Our previous IT management chose the more web-based approach by signing up for a corporate account with Google Apps and then picking open-source platforms for our CRM, ERP, etc. The current one is opting out of it and for a more expensive Microsoft deal! This new deal includes a complete Microsoft branded solution from infrastructure all the way to their ERP. Being pro-open-source, I’m not so sure this is a suitable long-term decision.

More so after some reading. [link]

Google is a search company. It’s a cloud company. It’s a subscription services company. And, as is becoming increasingly obvious, Google is the world’s largest open-source company. Google is the antithesis of Microsoft. Where Microsoft is closed, Google is open. Where Microsoft is limiting, Google is expansive. Where Microsoft is desktop, Google is the Web.

Microsoft has a problem, and it’s this: Its entire business model is built around discrete computers running discrete applications. The key thing about online applications like Google is that they are platform agnostic. Open source doesn’t require licensing fees, and it’s flexible. Really flexible. This puts it in a far better position to provide a platform for the new platform agnostic online world.

Chrome is open source because it makes no sense for Google to lock-down software to one hardware platform or architecture. The platform no longer matters in the Google universe, and this perhaps is the biggest difference between the Microsoft and Google philosophies. Microsoft needs you to keep you using Windows and an x86 platform. Google doesn’t care what computer or platform you use, and is actively encouraging you to be eclectic in your choice.

Microsoft’s approach is all about restriction. Google’s approach is all about freedom.

In short, Google can afford to give away everything that makes Microsoft valuable. Everything. How can Microsoft hope to compete, except by trying to tether the online experience to its legacy desktop?