Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!wuarchive!usc!orion.oac.uci.edu!ucivax!jsuker From: jsuker@bonnie.ics.uci.edu (Johnathon Laurence Suker) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: Why do people pirate software? Message-ID: <26BA1344.1242@ics.uci.edu> Date: 4 Aug 90 00:13:57 GMT Distribution: usa Organization: UC Irvine Department of ICS Lines: 14 Nntp-Posting-Host: bonnie.ics.uci.edu Originator: jsuker@bonnie.ics.uci.edu I think the main reason people (as in individual people, not corporations) pirate software is that no one can read a review and decide whether the program reviewed will do what they want. NO ONE can no matter how good the reviewer, you just cant look at a few reviews and have all of your questions answered. I remember reading an messages (a while ago, I dont remember who wrote is) that stated the people that do any signifigant damage by pirating software are the large businesses and offices that buy one copy of software and then install it on all 50 or so machine in the office. The average user who does pirate cannot feasibly use all they program they pirate and eventually stick to using one program which they usually buy to get the manuals and support. Being a student (in the Computer Sciences which gives me access to almost any program I could want) I cannot affort to pay $400 dollars for a wordprocessor and I certainly cannot spend $400 for Word and FullWrite Pro to decide which is better for my individual needs. Luckly the better software companies offer discounts to students which does help but it doesnt help the fact of "How do I know if the program will do what I want", and the last time I listened to a salesman was when one tried to sell me a Pi ece of Shit/2. As for being a "software collector/Testor" I needed a modem software package that supported zmodem and had host features. I had Red Ryder 9.4 but it was VERY BUGGY with my modem and I decided to try one of the newer versions. I couldn't get ahold of either White Knight or Microphone II version 3.0 so I was forced to buy both (luckily Microphone has a student version for $75and white knight is around $75 if you shop around) not only was a VERY broke for three or four months afterwards I eventually throug h away my copy of White Knight because it had to many idiosyncrasy working with the schools mainframe, besides Microphone was just plain easier to use. IF I HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS FOR EVERY PACKAGE I WOULD GIVE UP ON COMPUTERS ENTIRELY. These days I usually try and find a friend with a copy of the software I want to check out (I dont care where he/she got it, their pirating not I) and spend a few hours checking it out. I then shop around at swap meets or at discount stores for older versions with hopes of an easy upgrade path or I work overtime and save the money for the software. I think the software companies should lower the prices of software (hey cut out the cost of advertising, the good programs will get the recognition they deserve whether they have multi-million dollar advertising or not) and they will still make the money. I know this is long, and now I will step down off my soap box. Price the software "for the rest of us" and the piracy will go down. Remember if you dont give the people a chance how do you know they wont pay reasonable prices for software, besides, someone who pirates software with no intensions of paying NEVER WILL no matter what you do. Take it from me, I used to be that way. My two cents worth. Johnathon Suker "Don't quote me on anything, I don't even remember what I said"