So when you get "free" software with a computer you are usually getting "paid for" software, the cost of which has been built into the price for the computer. But is it as good as the retail version of the same software?

OEM software is just as legal and performs the same as the equivalent retail version but it does have some major differences. Firstly, it is a lot cheaper than the retail version. Secondly, it is not to be sold on its own. It is supplied only to computer manufacturers on the condition that they sell it bundled together with the sale of a computer. (Therefore when you see an advertisement for £800 worth of free software that price is in fact the price the software would have cost you if you bought the retail version. The OEM version that you are getting could be worth as little as £100). The third and most important factor is that software manufacturers are usually reluctant to provide you with any support on an OEM version. They'll usually refer you to the person you bought it from who may or may not be qualified to give you the technical help you need.

Note also that OEM software may not come with the installation CDs, so if you wish to re-install the software you are stuck.

On OEM software the understanding is that the retailer of the package is responsible for providing you with software support on the package. Does your retailer have the facilities and trained staff to do that? What about when you upgrade to a newer version? Will he still support you? Can he still support you?

Most people underestimate the need for software support. At some point you WILL need help with your operating system. Be prepared.

Commercial Software:

Commercial software includes programs like CorelDraw, Adobe, Norton, Sage and practically anything Microsoft (MS Office, Windows95, and Windows 98 to name a few). These are programs that you pay for and you are given a registration number for each one to ensure that your copy is genuine. Commercial software can be bought in a box from most computer superstores, over the phone, or from a shop. However this retail version is a lot more expensive than the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version but it usually comes with a lot more support.

You can get some programs free. Some of the best programs are completely free. The two main types of programs that come free are the shareware and freeware programs. (Shareware is free to try out as explained below)

Shareware:

Programs like Windows are NOT free. When you get Windows with a computer you are getting the OEM version. However, there are many useful programs that do pretty much the same stuff that commercial programs do and they cost nothing to try out. You can download them off the net or you can get them on the free CDs that accompany computer magazines. Do remember that these programs are free just for you to try out. If you like them and want to continue using them you are honour bound to pay the author a small registration fee.

Freeware

These are similar to shareware programs but the use of these programs is completely free. Some of the most useful utilities like PKZip have always been freeware.

Shareware and freeware are not the only programs that you can get for little or nothing. With new versions of software coming out all the time the older versions are sold off dirt cheap. Do you really need the very latest copy of MS Office or CorelDraw?

Pirated software: You can buy pirated copies of most major software programs for £5 - £10. In fact there's a brand of pirated CDs called Cappuccino (among others) that condenses several top programs into just one CD which sells for about £20, saving you approximately £3500. A lot of people pick these CDs up when they go on holidays abroad. You can also find these CDs advertised in places like the software section of Bargain papers (Loot, Buy & Sell, Friday-Ad, Diamond Free Ads, Nottingham Free Ads etc) or your local paper. You can sometimes find them in boot sales, and very occasionally in small computer fairs. The advertisers may not use any specific name, they may not say it's pirated, but you can usually identify them by the ridiculously cheap prices they charge and the fact that their contact number will usually be a mobile phone. Again we strongly advise that making or using pirated software is a crime.

If we don't want you using pirated software then why all the information above? We've put in this information because that's how the real world is, and we trust people to make the right call. Also, we believe you need to know what to avoid. As a business we ALWAYS make sure that any software we use is licensed to us. We advise you do the same. 

Why don't you consider the shareware and freeware programs above?

Look also for taster offers. Companies sometimes give out lite versions of their software for free in the hope that you'll like it so much you'll buy the full version with more features.

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