Warez vs Purchased Apps..

[kmrdeva]

Hmm, I don't know if anyone else feels the same like I do, but here goes :

Initially, when I first started using PDAs (originally m515), I was crazee about warez (pirated apps).. Not a day passed by if I didn't scour the net for these..

But now, ever since I ditched all the warez stuff and started buying apps instead, it really gives me a good feeling deep inside (not to mention that I save on RAM space).

With all the free updates and stuff, plus the wonderful tech support from the developers, man, I will keep on buying apps I find useful..

Anyway, most good palm apps are pretty affordable, IMHO (USD1 equals 3.80 bucks in my currency).. I seem to notice that the pricey ones are usually big bloated crappy sh** anyway..

[Eric S]

Glad you see it that way. I'm the same way, even about software that's on the honor system. I've known too many shareware authors to think that I'm ripping off someone that's rolling in money that he didn't have to work hard for.

We discussed this in another thread, and I summarized my opinion fairly well with (slightly edited) "Programming: It's not the easy money, sex, drugs, and rock and roll that you think it is."

I think I'll put that in my profile when I get my new website up so that I can put them both in there.

[benjipc]

Having just bought my NX70, I'm ready to make the change from using illegal to legal software. Doesn't seem to be so much out there for OS 5 though.. Handango? Palm.com?

[freecia]

Hmmm. My iSilo trial is running out. Time to go find my wallet. :)

[cbulock]

Originally posted by benjipc
Having just bought my NX70, I'm ready to make the change from using illegal to legal software. Doesn't seem to be so much out there for OS 5 though.. Handango? Palm.com?
Try installing stuff, most software out there now is OS5 compatible. You could also check out www.clieplanet.com, they have a chart there showing what software is and isn't compatible

[hansschmucker]

If they would just drop that stupid credit-card only thing. For god's sake: I live in Germany and not everybody gets one over here, and not everybody wants one eighter... if they would handle this just like Sony, that would be great:

1)Order by email/phone
2)I transfer the money to their account (you get a code for this when you order)
3)Wait for the mailman to arrive =)

[lightninja]

Originally posted by hansschmucker
If they would just drop that stupid credit-card only thing. For god's sake: I live in Germany and not everybody gets one over here, and not everybody wants one eighter... if they would handle this just like Sony, that would be great:

1)Order by email/phone
2)I transfer the money to their account (you get a code for this when you order)
3)Wait for the mailman to arrive =)

In america, most peoples bankcard has a visa/mastercard logo so you can use it like a credit card, but money comes out of your account. :)

[kmrdeva]

Aah, we call them Visa Electron over here in Malaysia.. :-)

[yorrick]

Another effect I noticed with people with warez (whether PC, Playstation, Palm etc) is that they tend to be rather flippant about software and don't really appreciate the software and the effort investing in coding it. They collect software for the sake of collecting them. Not using them.

It's sad since it shows that they are mere collectors without a purpose.

In the past 5 years of having a Palm device, I have spent about 2 to 3 times as much as the value of the Palm device on software. Some of the software has been made obsolete, but it's great to see huge improvements over the quality of Palm software over the years.

[Narniahopper]

Even in the warez community, most people encourage the purchasing of software. Programmers deserve an income for the good products they produce, just like everyone else. Vote for good products with money.

[kmrdeva]

Yorrick.. that was a cool signoff.. from Douglas Adams' Hitchiker series eh?

Yeah, I agree with you.. I prefer to be using software instead of just collecting them.. :)

[yorrick]

kmrdeva - yep, it's from Douglas Adam's.
I'm trying to find out the question to see what this universe is replaced with. That would be fun to see.... :)

[kmrdeva]

Maybe it's not that deep, maybe just a simple question like 'how many monkeys with PPCs will it take to do what one can do with a Palm'.. it's 6:30am here - time for bed.. :)

[yorrick]

:) It's 9:30am ... I need to do some work!
I think you have a better chance on getting shakespeare if you had a million PPCs and a million monkeys ...

... hang on, haven't they sold over a million PPCs? :) :)

[superdx]

I'm all for paying for software - when it's related to my work.

But when someone wants to charge me $50 USD for a download accelerator or $30 USD for a file renaming util that kind of pisses me off. I write utils myself all the time, but come on, that's just ridiculous.

Also being a student, who can afford a development suite like Visual Studio for home use? At work you have licenses and all, but you can't exactly take those home.

[kmrdeva]

I know, some of them apps are ridiculously priced. I try my best to stick to shareware and freeware too, except for the Microsoft stuff I have to use in the office (company pays..).

[cbulock]

Originally posted by superdx
I'm all for paying for software - when it's related to my work.

But when someone wants to charge me $50 USD for a download accelerator or $30 USD for a file renaming util that kind of pisses me off. I write utils myself all the time, but come on, that's just ridiculous.

