A remarkable two-thirds of the Fellows[IEEE] thought that open-source computing had a very important role to play in the computer industry. Many noted that competition is a healthy catalyst in the marketplace and took aim at the Seattle giant.

…And while a few expressed some doubt that open source could cure all software’s ills, many seemed to agree with the respondent who wrote, “In a economically difficult environment, open-source computing offers an opportunity for talented individuals to contribute for the benefit of all”.

– Ashton Applewhite, 2003 Technology Survey, IEEE Spectrum, January 2003