Going legit: How to use legally licensed software<\/p>\n
Arnawa Widadga, Contributor, Jakarta, arnawa__widagda@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
For the software, film and music industries, piracy is a big
\nconcern. And many manufacturers and designers are likely to be
\npleased at signs here that intellectual property rights are being
\ntaken more seriously by law enforcers and by some principled
\nconsumers.<\/p>\n
However, price is still the biggest reason why piracy
\ncontinues to flourish in the country and sellers have
\nsuccessfully adopted guerrilla tactics to avoid enforcement,
\nwhich is often weak. While education campaigns have raised pubic
\nawareness about copyright and intellectual property issues, these
\nhave only had a limited impact. The fact remains that many people
\nwho have access to pirated software, movies and music CDs cannot
\nafford the originals.<\/p>\n
To encourage the use of original products, Microsoft has
\nlaunched a cheaper, slimmed-down version of Windows, especially
\nmade for Southeast Asian markets. However, the still-high cost of
\nrestrictions and lack of features have turned off most potential
\nbuyers and sales to private owners are low.<\/p>\n
However, for people who prefer to buy original software for
\nlegal reasons or simply as a matter of principle, there are three
\nways to buy licensed products. The most expensive, is to buy the
\nfull version of Windows -- the software box. For most users, this
\nwill either mean the Windows XP Professional or XP Home Editions.<\/p>\n
Since they cost the same, it is probably better to get the
\nprofessional edition. The full version costs around US$400 a
\nlicense, valid for one PC. For those fortunate enough to already
\nhave an legal, original Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition or
\nWindows 2000 installed on their PC, they can get the upgrade
\nversion, costing about half as much for around US$200. Remember,
\nthe upgrade version license is only valid if you are upgrading.<\/p>\n
The cheapest way to get a full-featured XP Home Edition,
\nhowever, is through the bundled version, often called the OEM
\n(Original Equipment Manufacturer) bundle that you get when you
\nbuy a computer.<\/p>\n
After the recent legal battle between Microsoft and computer
\nretailers in Indonesia, most PC stores in the Mangga Dua Mall in
\nWest Jakarta are now legally obliged to provide the OEM bundle
\nwith every PC they sell.<\/p>\n
They won't advertise it, but they will tell you about it if
\nyou ask. It is likely you will have to pay slightly more than for
\na empty PC with no operating system installed, but it is still a
\nbargain. Some stores may choose to sell this OEM bundle
\nseparately -- a legally gray area because the software license is
\nonly valid if you buy a whole new PC, not parts. However, once
\ninstalled it would be difficult for anyone to prove you did
\notherwise.<\/p>\n
Institutions buying original software, whether Microsoft or
\nother brands -- especially government, educational and non-profit
\norganizations -- should always ask representatives for discounts,
\nas most will offer special arrangements.<\/p>\n
These institutions and companies who use software for
\ncommercial purposes can also ask for extra bulk discounts.<\/p>\n
The last option may not suit all users, although it has been
\nthe choice of most system and network administrators for years.<\/p>\n
If you don't want to pay, then don't use Windows. Using any
\nLinux distribution means you're using software that's freely
\navailable due to its open-source nature. In most cases, you're
\nonly paying for the cost of the CD.<\/p>\n
There are even distributions bundled with books and magazines.
\nHowever, contrary to what some people believe, using Linux is not
\nwithout some cost and hassle, so this step is not recommended if
\nyou're a first-time computer user.<\/p>\n
For software applications, however, you will have plenty of
\noptions. Most Linux applications came bundled with the installer
\nCD. For Windows applications, meanwhile, you can generally
\ndownload applications directly from the Internet or buy a
\nmagazine-bundled CD with the software you want.<\/p>\n
Software applications for Windows and Linux generally come in
\nseveral categories. Freeware and shareware, are generally
\nabsolutely free or low cost and there are often no strings
\nattached, although sometimes voluntary donations or cheap
\nregistrations are asked for.<\/p>\n
Trialware, on the other hand, gives you a full-featured or
\nlimited-featured version of a piece of software for a limited
\ntrial period, usually 30 days or less.<\/p>\n
Some shareware products feature ads, can be annoying for some
\nand some adware can install lots of junk on your system, which
\nslows it down and can be a major pain to get rid of.<\/p>\n
To avoid this, it's a good idea to check out the software you
\nplan to download on the Internet first, searching for the name of
\nthe software you plan to download and for users' comments and
\nprofessional reviews.<\/p>",
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