Open Source Weaknesses: A) the software is usually maintained independent of a corporation and/or a profit. This leads to some pretty lengthy waits for updates to the software. This means if you're having a problem only a new patch will fix you may either have to write said patch yourself or wait patiently, politely heckling the project maintainers. B) Most Proprietary Software pays to ensure their program works on as much hardware as possible without the system breaking. This goes for Software/Software compatibility as well. So Open Source Software (which Proprietary ANYBODY usually wants nothing to do with) will usually have to work hard to ensure system-wide compatibility. C) It's the most feared form of computer software because for some reason people believe it will destroy our economy. Most Open Source advocates believe it is not fear of the economy but fear of competition against a community that proprietary companies cannot compete against successfully in sheer economic terms leads to this "apocalyptic" view of Open Source Software. Proprietary Software Weaknesses: A) They are controlled by a profit-driven enterprise, which means unless their is a basis of need from their clients and by fulfilling that need their business will profit you will not find software to meet EVERY need. Proprietary vendors meet "Common Needs". B) Proprietary software is a tempting target for computer criminals. It is expensive, it is popular, and it is easily stolen and/or altered. For Hackers, Spammers, Virii writers Proprietary software is the main channel of their invasion onto your computer. C) ATID: All things in Default. Proprietary Software must remain within certain boundaries to keep their clients/customers dedicated to their products. They lose money if they stray into offensiveness, abstractness or specialization too heavily. They are the middle road, and as such any extreme is usually much more expensive. D) It's very expensive for your average consumer and thanks to the widespread exposure of pirated software to the mass public, most consumers do not pay for their software. This actually increases software prices overall and eventually drives the economy DOWN. E) It's a license, not an ownership. Proprietary Software means "Not your Property". When you purchase a Proprietary piece of software you are essentially "Renting" the software. the EULA agreement is usually the constraints of the lease and although the fee is usually only a one-time thing, what you are essentially buying isn't the software but the "key to get in the door.". Personally I see the benefits of both, while using mainly Open Source and GPL software. My Proprietary Software is almost exclusively Video Games. I do not enjoy paying $600 dollars + for software when my computing needs are quite extreme. On a more personal note I don't approve of the concept of "owning Ideas" - Intellectual Property laws. Thats a philosophical debate I'm not going into, but at the same time we all owe BOTH sides of the coin a lot of thanks because their conflict and individual contributions have helped stimulate our economy. -HF-

I don´t see weaknesses in teh open source since in the first place it is cheaper or free thanks to the colaboration of so many experts, i.e Linux.Besides some companies sells the software nad make a good work in assisting users.Open source soft ware is the best awy to avoid dominant market position of some firms.

The main reason that people/companies use proprietary software is that other people/companies use proprietary software, and everyone wants to be able to exchange files without hassle. Thus, large numbers of entrenched uses keep buying the next version of MS Word so that they can read the file format of documents sent by other purchasers of MS Word. Thanks Bill G.! Luv Ya! ....:-P.....