Open Source Forming a Dot Com Bubble?

sebFlyte writes "ZDNet is running an interesting look at the sudden upswing of investment in open source products and the ensuing debate as to whether the open source business model has given us a bubble (akin to the dot-com bubble) that is about to burst. The counter-argument is that the increase in investment is just the natural progression of a robust business model whose time has come. One point that few people, whatever their viewpoint, could disagree with is that the key to a financially successful open source project rests with the community, rather than just the technology."

Open Source has fundamentally changed business

[Anonymous Coward]

Open Source will free us from the boom and bust cycle of previous industries. Why, there's untold riches to be had there!

I just need a few million for some Aeron chairs and foosball tables, and I will reward all you investors handsomely!

AJAX

[iMaple]

Ajax , the biggest bubbles any detergent can produce :)

Re:What's with this bubble fear?

[jzeejunk]

Ever since 2000, everytime anybody invests any significant amount into anything at all, people start proclaiming "Bubble!!!"

it's kinda like
day 1 - u'll become sick
day 2 - u'll become sick
.
.
day 1000 - u'll become sick
.
.
one fine day you become sick and ur friend goes - "i told ya"

All the rules have changed.

[dpbsmith]

If you think this a bubble, you just don't get it. This is a fundamental paradigm shift. The secret to wealth without effort has finally been found. This is totally, absolutely different from the Internet bubble, Florida real estate during the 1920s, multilevel marketing, pyramid clubs, and arbitrage of international postal reply coupons. You see, it's completely legal, because you give the government your social security number so that you can pay income tax on the fabulous wealth this system generates--guaranteed!

This one works. You just have to dare to be great. Fire your boss and never work again! It can work for anyone. You can do it from your home in your spare time. And for $19.95 I'll send you absolutely free a valuable envelope packed full of information on how you can buy our videotype seminar series. Try it at absolutely no obligation. If you follow the simple step-by-step instructions and, after three months you are not making $2000, $3000, $5000 a month, just send a letter to our PO box or call our disconnected phone line and we will cheerfully refund your money.

Re:Opensource isn't the problem...

[Ryan Amos]

It's slashdot, don't take it personally. There are troll moderators out there who will mod down perfectly legitimate posts just to screw with the system. Well intentioned moderators will usually mod you back up if they feel your post is worth spending the mod point on.

Me? I had my mod privs revoked long ago for posting in a "forbidden" thread. Just saves me the trouble of having to moderate though.

Re:Opensource isn't the problem...

[2names]

"OSS will live on, with or without VC."

If they give money, they're VC. If they don't give money, they're well-trained VC.