Sorry to continue the thread, but please read on or jump to the bottom of my mail): the point is this: a software solution can be supported by anyone with the technical skills necessary to read the source and implement any underlying solutions. This is equally true of closed or open source software. The more people with access to the source, the more people can support it at a high level (bug fix, enhance, document etc.). Ergo, open source software has the most possible support, not the least. The original copyright owners can leave the planet, the software can continue to develop and continue to be supported (Fetchmail I believe is a good example). I can see reasons for not changing from current solution in terms of user knowledge and efficacy of solution; there are none that stand on the support side. On other matters, your input would be highly useful as someone with experience of a rare solution - would you be willing to get involved on that basis? That's true for everyone else too. Cheers Chris -----Original Message----- From: simon@qec.carms.sch.uk To: SUSE Mailing List Sent: 5/2/03 3:01 PM Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Free school administration software - project has started <snip> As for what happens when companies disappear and can no longer support their products, ie RM, etc..what happens when people decide to change careers, sell out, move abroad or just feel like not bothering anymore ? Which does happen....we all use software and hardware that could potentially be on borrowed time. Open source, great, low cost software even better, but please dont bother coming out with a list of why i should and shouldnt do things, because as we all know each establishment is different, we all work different ways.