[vox] [fwd] Internet Developer Focuses on Open Source Software Business Case

[Bill Kendrick]

This is an announcement for the next Internet Developer Group meeting
down in Mountain View.   The topic is Open Source OSes (e.g., Linux :^) )

  http://www.internetdeveloper.org

-bill!

----- Forwarded message from inet-dev, via svlug -----

Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 09:34:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [inet-dev] Internet Developer Focuses on Open Source
 Software Business Case (fwd)

I think this will be of interest to this list:


What:   Linux' Business Proposition

Who:    Katalin Bartfai-Walcott,  Executive Consultant - STSM,
        IT Optimization and Business Strategy, eServer Consulting
	Services,  IBM Americas

Dinner: Pizza for $4    starting at 7pm till 7:30pm.  If you're interested
        send me mail so I buy enough! ;-) And, if you have topping
        requests, we will honor the popular ones.

When:   Tuesday, June 17, 2003
        7:00-9:00 PM

Where:  AOL/Netscape
        Planet Moz Dining Room, Building 22
        468 Ellis Street,
        Mountain View, CA

At the recent Linux Enterprise Expo, heavily sponsored by IBM, an IT
Executive from Merril Lynch stated that the brokerage firm could save
millions by using Linux servers in place of Windows servers based in part
on reduced costs for administration labor.  This is only one of several
under-documented hidden costs that enterprises pay for when using
proprietary software.

Open-Source software is almost always left without the marketing support
that develops clear cost/benefit rationales. For years open-source
developers lamented that they had no documentation of the justification
for GPL, or open-source software.  This may have led to the incorrect and
over simplistic statement that Linux' appeal was that it was "free."  Of
course that means "free to use and modify" - not that there are not
monatary exchanges.  Linux and other open-source software are *not* free,
monetarily, nor do they need to be.

Although open-source software are not monetarily free, they are often a
better business proposition for enterprises than proprietary software.
Closer examination may find that the proprietary software's formal
business proposition has "left out" or under estimated some of the costs
the enterprise will incur.  They also may have over estimated costs of
open-source alternatives.  As an IBM advocate for Linux, our speaker has
taken the lead in professionally analyzing and positioning the true
business case for open-source.  She shares that with us at this meeting.
IBM has been long known for its ability to justify its proposals.  Our
speaker's presentation applies this skill to Linux.

Join us for Pizza ($4 for the Pizza) at 7PM on Tuesday, June 17th to hear
about how you can better position your open-source business proposition.

*******************************
SPEAKER:Katalin Bartfai-Walcott,  Executive Consultant - STSM,
	IT Optimization and Business Strategy, eServer Consulting Services,
	IBM Americas
*******************************

Kati was born behind the Iron Curtain and after she came to this country
she was educated in the bay area.  As an IBM'er, Katalin was one of only a
handful that took the case for supporting Linux to the then CEO of IBM,
Lou Gerstner.  That handful convinced him so that since that time, IBM has
participated in the development of Linux and introduced and marketed Linux
to enterprises.  As an IBM Global Offering Executive, within the Linux and
Open Source Strategy group, she presented the business case for Linux in
enterprises.

******************************
Time & Schedule: 7:00-9:00 PM  Tuesday, June 17, 2003
******************************

  7:00 - 7:30 PM Registration and Networking and Pizza Dinner.

  7:30 - 8:30 PM Linux' Business Proposition

  8:30 - 9:00 PM Personal Networking and Announcements

******************************
Directions:  See map and directions at http://www.internetdeveloper.org
******************************

We will meet in the western wing of the main Netscape dining room,
Netscape Building 22, 468 Ellis Street, Mountain View, CA Those who wish
to join us for Pizza should be at the Planet Moz Dining Room by 7pm.

For non-AOL/Netscape attendees, it will probably be simplest to enter the
building through the main lobby located where the two wings of the
building join.