Appendices > Handouts > Why we're not choosing open source

Sample memo: Why we're not choosing open source

This sample memo may help you communicate with stakeholders.

To all staff:

During a recent meeting of the technology committee, we discussed a new kind of software called open source. Some businesses and governments are choosing open source software. Examples of open source include Linux, Apache, and OpenOffice.org. Open source is different than most of the software you're probably familiar with. While it may offer some advantages, we're worried that choosing open source is too risky right now. For example:

• Cost - Open source software is free to download. But that's only part of the cost. We'd still have to spend money on support and training, and those costs are too high to produce a real savings.
• Quality - Open source programs don't have all the features and quality we need. We need software that's more user friendly, that won't confuse or intimidate our staff and students.
• Supporting learning - Some teachers use programs that are incompatible with open source, and there are no open source alternatives. We need software that meets our needs.
• Too soon to tell - Many open source programs and companies are still growing. Some experts warn that the long term costs could be high.

How does this affect you?

You may hear about so-called "free software" because some educators are using open source. We're not opposed to open source software, but we don't believe it's a good choice right now, for us. We need familiar, reliable software, and the risks and complications are too great to choose open source. We may consider open source in the future. We invite you to learn more, by reading about open source at:

Open Options: Making Decisions about Open Source Software for K-12
http://www.netc.org/openoptions

BACKGROUND |  PROS & CONS |  K-12 EXAMPLES |  DECISIONS |  APPENDICES |  SITE MAP |  CONTACT US

Open Options is a product of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. These materials are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. The following acknowledgment is requested on materials which are reproduced: Developed by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Portland, Oregon.

This Web site was developed and maintained by the Northwest Educational Technology Consortium. The federal funding for the regional technology consortia program ended on September 30, 2005, and no further updates are planned unless additional funding becomes available. However, much of the content is still useful and NWREL will continue to provide access to this site to support educators and to meet its own technical assistance needs.