Open-source estimates off the mark

In response to the Oct. 24 column by Sun's Petr Hrebejk and Tim Boudreau, "The coming 'open monopoly' in software":

I'd point out that three years ago, several companies were using software based on the open-source model. Just a few examples would be Apache, Perl, Sendmail any of the BSDs.

So with the opening statement: "According to a recent report by Forrester Research, 56 percent of Global 2500 IT executives surveyed said their companies were using open-source software--that is, software in which the source code is not controlled by a single vendor. Had that survey been conducted as recently as three years ago, the percentage would most likely have been zero."

I believe the guestimate of zero percent to be off by a long shot.

These reports and commentators should really strive to distribute accurate facts to their readers.

Roger Grunkemeyer
Peoria, Ill.