Software

[454697819]

Why is it companies dont pay out for the right licenses..

ok I know why.. Cause there expensive, and if they dont get caught they are quids in..
but it bugs the crap put of me when they look at me like Im evil for sugesting they buy the license for the software I need...

damit

[the_lone_wolf]

Because pirates are cool

http://msp295.photobucket.com/albums/mm145/RailbirdPirates/Pirate%20Pictures/pirate.jpg

[Skip]

Being in IT its a constant battle here - some people think that because they have hooky versions of stuff at home that its fine on a work PC - grrr!

[Viney]

A firend of mine almost got done shedloads for XP licences. He bought, i think, about a 1000 for the company he worked for from the same company he bought the PC's for. It turned out that the licenes were fakes! Poor sod, however, he didnt get done. Lucky sod.

[the_lone_wolf]

before i get skinned i should probably add that i don't use pirate software...





...on my work computer

[timwilky]

What bugs me is companies who would rather opt for expensive commercial rather than FTU open source in the belief they may get "support". and fail to understand in open source generally a bug is fixed far quicker by a community than waiting for a single company to get their developers off the new bloat ware and onto fixing the old stuff.


BTW My company is a member of FAST (http://www.fastiis.org/), and recently had a FAST audit of about 2000 PCs in the UK. Additionally as a developer myself I cannot condone any sort of software theft. However, I understand why people do it. and wish companies would learn to either protect their software better or understand laws of diminishing returns and make software affordable to all

[mr.anderson]

We almost got done by our friedns at MS because our Volume Licensing agent loaded the licenses onto the wrong account. We were out by 4 Xp licenses on a 800 PC network. The guys here are quite good about it. Its expensive, but they just bite the bullet and pay.

Use fear tactics - 1 license short could equal a hundred thousand quid fine.

[454697819]

Im sick of it though, every smaller company I worked for is the same... "oh we will get the student version then use it on 8 computers"...

wtf..

the last place I worked at it took me 4 months to get the director to agree to pay 3K for some new Acad Licences.


arghhhh

I just want to be able to write PDF's without an adver in the corner as that is so unprofessional when I am sendign out PDF drawings.

[SoulKiss]

I just want to be able to write PDF's without an adver in the corner as that is so unprofessional when I am sendign out PDF drawings.

I can do that in Linux for free..... :p

Also I think that OpenOffice for Windows (which is also Free) has a save as/print as PDF option.

[Stig]

I wish BT would buy more AutoCAD licences. :roll: There must be at least 30 users and BT only have 8 licences between us. :roll:

[mr.anderson]

I just want to be able to write PDF's without an adver in the corner as that is so unprofessional when I am sendign out PDF drawings.

So you have a document (word, html, whatever) that you want to create a pdf out of? No editing etc?

We use this: http://www.pdfforge.org/products/pdfcreator which is brilliant.

I have an msi if you'd like (we deploy it to all PC's via GP) its about 15MB, roughly the size as the exe.

PM me and I will get it to you somehow.

[Ceri JC]

What bugs me is companies who would rather opt for expensive commercial rather than FTU open source in the belief they may get "support". and fail to understand in open source generally a bug is fixed far quicker by a community than waiting for a single company to get their developers off the new bloat ware and onto fixing the old stuff.


BTW My company is a member of FAST (http://www.fastiis.org/), and recently had a FAST audit of about 2000 PCs in the UK. Additionally as a developer myself I cannot condone any sort of software theft. However, I understand why people do it. and wish companies would learn to either protect their software better or understand laws of diminishing returns and make software affordable to all

This is what really gets me about audio software in particular. It is insane how expensive most music software is when you consider how great the proportion of amateurs/hobbyists to professionals is. The dev costs of creating "lite" versions are a false economy too; just sell the fully-featured version at a price low enough that all users can afford; you'll make more money in total. A few developers understand this, but sadly I've seen some pros slate program x because; "something that costs £30 isn't going to sound as good as my £300 program".

[Spikenipple]

This is what really gets me about audio software in particular. It is insane how expensive most music software is when you consider how great the proportion of amateurs/hobbyists to professionals is. The dev costs of creating "lite" versions are a false economy too; just sell the fully-featured version at a price low enough that all users can afford; you'll make more money in total. A few developers understand this, but sadly I've seen some pros slate program x because; "something that costs £30 isn't going to sound as good as my £300 program".


