Re: Proprietary era is over, IBM exec to say

thomas@inorbit.com wrote:

>What has my interest in this is the difference between "open systems" and 
>"open source". The distinction seems to have blurred significantly recently. 
>I'm not clear if any difference remains.
>
Well, it probably makes a difference to you and I when we are out
shopping and know whether we are looking for a system that used
independent standards or looking for software products with the source
available to us.

But in the case of corporate posturing and promotion, I don't think it
matters at all. Companies play whatever tune the industry rags will echo.

>I can't tell if journalists are reporting one phrase in place of another nor 
>if speakers are meaning one but saying the other.
>
I would consider that both are possible, but I'd figure usually
corporate execs are working from written materials and would have a
better chance of being accurate.

>For specific example, I've seen 'grid computing' defined in terms of "open 
>systems" and "open protocols"; but I've also seen it written about in the same 
>sentences as "open source" as if "open source" was a requirement without 
>stating what components were required to be "open source".
>

>
>
>Tom Liotta
>

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Chris Rehm
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