wtCatch?

What makes FOSS appealing can also be a disadvantage.

Not every FOSS project is set for success, and here's why:

• In many cases, there's no guarantee that the people behind a project will stay with it and keep working on it. Like any other hobby that loses its newness, many FOSS projects are abandoned by their developers. And when this happens, those who still use the software might be unable to find help when it needs fixing.
• Not all projects are of best quality. When it comes right down to it, FOSS is do-it-yourself, and some developers might lack some fixing skills, or they might not test their work properly before releasing it.
  

Just remember, though: the bigger the project - the more people who work on it, and the more people who use and support it - the less likely these things will happen. FOSS projects need collaboration and commitment, so the opinion of online communities matters a lot. It's a good sign if a FOSS project has a big, active forum where people can ask for help.

• Working with FOSS might mean more time searching - searching for the software itself, and then searching for solutions when you meet a problem with the software.
• Go to wtHelp? for more on tech support for FOSS.
• If you're a gamer, you'll be disappointed to find that top game developers don't make versions that are compatible with non-Windows or non-Mac systems.
• With FOSS operating systems, not all of your hardware might be supported. For instance, some printers, scanners, cameras, etc. don't integrate well with non-Windows or non-Mac environments.
  

On the other hand, if more proprietary software and hardware developers recognize just how many people are using FOSS systems, they'll feel more pressure to come up with compatible stuff. Until then, it's up to FOSS developers to come up with solutions.