Comments on: Give It For Free or I’ll Steal It! http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:43:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jen http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11973 Jen Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:52:50 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11973 no kidding draceena! + there are many great free programs that don’t have a premo upgrade for a few dollars more, they just give everything away free. i don’t even mind paying again in say 10-30 years on, if i buy the software it should last me forever if i am careful with it. i don’t have to buy a brand new tv every year or so, some jeans i still wear are from the win95 launch. so there is a limit i will go along with when it comes to paying for geek (soft) gear. Furthermore I see no incredible enhancements when the product is upgraded for 20-60 dollars, most fixes aught be free like security holes and poor programming. Build me a new model not just model number and I will pay for it. I suppose they could put all you geeks under government rule and quality control an end product our the government way, but then they would also take all the money. Seems reasonable to me. no kidding draceena!
+ there are many great free programs that don’t have a premo upgrade for a few dollars more, they just give everything away free.

i don’t even mind paying again in say 10-30 years on, if i buy the software it should last me forever if i am careful with it. i don’t have to buy a brand new tv every year or so, some jeans i still wear are from the win95 launch. so there is a limit i will go along with when it comes to paying for geek (soft) gear.

Furthermore I see no incredible enhancements when the product is upgraded for 20-60 dollars, most fixes aught be free like security holes and poor programming. Build me a new model not just model number and I will pay for it.

I suppose they could put all you geeks under government rule and quality control an end product our the government way, but then they would also take all the money.
Seems reasonable to me.

]]> By: hitchface http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11972 hitchface Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:00:41 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11972 Yeah, simply put, DRM sucks...it really doesn't help out the honest people, and doesn't stop the dishonest ones. Yeah, simply put, DRM sucks…it really doesn’t help out the honest people, and doesn’t stop the dishonest ones.

]]> By: draceena http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11971 draceena Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:38:23 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11971 I have no complaint on plunking down $20-$60 for a computer game but it just drives me nuts that at one time you could just do the full game install and put all the discs away where they would be safe and now you are required to have the disk every time you want to play...I've almost ruined a drive and scratched more than a few discs when I forgot I had the disc in the drive and wanted to put another disc in. Now, I grab a "no-cd" patch and play with a clear concience since I paid for the product and am ensuring it reamins playable in the future. I have no complaint on plunking down $20-$60 for a computer game but it just drives me nuts that at one time you could just do the full game install and put all the discs away where they would be safe and now you are required to have the disk every time you want to play…I’ve almost ruined a drive and scratched more than a few discs when I forgot I had the disc in the drive and wanted to put another disc in. Now, I grab a “no-cd” patch and play with a clear concience since I paid for the product and am ensuring it reamins playable in the future.

]]> By: Tyler http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11968 Tyler Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:34:53 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11968 Man oh man when I think of all the times I used those very excuses but no matter how you slice it there is simply no excuse for pirating software. I'm not going to get on the high and mighty soap box about it though because at one point I was no different than any other pirate. Man oh man when I think of all the times I used those very excuses but no matter how you slice it there is simply no excuse for pirating software. I’m not going to get on the high and mighty soap box about it though because at one point I was no different than any other pirate.

]]> By: hitchface http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11960 hitchface Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:39:18 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11960 Some software gets to be a real pain in the neck though. A lot of newer games get to be a real problem because of DRM, so people just hack them to actually PLAY the darn thing. Other than that, I agree. Don't be cheap! Some software gets to be a real pain in the neck though. A lot of newer games get to be a real problem because of DRM, so people just hack them to actually PLAY the darn thing.

Other than that, I agree. Don’t be cheap!

]]> By: Andrew http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11957 Andrew Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:58:39 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11957 One rationale might be tied to the whole version number thing. For example, I hate the idea of shelling out $20, $30, $100, or more for a product that might be improved in the next few months to a newer version that I have to pay to upgrade to. Sure, many offer free upgrades at least for a time, but not forever. If new features in TVs come out, at least I'm buying a new physical object. But when a new version of software appears, it doesn't *feel* like I'm paying for something new. It feels like I'm paying a second time for the same thing. One rationale might be tied to the whole version number thing. For example, I hate the idea of shelling out $20, $30, $100, or more for a product that might be improved in the next few months to a newer version that I have to pay to upgrade to.

Sure, many offer free upgrades at least for a time, but not forever.

If new features in TVs come out, at least I’m buying a new physical object. But when a new version of software appears, it doesn’t *feel* like I’m paying for something new. It feels like I’m paying a second time for the same thing.

]]> By: David Risley http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11956 David Risley Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:48:28 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11956 No argument. But, if that would be a justification to run that same software pirated, then no. No argument. But, if that would be a justification to run that same software pirated, then no.

