Comments on: Do You Pay Fully Featured Programs Or Go With A Lesser Freebie? http://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DataTamerhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34312 DataTamer Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:22:53 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34312 I disagree with all that say why pay for it when you can get it for free. If something is a one-shot I will use or recommend a free solution. However, if the software addresses a need that will be used over time then I always recommend a paid solution, even paying for donationware. Why? The reasoning is quite simple. Here in the US there is a profit motive. I feel that if the individual is paid, he will continue working on the program making it better. If he is doing it as a hobby, there is a lesser chance that the product will be improved. The "help" is not as important to me as continually improving the product. For example, I would probably get almost as much information from PcMech if I just used their "free subscription", however I opted for the paid subscription. Why? Because I felt that it would provide an incentive for David and gang to provide a better newsletter. I believe that I was right as I have seen the newsletter evolve. If they weren't paid, what would be their reason to continually improve and publish this newsletter? The same is true of software writers. I disagree with all that say why pay for it when you can get it for free. If something is a one-shot I will use or recommend a free solution. However, if the software addresses a need that will be used over time then I always recommend a paid solution, even paying for donationware. Why? The reasoning is quite simple. Here in the US there is a profit motive. I feel that if the individual is paid, he will continue working on the program making it better. If he is doing it as a hobby, there is a lesser chance that the product will be improved. The “help” is not as important to me as continually improving the product. For example, I would probably get almost as much information from PcMech if I just used their “free subscription”, however I opted for the paid subscription. Why? Because I felt that it would provide an incentive for David and gang to provide a better newsletter. I believe that I was right as I have seen the newsletter evolve. If they weren’t paid, what would be their reason to continually improve and publish this newsletter? The same is true of software writers.

]]> By: odd1http://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34306 odd1 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:53:59 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34306 Don't forget to donate to those Open Source creators. Free programs that I have found to be great time savers have received donations from me. I appreciate free but I also know the creator needs to eat. Don’t forget to donate to those Open Source creators. Free programs that I have found to be great time savers have received donations from me. I appreciate free but I also know the creator needs to eat.

]]> By: sefcughttp://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34258 sefcug Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:13:28 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34258 I agree Windows and MS Office for business use, but I would go for openoffice.org for personal use due to costs. In either case, I tend to use the free utilities whenever possible, and single purpose rather than suite. I agree Windows and MS Office for business use, but I would go for openoffice.org for personal use due to costs.
In either case, I tend to use the free utilities whenever possible, and single purpose rather than suite.

]]> By: joshp1http://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34243 joshp1 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:07:12 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34243 why pay when you can get it for free and sometimes its even better but if your going free go open source closed source freeware is usally done by one person or one team while open source is done by nearly everyone who uses it. ps i prefor linux over windows any day why pay when you can get it for free and sometimes its even better but if your going free go open source closed source freeware is usally done by one person or one team while open source is done by nearly everyone who uses it.
ps i prefor linux over windows any day

]]> By: David K.http://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34238 David K. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:51:51 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34238 Agree with your assessment. And on the whole, tech support has become so bad lately, if that's what you're paying for it's sure not worth the money. Agree with your assessment. And on the whole, tech support has become so bad lately, if that’s what you’re paying for it’s sure not worth the money.

]]> By: David Duncanhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34235 David Duncan Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:51:43 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34235 I try lots of free apps and regularly use some - depends on what computer I'm building and for whom. On my own systems I usually pay for "system" programs like AV or defrag and some of the video manipulation apps... the quality and support is generally better. I try lots of free apps and regularly use some – depends on what computer I’m building and for whom. On my own systems I usually pay for “system” programs like AV or defrag and some of the video manipulation apps… the quality and support is generally better.

]]> By: George Petersonhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34220 George Peterson Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:22:26 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34220 I will never pay for software when free alternatives are available.You should also try SSuite Office for a free office suite. They have a whole range of office suites that are free for download.Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, so it makes the software very small and efficient.http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm I will never pay for software when free alternatives are available.

You should also try SSuite Office for a free office suite. They have a whole range of office suites that are free for download.

Their software also don’t need to run on Java or .NET, so it makes the software very small and efficient.

http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm

]]> By: Jason Faulknerhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34211 Jason Faulkner Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:24:06 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34211 Not everyone is open to change. Besides that, MS Office does a lot that OpenOffice doesn't (Sharepoint integrations, OBA's, etc.). Not everyone is open to change. Besides that, MS Office does a lot that OpenOffice doesn’t (Sharepoint integrations, OBA’s, etc.).

]]> By: elihttp://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34197 eli Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:36:37 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34197 Since I switched to linux, I haven't payed for anything. I've found exactly what I need for free. Even when I've had to search for something to replace a windows app I've been happy with the results. I can't see ever paying for software again. Since I switched to linux, I haven’t payed for anything. I’ve found exactly what I need for free. Even when I’ve had to search for something to replace a windows app I’ve been happy with the results. I can’t see ever paying for software again.

]]> By: Floydhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/do-you-pay-fully-featured-programs-or-go-with-a-lesser-freebie/comment-page-1/#comment-34189 Floyd Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:14:30 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=10481#comment-34189 Why do you make those exceptions for business use? Why do you make those exceptions for business use?

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