This is the exact reason that Apple lowered Logic Pro (well, Logic Studio now) from £600+ to £300ish. Another good thing about Apple software/hardware is that they offer pretty decent discounts for students.

[the_lone_wolf]

This is the exact reason that Apple lowered Logic Pro (well, Logic Studio now) from £600+ to £300ish. Another good thing about Apple software/hardware is that they offer pretty decent discounts for students.

of course the downside is you have to buy a ridiculously overpriced apple computer to use it:mrgreen::rolleyes:

:p

[SoulKiss]

of course the downside is you have to buy a ridiculously overpriced apple computer to use it:mrgreen::rolleyes:

:p


SHHHH - we cant laugh at them then :p

Oh and if anyone IS looking to make music for free - Linux has Hydrogen for a Drum Machine and LMMS for a Sequencer - much the same functionality as FruityLoops etc.

[fizzwheel]

You guys need to start doing what I have.

I've started putting my foot down and I dont comission anything now that doesnt have an appropriate license bought for the software thats being installed on it.

I dont rack the server, i dont install the OS and I wont let the software get installed unless I've seen a PO thats been signed for the software purchase.

I managed to p*ss off a couple of project managers and now they are starting to get the message, but we're still hideoulsy under licensed in pretty much every area and we've had a warning about it and still our head of IT doesnt want ot pay for licenses.

His argument is basically we've got away with it for so long we might as well keep trying to get away with it.

[454697819]

You guys need to start doing what I have.

I've started putting my foot down and I dont comission anything now that doesnt have an appropriate license bought for the software thats being installed on it.

I dont rack the server, i dont install the OS and I wont let the software get installed unless I've seen a PO thats been signed for the software purchase.

I managed to p*ss off a couple of project managers and now they are starting to get the message, but we're still hideoulsy under licensed in pretty much every area and we've had a warning about it and still our head of IT doesnt want ot pay for licenses.

His argument is basically we've got away with it for so long we might as well keep trying to get away with it.


what they don't understand is that the fines are not just the licnence fee but they will find out how long you have been using it for and charge you back dated.. Like Acad.. you been using it for 10 yrs.. thats 1 full price and 10 upgrades please ( if your using the latest edition)

I would love to put my foot down, but I am not in a position of authority and I can not argue with this place its a bit to cleeky..

I will keep banging on about it though.

[AndyL]

I just want to be able to write PDF's without an adver in the corner as that is so unprofessional when I am sendign out PDF drawings.

CutePDF (http://www.cutepdf.com/) is completely free and legal and works on XP/Vista. Just download the ghostscript and then the CutePDF installers (both located on left hand side of page) and then when you want to create a pdf just print (select CutePDF as printer).

[Spikenipple]

of course the downside is you have to buy a ridiculously overpriced apple computer to use it:mrgreen::rolleyes:

:p

People still pay it though ^_^
I nicked my brother's Mac Mini a few years ago so i'm not too fussed. If I get into uni however i'm going to need a faster one...

[fizzwheel]

I would love to put my foot down, but I am not in a position of authority and I can not argue with this place its a bit to cleeky..

I'm lucky I can, because I'm responsible for the data centre, where and when stuff gets racked is down to me, so if I'm not happy their kit doesnt go in the racks...

[the_lone_wolf]

I nicked my brother's Mac Mini a few years ago so i'm not too fussed. If I get into uni however i'm going to need a faster one...

why don't you just upgrade the internal compone.....


oh no wait, you can't!!!

:smt043:smt043:smt043

that'll be another grand for steve then:mrgreen:

[Spikenipple]

Incorrect.
You can change the RAM (already done), the hard drive (for this model any IDE 2.5" drive will do) and dvd drive.

I'm contemplating building a pc to a proven Hackintosh/OSx86 spec, then I can dual boot. Much cheaper, and I can still change most of the internals.

