ja_mageia

In a discussion thread the questions was askes which is the best Open Source CRM application available. Many people suggestion either SugarCRM or vTiger as the two leading contenders. The main complaint against these - mainly SugarCRM - was that customizing the application required either above average PHP knowledge or paying for an enhanced version. 

As an Open Source evangelist of the first hour, I am a bit dissapointed to see (and not only in this thread) that the one thing people focus on when discussing Open Source options is the interpretation of the word 'Free'. Most people seem to associate 'free' with 'nothing to pay' which in the fundamental Open Source spirit is not correct. 'Free' is short for 'Freedom', the possibility to get the source code, adapt and change it the way you want and use the application for any purpose you see fit.

In most cases there will be a cost associated with this. It might not be in form of a licence fee but assuming that there is no cost associated with Open Source software is very shortsighted indeed. I have run my business exclusively on Open Source software and there is indeed a cost associated with it (e.g. I have to pay my accountant more then the standard fee because I use GNUCash, instead of his standard Windows based package).

So dismissing an Open Source solution because you have to pay for some customisations and changes is not really the right attitude. Instead you should be rejoycing the fact that the developers of the product give you the chance to do that. If you think that is not fair, by all means chose a propriatary option and spend your last dollar on licence, consulting and support fees to get the thing working in the first place with a more then even chance that it won't do the job like you want either.

Open Source is all about choice, but you have to choose it for the right reasons.