I gotta agree on the marketability of open source development... there isnt really much there....

I suppose the big market with open source (and you will see this with all forms of linux and BSD already) is the support and customization sector. The only profitability a company can gain from an open source project such as Linux is that of end to end value add. I cant make any money pushing the software... however the support, customization, and the addition of a hardware and documentation package creates a marketable product.

This is why you can download SuSe free... but people still purchase the software, SuSe offers a support period for install (perhaps the best value add) the software is already on a useable medium (I dont have to burn a bunch of iso's) and you get a fancy book (your documentation addition). VAlinux built their company with the same premise, lets build machines, load open source software, and support it.

Open source never was marketable on a cash and carry basis, however it does reduce overhead for the more marketable "value add" type services. This is what has made it popular. (popular and good are two different things mind you) what makes open source good is the amount of development behind it, its fast to grow and adapt to new structures in technology, patches are more readily available due to the amount of developers. And of course (not that I'm a developer... but it's what I've noticed) open source developers love coding, and take a lot of pride in creating "Tighter" code... so open source becomes more efficient.

Sun microsystems couldnt be more set for the open source revolution, with their proprietary hardware, and their long time standing as "THE" hardcore server manufacturer, as well as the advent of the ultrasparc III proc's.... well they still stand to market the machines. Now their machines are just more marketable due to the opening of the software to other developers... more apps are available, more customization, and more compatibility with other binaries as the open source hobbyists begin to tear and tweak at the floorboards of solaris......

Microsoft will stand to lose quite a bit by going open source, as their product is software, there is no real value-add, and I dont suppose there will ever be one as they are quite good at what they do.

just my opinion....

~THEJRC~