> legitimately challenge Microsoft's monopoly).
>
> While I was testing some software in a Linux environment, I came
> across an
> area in which it would not work as advertised by the authors. I
> raised some polite concern (really...I was polite) about the problem
> in a user forum
> specific to this software, only to be told politely to rtfm.
>
> I re-rtfm. The problem persisted, so I raised my concerns again.
> Again I
> was told to rtfm. Again I re-rtfm and returned with the same
> questions that were unanswered by the manual.
>
> This time I was politely informed where I could reach the authors of
> the
> software. I went there and we went through the whole rtfm, re-rtfm
> loop
> another 2 or three times until they finally asked to see my data. I
> sent them my data files.
>
> In about an hour, they confirmed that there was a problem. Great! Now
> they'll jump right on it - because everyone wants their code to work
> like they say it will, right?
>
> Well, not really. I offered to help where I could (sacrificing a
> goat, providing beer or money) but was told that the only help needed
> was to fix the code. Unfortunately for me, I don't know C coding - so
> I am SOL.
>
> Small businesses (which are 90+% of all businesses) are called "small
> businesses" because they are small. This generally means no in-house
> programmers. So, small businesses are at the mercy of the coders that
> provide the software that they run on.
>
> In this instance, I am at the mercy of these coders.
>
> As nice as they are, this "I'll get to it when I can" attitude is just
> not
> acceptable to small businesses. They lose market share. They lose
> customers and they lose money when software doesn't work as advertised
> in tfm.
>
> This is why FOSS just doesn't work for the majority of businesses
> (which are small businesses).
>
> While I move on to look for proprietary sources to replace the broken
> open sourced software, I am again reminded that the FOSS movement
> still "just doesn't get it" where small business is concerned.
>
> If it doesn't affect your earning a living or some other important
> aspect of
> your life, FOSS may be just fine. But, if its important, its
> important enough to pay to have it done right and supported.
>
> jim

So far all your complaints seem have been concerned with software that
you appear to have obtained by downloading it. You have assumed that
the 'Free' part of "Free and oOpen Source Software, refers to the
ability to acquire it at no cost other than that you expend in
downloading it.

You have a problem with the software you have chosen to run your
business, the answer is to do as you would do if your business had a
problem with its plumbing, pay a plumber to mend it, in this case you
need to pay someone to fix the software. 'Googling' software
consultants/engineers/coders should provide you with the help you need.
You will of course have to pay for it. You also have to pay for your
stationery supplies, electricity, gasoline, furniture, business
premises, etc., etc., You seem not to have grasped the concept of 'Free
Software' , try looking here,
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

You may be able to obtain help using one of the various newsgroups
concerned with the specific GNU/Linux distribution or the specific
software, however as it is usually written by volunteers in their spare
time, you will have to wait until they have the spare time to help you.


--
Nemo
"Feather-footed through the plashy fen passes the questing vole"