Few businesses can operate without using a computer, and computers need software to operate. Does it still make sense to cut corners by using pirated software?
Consider the following figures:
1,962 – the number of raids made by the Philippine Anti-Piracy Team
3.3 million – optical disks seized in the raids
P876 million – estimated street value of optical disks seized
206 – computers seized as of November last year
15 – sacks of pirated CDs of software valued at P14.3 million seized
The team claims its campaign will affect both small and big businesses. I checked with a few big corporations this month and it seems that their IT teams have begun the purges in earnest last year. They can well afford to lose computers and CDs, but damaged reputations will take a lot more time to repair. Small businesses are the ones that can get really hurt if caught.
I didn’t care about piracy before. I loved buying pirated CDs and displayed them as trophies of being “smart.” But having worked with publishing firms lately opens your eyes to the perils of piracy like nothing else can. ☺ Besides, Microsoft and other firms have knocked down their prices and buying licensed software might be better than losing your entire computer, plus paying fines.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:53 am
with a little bit of perseverance, there’s no reason to use pirated software. use ubuntu linux as your operating system. a pentium 2 on ubuntu is just as fast as xp on a pentium 4. it’s more stable(3 years running), less virus prone, and it’s free. use open office instead of microsoft office, also free. just upgrade your old machine to 256+ MB and recycle even your “old” machines. tell those software extortionists to go to “L” (Linux). firefox is more stable and safer than internet explorer and thunderbird is safer than lookout.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Not only that, FOSS alternatives have become user-friendly enough these days to be considered as viable alternatives.
Ubuntu + Open Office, for example, has proven as sufficient substitutes to Windows + MS Office which is the standard requirement for many business functions, for when a business owner cannot afford original copies of such software products.