Also being a student, who can afford a development suite like Visual Studio for home use? At work you have licenses and all, but you can't exactly take those home.

If you look into it, much of the really expensive development software and such has student discounts. You can get some of the software for a really good deal.

[superdx]

Yeah, there are usually 'student' editions of the big name (and sticker!) software but they are always limited in some fashion. I looked at VS.NET for students, I won't get into details, but let's just say some very important functionality had been disabled.

I find that's the case with most 'educational licensed software'. I had a copy of AutoCAD that was handed out in one of my classes, and the thing had so many features disabled that the students took turns working on the fully licensed workstations.

But I guess that's a good excuse for not being able to take work home :D

[blueflame]

I am one who believes that the software should be free, and I do see the benefit of paying, the problem with software is that it does cost, often much more than it is worth, programs that I get cracks for or things of that nature, i tend to pay for, for example, photoshop. i got it in version 5.5, almost never used it, then 6.0 came out, with liquid and such, i felt that this program I would now use so I bought it. programs that I download ilegally, i try them see if I like them, if I do, I keep it and generally use it then buy it, if its crappy software, i delete it, and the company loses nothing, its just a more funcutional version of trialware to me

[lino-man]

Originally posted by yorrick
Another effect I noticed with people with warez (whether PC, Playstation, Palm etc) is that they tend to be rather flippant about software and don't really appreciate the software and the effort investing in coding it. They collect software for the sake of collecting them. Not using them.

It's sad since it shows that they are mere collectors without a purpose.

I have to agree somewhat with you on this. Collecting software for the sake of having a collection is foolish and dangerous. A very good friend of mine got caught up in this scene somewhat unknowingly, because he had a curiousity about software and wanted to become familiar with everything that was out there. He is now in federal prison for copyright infringement. When the feds raided his house they hauled of 60gigs + 30cds of warez. Enough of a lesson to make me appreciate walking the straight and narrow.

[MelvinTong]

Originally posted by lino-man


I have to agree somewhat with you on this. Collecting software for the sake of having a collection is foolish and dangerous. A very good friend of mine got caught up in this scene somewhat unknowingly, because he had a curiousity about software and wanted to become familiar with everything that was out there. He is now in federal prison for copyright infringement. When the feds raided his house they hauled of 60gigs + 30cds of warez. Enough of a lesson to make me appreciate walking the straight and narrow.

I guess your friend must be telling everyone about the large collection of warez he had! - to end up in the Federal Prison! :D

[lino-man]

Originally posted by MelvinTong


I guess your friend must be telling everyone about the large collection of warez he had! - to end up in the Federal Prison! :D

Actually he unknowingly became an accomplice to the DrinkorDie warez ring that got busted a little over a year ago. Conspiracy charge covers everyone, including the mailman. :(
I do my best to keep in touch with him as prison isn't the gentlest place to be. His decision to plead guilty was more of a realization that in 14 months time he could be back with his family and move on with life.

[MelvinTong]

14 months.. that is very long for just warez! Very sad to hear that.. :(

If all he had was 60gigs + 30cds of warez.. that isn't too bad compared to what is happening in my country.

eg. Students are burning and selling pirated games to other friends. Pirated softwares are selling in shopping complexs..

[bobster]

Originally posted by superdx
Yeah, there are usually 'student' editions of the big name (and sticker!) software but they are always limited in some fashion. I looked at VS.NET for students, I won't get into details, but let's just say some very important functionality had been disabled.

I find that's the case with most 'educational licensed software'. I had a copy of AutoCAD that was handed out in one of my classes, and the thing had so many features disabled that the students took turns working on the fully licensed workstations.

But I guess that's a good excuse for not being able to take work home :D

Hmmmm?!? I use a lot of Student Licensed software espcially from Microsoft and Adobe and other than slight edits to the splash screens, I have never found anything to be missing or disabled on them. At work I have the same versions but fully licensed and can't tell the difference? Must be something quirky about your particular product. In particular I have Visual Studio .NET Architect version at work and the same version under our student select licensing at home.

Bobster

[cbulock]

Originally posted by bobster


Hmmmm?!? I use a lot of Student Licensed software espcially from Microsoft and Adobe and other than slight edits to the splash screens, I have never found anything to be missing or disabled on them. At work I have the same versions but fully licensed and can't tell the difference? Must be something quirky about your particular product. In particular I have Visual Studio .NET Architect version at work and the same version under our student select licensing at home.

Bobster

I think superdx is talking about the special versions of the software that you can get for free (I think) that are very limited, like the Visual Basic Learning Edition. I remember getting those on CD's that came with programming books for school and they did suck. I was more referring to the full versions of the software that can still be purchased with a student discount and it's usually a very good discount.

[mashoutposse]

I'm not sure about this debate, but I know I sure wouldn't like it if my boss told me on payday that he decided not to pay me for the two weeks that I just worked.

The devs did their work, so I think they're entitled to money, if that is their wish.