[the_lone_wolf]

Incorrect.
You can change the RAM (already done), the hard drive (for this model any IDE 2.5" drive will do) and dvd drive.

wow, so it'll be like having a brand new computer...


that's exactly the same as the last one but has a little bit more RAM


:cheers:


:smt043

[TEC]

CutePDF (http://www.cutepdf.com/) is completely free .....
Although its free to most (being freeware) it comes with the same EULA* as nearly all other freeware products, it aint free to all companies :( We had it installed on all our PCs till someone dug into the EULA properly and read it, its now not there by default and we pay a much smaller sum than we would have had too had we been auditted :rolleyes:

*This is not normally obvious on the downloaded software EULA and ignorance is not a defence :(

[Spikenipple]

wow, so it'll be like having a brand new computer...


that's exactly the same as the last one but has a little bit more RAM


:cheers:


:smt043

I didn't say it was like getting a brand new computer.
You really need to find something better to do with your time :mrgreen:

[Nostrils]

I wish BT would buy more AutoCAD licences. :roll: There must be at least 30 users and BT only have 8 licences between us. :roll:

I needed to use Autocad at home and was instructed to use the same details as my work PC because the licence is for 1 main user and 1 other.....for example, the same licence used on a PC and a laptop - my reseller said it is not advertised unless you are a subscriber! So I have the opportunity to use at home is I wish.

I am the only proper user of AutoCAD at work with my work spanning 16 building across the UK and because IT dont like anything different to standard, I am stuck with a PC at one location and have to survey the other buildings and take all my details back and update later.....they are so backward thinking.

[mike_avfc]

wow, so it'll be like having a brand new computer...


that's exactly the same as the last one but has a little bit more RAM


:cheers:


:smt043
I didn't say it was like getting a brand new computer.
You really need to find something better to do with your time :mrgreen:

:smt115 i'm reading these and thinking "triggers broom" - :p ;)

[mike_avfc]

at the end of the day it've very simple why companies won't buy a lot of the time - its the mentality of spending a load of money without getting a big box for it.

With software you don't feel like you get anything, when you buy hardware, whether it be a home pc, a server, a cisco switch or router you get FGL with it, Flashing Green Lights. therefore companies like Sun and Cisco can charge top dollar for these servers or HP with their blade enclosures.
companies will buy these as they get a physical item that flashes, makes noise (fans) and sucks up power.

With software they'll always buy a few but then resent keep buying the licenses, unless the things just stop working because of it.

Even thought the IP (Intellectual Property) of software development can be a lot more than tin manufacturing.

[SoulKiss]

Even thought the IP (Imaginary Property) of software development can be a lot more than tin manufacturing.

Fixed for ya.

[the_lone_wolf]

Fixed for ya.

You wouldn't download a car...

[Ed]

Many of the posters on here work for companies which really should know better - can you imagine if BT were sued for breach of copyright? Compare the cost of the software with their annual profits. I'd be tempted to write to the MD and see what happens.

[fizzwheel]

Thing is Ed often its the MD of these places that wont buy the software licenses, so complaining to the person who wont spend the money isnt really going to get you anywhere....

[Ed]

Thing is Ed often its the MD of these places that wont buy the software licenses, so complaining to the person who wont spend the money isnt really going to get you anywhere....

Oh... then you really do have a problem... the only alternatve would be to raise a grievance under the grievance process that you are being forced to aid and abet an unlawful act.

[fizzwheel]

Or just report it annoymously to these guys.

http://www.fastiis.org/

Like I said above, I'm so fedup with it that I dont deploy anything now unless a license is bought for it and I've seen the paperwork to prove the license has been bought. I've upset a few people over it, but I'm f*cked if I'm doing it when we all know we shouldnt be.

[SoulKiss]

Or just report it annoymously to these guys.

http://www.fastiis.org/

Like I said above, I'm so fedup with it that I dont deploy anything now unless a license is bought for it and I've seen the paperwork to prove the license has been bought. I've upset a few people over it, but I'm f*cked if I'm doing it when we all know we shouldnt be.

If you report it anonymously, how are they going to know who to send the "Bounty" cheque to?

And Whistleblowing is protected under law :)

Win Win Situation :)

[454697819]

I am a bit of a hypocrite as I may have on occasion not used licenced software at home, but Im not making hundreds of thousands out of it....

Im not saying £3k isnt a lot of money but thats an extreme example, and if they think about cash flow, if its £500 every new employee or £25k in one hit if they get caught... where is the sence in that?

mumble mumble grrrrr

Ps. thanks for the PDF links guys I now habe the first one on my machine and it works soooper!

[TEC]

.... £25k in one hit if they get caught...
That assumes only one unlicenced installation, we have over 10k PCs so are very carefull about stuff that shouldn't be there, much to the annoyance of the end users at times :)