Why buy software when you can get it for free?
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
April 22, 2008 9:40am CST
I have been working on copying photos from camera to HD to disk and had to get a program to do this. of course, like all, I searched the internet for the free stuff and found a nice program that works - well it was recommened and I was searching for it inparticular.
Anyway, it made me wonder....With all the programs and software and options and such for free programs on the internet that you can just download for free and use as you like and all, why does anyone buy the programs? I know somethings you just need to have a little more than the free offer offers, but for the most part - at least to someone like me that is not totaly computer literate and still learning or that only needs certain things as my life doesn't revolve around the PC and I don't do any kind of gaming online....why should I buy programs I can get for free? Why would anyone?
I know that some free programs offer limited product support but still.... I've also been using free version (that is updated regularly!) AVG/Grisoft for anti virus and not a single problem with virus etc.
There is so much out there for free, why do people pay those huge prices to buy it at a store? Granted, something maybe what you do, Like a tax service, you might feel better with the paid version. but still, for general life - why buy if you can get it for free? My motto in life is "if it sounds to good to be true, it usually is" but in this case and my experience, it sounds too good to be true, but it is true! The freebies are just fine and do all I need!
What is so important that they need to spend the money as opposed to just getting the free version? There is alot out there and you can always do reserach for "the best freebie" - we do that here on MyLot often - "what's everyone recommend for......." so you can get personal recommendations.
So...why do people buy? Am I just to frugal to see it?
3 responses
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
23 Apr 08
Well, it depends, really.
If the product is offered in two versions free/paid, the choice is what you want to do with it. Free versions are often light versions that miss some features or are limited for a certain amount of time. If the features offered for free are enough for you, then that's the right version for you. If not, you might want to pay for the full version.
In some other free products the result of your work might come with a logo of the company that makes the product. You might not want that and the only way - legal - to get it off is to buy the full product.
Most programs are fine in their free versions but it really depends on what you want to do with them. You might want more than just what's offered in the free version.
Actually once you get to know the product and learn how to work with it, you might really want more. The features you don't have in the free version, and you might just find that you prefer to pay for the full version to use those features, it really depends.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
24 Apr 08
Guess that's true. I hadn't thought that far ahead as it doesn't come around that far for me. Limited is usually more than I need! But at least one could try it out for free nad know whether they want more or not. Better than buying it and it not being what you were looking for.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
22 Apr 08
We typically buy programs that we know we are going to use for a long time because we want to be able to get support if we need it and some of the pay programs have better features than the free programs.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
22 Apr 08
Well that makes sense. I don't hardly ever buy any as I just don't need anything, but I guess if you will be using it for a long time, buying would be a better option.
@jesbellaine (4139)
• Philippines
22 Apr 08
Sometimes I buy the software for its license and updates from their websites though ofcourse, I prefer free download :)
