Open-Source Success Roiling Software Field (Investors.com)
For every multimillion-dollar software program being sold, there's a good chance that at least one free alternative can do the same thing, at a fraction of the cost. If that's good news for tech buyers, it's downright chilling for tech investors. "There is an open-source application that is maturing in every software category that exists," said Pete Kronowitt, a strategic planner for Intel (INTC) who helps manage the chipmaker's dealings with open-source firms. "Open-source is poised to commoditize those segments. We're already seeing it." Few open-source programs claim to be as complex or full featured as their commercial counterparts. But for many customers, they're more than adequate."