]]> By: Sharron http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11955 Sharron Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:08:19 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11955 LOL I've seen computers "ruined" by pirated software: Someone I know ran 100% pirated crap supplied by a dodgy tech, even the o/s (Win XP Pro), and harboured/transmitted without knowing it every virus and malware known to man/woman: It was a miracle the thing worked at all. In my opinion it's always better to pay initially as it saves time later; and time is money: Most software won't update properly or install all of the critical patches. It's pure selfishness and unthinking greed to expect everything free regardless of anything else IMO; and the consequences commonly range from the detrimental to the calamatous eventually. You made the point that Linux is free and will never cost anything; but it can and invariably does cost a lot of time with the learning curve if nothing else, usually in addition to the extra complexity of operation and the various hardware and/or software incompatibilities of whichever distro one chooses; and time is money - So once again there really is no such thing as a free lunch whichever way one goes about it. LOL I’ve seen computers “ruined” by pirated software: Someone I know ran 100% pirated crap supplied by a dodgy tech, even the o/s (Win XP Pro), and harboured/transmitted without knowing it every virus and malware known to man/woman: It was a miracle the thing worked at all. In my opinion it’s always better to pay initially as it saves time later; and time is money: Most software won’t update properly or install all of the critical patches. It’s pure selfishness and unthinking greed to expect everything free regardless of anything else IMO; and the consequences commonly range from the detrimental to the calamatous eventually.

You made the point that Linux is free and will never cost anything; but it can and invariably does cost a lot of time with the learning curve if nothing else, usually in addition to the extra complexity of operation and the various hardware and/or software incompatibilities of whichever distro one chooses; and time is money – So once again there really is no such thing as a free lunch whichever way one goes about it.

]]> By: Scott http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11952 Scott Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:19:47 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11952 I believe we have an expanding problem here, due to people having a cynical outlook when it comes to business. Much of the responsibility for fixing this however rests with businesses themselves. Not because corporations are evil, but because this is simply how commerce and human nature work. One fundamental aspect of human nature that is playing out here is one rarely discussed. The morality of this isn't even on most peoples radar, because people do not view such issues through the relatively black and white lens of law. People want what they want, and merely there being a free (if often not legal) alternative is enough. The net has created a paradigm shift as broad in scope as the invention of the printing press, and if you examine your history more carefully there were HUGE shakeups and many powerful groups disaffected to near destruction as a result of its wide-ranging impact. Just because your high school history class painted a rosy picture of a great invention does not mean all was well in the world as a result of it's use. To change behaviors in people that are perceived collectively as "bad", one must offer an alternative that people can accept, or no one will care. At this stage it is safe to say that the industries affected are running scared in the opposite direction. To their mutual doom. Business models in affected IP industries will have to evolve drastically, and IP law will have to be totally revamped worldwide. And, many middle men in these industries will be.....out of a job, because they become irrelevant in a digital economy. No amount of lawsuits or oppressive legislation will change these inevitabilities. There is no rewind button. I believe we have an expanding problem here, due to people having a cynical outlook when it comes to business. Much of the responsibility for fixing this however rests with businesses themselves.

Not because corporations are evil, but because this is simply how commerce and human nature work. One fundamental aspect of human nature that is playing out here is one rarely discussed.

The morality of this isn’t even on most peoples radar, because people do not view such issues through the relatively black and white lens of law. People want what they want, and merely there being a free (if often not legal) alternative is enough.

The net has created a paradigm shift as broad in scope as the invention of the printing press, and if you examine your history more carefully there were HUGE shakeups and many powerful groups disaffected to near destruction as a result of its wide-ranging impact. Just because your high school history class painted a rosy picture of a great invention does not mean all was well in the world as a result of it’s use.

To change behaviors in people that are perceived collectively as “bad”, one must offer an alternative that people can accept, or no one will care. At this stage it is safe to say that the industries affected are running scared in the opposite direction. To their mutual doom.

Business models in affected IP industries will have to evolve drastically, and IP law will have to be totally revamped worldwide. And, many middle men in these industries will be…..out of a job, because they become irrelevant in a digital economy. No amount of lawsuits or oppressive legislation will change these inevitabilities.

There is no rewind button.

]]> By: Steve Stone http://www.pcmech.com/article/give-it-for-free-or-ill-steal-it/comment-page-1/#comment-11950 Steve Stone Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:09:17 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6828#comment-11950 How many times have you purchased an expensive software package just to find out that the product behind the glitzy wrapper was useless over priced over hyped trash, destined for the $2.99 bin at the local odd lot? I'll pay a reasonable price for quality programming and support. I refuse to pay for techno junk. How many times have you purchased an expensive software package just to find out that the product behind the glitzy wrapper was useless over priced over hyped trash, destined for the $2.99 bin at the local odd lot? I’ll pay a reasonable price for quality programming and support. I refuse to pay for techno junk.

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