I had spoken to The Daring Dufus earlier today (btw, Mara, Hans, “2600 et. al.” he says ‘hi’!) and we got on the subject of RSS feeds and newsgroups and the like. I read so many varied feeds in my Google Reader. I found it funny that he and I read a lot of the same things. My faves are of course the local feeds. I love tech feeds. I also love reading the *ahem* “available software” feeds … honestly, that’s how I “shop” for new software to buy. A lot of what I now use I have found via “alternative” means and to be honest it tickles me when I tell people that (much to their surprise!) I buy what I use. LOL!
For instance, today I saw entries for PHP Designer 2007 (used to be free and isn’t half bad if you need a Macromedia/Adobe alternative coding app), various financial reporting software titles, and several smaller shareware apps that I already own.
When I decide to buy something, I tell the author/company exactly how I found the software — and that I find most of my tools that way. Unconventional, yes … but to tell you the truth, it’s the best way to truly evaluate something before you decide to buy it. Let’s face it, almost no one offers unlimited “try before you buy” and I’ve bought my fair share of bad apps — never again!
I had expressed this to a friend, much to her chagrin and she jokingly (or, at least I hope!) told me that she hopes I “get busted for stealing.” Nevermind the fact that I have copies of all of my licenses, so I can vouch for my installed software. And even though I almost always end up buying what I download and try out (if I don’t, it’s gone), she says the ends don’t justify the means.
What do you think?
Sniper One
My day job has me doing System Administrator stuff. So I end up doing alot of software evaluations.
If I can try a product before I buy it, I generally won’t use it or suggest it’s use. However, if I can try it, and become a fan of the software, I will generally suggest it.
That has landed several software companies several thousand dollars in sales because I liked the software and recommended it to the companies I was working for.
One software company was nice enough to kick me a free copy of their software for the sale.
Sniper One
If I can try a product before I buy it – should read “Can’t” not can…
Nicki
“That has landed several software companies several thousand dollars in sales because I liked the software and recommended it to the companies I was working for.”
Ditto that. :)
“One software company was nice enough to kick me a free copy of their software for the sale.”
Free software is good. :cool:
DualDenz
tough one, there’s a few things i’d buy (mostly games i truely enjoy), but for the vast majority, my software is illegal (all the way down to the OS). I have a different (and probably very wrong) approach on that. if i truely think a piece of software is usefull, i would buy it, but i don’t consider things like anti-virus, a word processor or even an OS as usefull, more like a necessary evil.
to make it simple, i do this for pretty much anything.
Music, that which i REALLY enjoy (meaning the whole album, not 1-2 songs), i will buy the original. all others are downloaded trough P2P (most music i enjoy is downloaded too, but that’s because that music is not on sale on CD and i need a creditcard for buying online, which i don’t like).
Games, always try before i buy, there’s just a handfull of titles i will buy without even having seen the game (the final fantasy series is a good example, i bought the latest installment, part 12, without even checking the reviews, i did that afterwards ;)
software. don’t really buy it at all, i have my computer for gaming, all other things that need doing, are done on a company laptop, keeping my PC safe is a necessary evil and hence, in my world, should be free.)