Pirated software used by over 50 percent of computers

[Pada]

Microsoft is actually pretty considerate when it comes to unprivileged people. Like students can get Windows 7 Ultimate/Enterprise for like R250 or less at the Universities.
Small companies in South Africa can apply for like an Action Pack where you receive all sorts of Microsoft licences for next to nothing.

One thing that is really getting to me at this moment is that I cannot legally obtain an OS X license for my Intel PC, and I can't justify buying an Apple Pro at R28k which performs worse than my current desktop PC that probably set me back about R12k.
Like I can buy an OS X Lion USB/recovery flash drive for next to nothing, but then my copy would still be illegal

[Elimentals]

Microsoft is actually pretty considerate when it comes to unprivileged people. Like students can get Windows 7 Ultimate/Enterprise for like R250 or less at the Universities.
Small companies in South Africa can apply for like an Action Pack where you receive all sorts of Microsoft licences for next to nothing.

One thing that is really getting to me at this moment is that I cannot legally obtain an OS X license for my Intel PC, and I can't justify buying an Apple Pro at R28k which performs worse than my current desktop PC that probably set me back about R12k.
Like I can buy an OS X Lion USB/recovery flash drive for next to nothing, but then my copy would still be illegal

For a student at a uni it would be way less, I know they get full office for R90.00

Lucky bastards

[Pada]

For a student at a uni it would be way less, I know they get full office for R90.00

Lucky bastards

Office is cheap
Like I got Office 2010 Plus for $8.99 or something like that via the HUP (Home Usage Programme), which you can only get if your office has a Microsoft Volume License Agreement.

[Archi3]

I honestly wonder what would happen if the prices of software and OS's is lowered to prices most people can easily afford like windows for example, would people actually purchase it legally, or will people continue to download it just because they can.

I for one would purchase it then...but these guys are asking funny money!

[HavocXphere]

A recent study by the Business Software Alliance (BSA)

I call bullsht. Haven't read the article yet...but the contents are definitely bullsht. They always are when the BSA is involved. Creatively extrapolated number, ridiculous "facts" etc.

Their favorite past-time seems to be to rock up at a business and make demands about counting computers & licenses etc. Reminds me of the mafia with their protection rackets.

[zizo911]

How do I get hold of this R250 windows?

[adsl2]

How do I get hold of this R250 windows?

And the R90 office?

[HavocXphere]

Microsoft is actually pretty considerate when it comes to unprivileged people. future customers they want to lock in. Like students

FTFY


Do you know whether there is a similar setup as the Home usage prog for windows 7?

[Pianoman]

Pirated software used by over half of the world

Pirated software is used by more than 50 percent of computer users...

Correction, pirated software is used by more than 50 percent of people who took the survey.

[MapleTel]

Freaksta - if you want to use a copyrighted product, then you should be willing to pay for the license fee(s). Alternatives exist, e.g. Linux, Libre/Open Office, etc.... also some great photo-shop and video editing alternatives.... +++++. If money is your constraint, get and use the alternatives... It's a choice.

My believe is that most companies (if not virtually all) have legit software (even if it is GPL or similar).

[Pada]

MapleTel:
I can relate to Freaksta very well. When I was a student I wasn't able to afford software or new hardware, so I also had a pirate copy of Windows and just the 2 games (CS1.6 & War3) that I played almost every day was bought.
Once I started earning a decent salary, I got legal copies of all my games, Windows 7, MS Office, and a bunch of other software.

Back in my day at University, we weren't able to get Windows & Office for that cheap. If I could've gotten it for that cheap I would've.

There are good alternatives, but they aren't as good. OpenOffice sux, and you can't really play games on Linux.

[Elimentals]

Back in my day at University, we weren't able to get Windows & Office for that cheap. If I could've gotten it for that cheap I would've.

There are good alternatives, but they aren't as good. OpenOffice sux, and you can't really play games on Linux.

Educational versions(Cheaper) is not something new, I remember having access to cheap versions of Windows 3.1 back in the day when I went to Damlin. I clearly remember this as I wanted to get a copy at "Software Connection" back then in Braamfontein and I had to go back home to pick up my student card. You just need to find out from the Uni your at, where to access there specials or else you can get a somewhat discounted product over at http://www.microsoft.com/education/e...icsavings.aspx (Not as cheap as your Uni can get but still better than retail)

As for the Games issue I play my games on Linux, I even have Steam on my Linux with most of the games working. Yes it takes more work sometimes to get it sorted but its the price I have to pay. Well in my case its because I prefer Open Source as I have 2 Windows licences for this PC, 1 x OEM and 1 x Retail as OEM does not cover VM's that I use for testing.

[abzo]

Windows 3.1? Thought they started at 95

[Elimentals]

Windows 3.1? Thought they started at 95

3.1 Student versions where in unmarked boxes from retail stores like Software Connection, they even had DOS in educational packs, but my PC came with DOS so did not need to get that.