Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

Survey says: Firefox, OpenOffice leads in open source deployments

By Jacqueline Emigh, BetaNews

September 30, 2008, 8:57 PM

Firefox leads the way in open source software used in organizations, and the Web browser is being deployed abundantly on Linux and Windows PCs alike, according to new data from the Open Source Census released today.

Open source software deployment is higher in Europe than the US, and in government and finance than in other industries, says the Open Source Census (OSC), a six-month-old effort which is also accumulating data on use of open source software across Linux and Windows.

The open source productivity suite OpenOffice has been found on 45% of the Linux and Windows machines scanned for the ongoing survey, first launched by open source software vendor OpenLogic just over six months ago.

However, deployment of OpenOffice (73%) is much greater among participants' personal computers than in the businesses where they work, acknowledged Kim Weins, OpenLogic's VP of sales and marketing, in an interview with BetaNews.

"This isn't just for developers. Anybody can participate. We might be tending to attract [individuals who are] open source advocates, but we've been working on getting more participation from enterprises by spending more time talking about it at conferences. Our sponsors are also encouraging enterprises to take part," she told BetaNews.

As could only be expected, overall installations of open source software are considerably higher for Linux systems (87 components on average) than for Windows (39 on average). Linux PCs come pre-loaded with open source software anyway, she noted.

Yet two-thirds of the survey participants have scanned Windows machines for open source components, and the brands of seven of the ten most popular open source components are the same across both systems, said Weins. Participants use OpenLogic's OSS Discovery tool to scan their systems.

Last June, Microsoft and four other new partners joined OpenLogic and eight other founding sponsors. Survey sponsors are allowed to view more of the data than other participants. Participants are allowed to contribute information anonymously, however.

The survey is also coming up with less surprising findings. Open source deployment is farther ahead in Europe, at 68 open source components per machine, than in the US, at 51 per machine.

Deployments in vertical markets are lead by government agencies, which average 123 open source packages per machine, followed by financial services, with an average of 116.

For its next industry report slated for April of 2009, the OSC is looking at including data on historical trends, BetaNews was told.

Meanwhile, in compiling a list of the "best free and open source" software for Windows XP, a separate organization known as OpenSourceWindows.org includes Firefox and OpenOffice, in addition to Cabos for P2P file sharing, Thunderbird for e-mail, and the Azureus BitTorrent client.

Add a Comment (14 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 1, 2008 - 10:44 AM

While completely *not* a valid source for any real information regarding actual usage and share number, it does give folks a good idea of what OSS software is currently being used out there.

Not a bad idea, really.

It was noted in the article, and probably could have stood being noted a few more times, that this "survey" is opt-in, and targeted at the OSS community and is therefore largely irrelevant for the purposes of getting anything resembling actual numbers.

Example: that second "paragraph" states,

"Open source software deployment is higher in Europe than the US, and in government and finance than in other industries"

When there's really no way, based on their data, to even *begin* to seriously make such a claim without stating that it is based solely on the submissions they received and is in no way reflective of actual adoption.

The fact that Jaq is using these numbers to draw any actual conclusions (business adoption, government adoption, which countries are adopting faster...) is laughable.

Score: 0

By marians

posted Oct 2, 2008 - 7:01 AM

I really don't understand your point PC_Tool. I read the posts on this forum for a long time and it seems you always have something to argue for, something to flame on. Ok, let's just say that I won't mind. The net is a free world, you may speak out loud your opinion.
But at least try not to insult people thinking that your point of view is the only one carrying the "holy truth".

I would have a lot to say on that matter but I prefer sticking to this particular thread.

You talk about irrelevant results of a survey based on submissions. Ok, please post (in the next days) your own opinion on a different kind of survey, the one based on a different kind of approach: tops made on the number of software licenses that are imposed to buyers.
Not very clear ? Well, let's just take an example... Microsoft's OS's that are imposed to PC buyers. OEM's that make to a "top" (?!) of an equally (if not much more) alterate image of things in the OS's market.

