open source is under rated.

There are several valid reasons for using Open Source software
1. It's Free!
2. It's productive and useful
3. It's always advancing with updates
4. Its userbase is growing

So,from the above, Open Source has a lot going for it. All the major titles are stable and solid pieces of software. The world of business is starting to take note,just have a look at all the phone companies that are currently using Google Android.
The home user market is growing but, I think, needs a killer app for people to sit up and think beyond Microsoft and all the other cash cows, that fill the shelves of PC World. The average user just doesn't think (or care ) before they get what they need, maybe the global recession will, hopefully, make them shop around. It doesn't, let's be honest, take all that much of a Google search to find free and amazing software: it's all under their noses.

Open Source, is THE hidden secret of the computing world, Linux, for instance, now has the measure of Microsoft; you don't have to be a boffin anymore to use it. It's the same with(I'll say it) ALL Open Source offerings; it's there all you got to do is go get it.