[I FREELY RECEIVED and AGREED to USE because IT SUITS MY NEEDS] is a very much different declaration than [I had to PAY for SOMETHING (let's say a Vista license) in order to GET SOME OTHER THING (let's say a laptop for example)]

Please, try to be smarter.
And please, even if you don't bother getting smarter, stop insulting people.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Oct 2, 2008 - 10:41 AM

I haven't insulted *anyone* in this thread...yet. I merely stated fact (except for Zaine...and he only gets what he gives). If you have a problem with facts, perhaps Slashdot would be a better place for you.

Back on topic:

So because this "survey" is inherently flawed for use as a broad spectrum analysis tool (such as the writer is doing), no other, better method of statistical analysis can exist?

I suppose, by your definition, smarter would be accepting everything you're told by media outlets as the "holy truth"? Yeah...pure genius.

I question what I am told. Probably because I was told as a kid that people often lie and skew "fact's" to suit their own agenda. Amazingly, I found that nugget to be very true...

Please, if you're going to continue to respond to my posts, do not continue to confuse observations "she's using these stats inconsistent with the way they are intended to be used" with insults. I would *really* like to think you are "smarter" than that...

Score: 0

By marians

posted Oct 2, 2008 - 12:45 PM

I am still waiting for your opinion on the "other approach", the one regarding tops made by sticking MS products on people's throats, ripping them of their money and then weaving the numbers in front of people's eyes.
In this matter, as an honest and very "aware" forum participant you either open your mouth and spit out the complete version, present BOTH sides of the coin, or simply don't speak at all.

Until then you will be nothing but a troll (and in the netiquette's world this is a very, very gentle word)

So, to shorten things, I still wait for your post on the FACTS you avoided to mention (even if something tells me you will never write it ;-) ...)
And you know what ? This would actually help you improve your image on this forum. And it might really help people make a choice. A choice made out of complete, not truncated information.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Oct 2, 2008 - 3:23 PM

*laughing*

Excellent job of ignoring every salient, on topic point in my posts in favor of personal attacks and accusations.

You're an idiot. There's the insult you've so desperately been begging for.

I'll play:

You honestly don't think *everyone* here knows MSFT's numbers are inflated because their software ships on nearly *every* computer known to man?

Do you really think that little of the people on this forum?

Not what you were looking for? TS.

I love how you come here, accuse me of insulting people (when the only person I had insulted was in reply to *their* insult directed at myself), accuse me of being a troll (when I questioned the statements made in the article *and* explained my reasoning behind them).... all while you provide nothing but accusations and personal attacks.

Yeah, genius, I'm the troll.

*laughs*

Well, at least *you* are a mildly amusing one...

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Oct 1, 2008 - 1:49 PM

Face it, toolie. While your fav MS gasps for cash and breath and someone/anyone to develop on its platform, open source and Linux continues its decade-long surge. MS even has to PAY people to use its search sites, that's how pathetic your corporation has become.

Toolie's pathetic whimpering and whining won't stop the bleeding either.

Score: 0

By foxfyre

posted Oct 1, 2008 - 4:37 PM

A case of wishful thinking at it finest (if not smartest!)

Has Linux taken over the desktop yet??? Wake me when they do.

Score: 0

By marians

posted Oct 2, 2008 - 7:03 AM

Don't bother. Keep sleeping. It's much better for you this way.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 2, 2008 - 4:19 PM

...another of your wonderfully insightful comments?

So,

Where exactly do you get off calling other people trolls?

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Oct 1, 2008 - 2:50 PM

1.) Still trolling me? Can't find anything better to do?

2.) Gasps for breath? Yeah...and it's the "Year of the Linux Desktop"... *yawn* Your denial of reality is, as always, amusing.

3.) I don't use MSFT for search. Never have. They suck at it. So much for me being a MSFT fanboy, eh? You just don't get it, do you?

4.) Go play in traffic.