Bits & Bytes |
Internet Software Shopping by Ms. Lin MacDoss |
In the days before computers came equipped with CD ROMs, certainly in the days before the Internet, comparison shopping for software was pretty much reduced to pricing similar products. About all you could do back then was load yourself into the Edsel, drive down to Egghead Software or Office Depot, take a look at the scant information provided on the shrink wrapped boxes, and make the best choice possible. If it turned out you were wrong, that you should've purchased Acme Business Pack instead of Apex Business Solutions, you were pretty much stuck, since software is generally not returnable. Now, I must admit that Ms. MacDoss hates change. When shrink wrapped software began disappearing from the store shelves and Egghead closed their bricks and mortar stores in favor of Internet downloads, I was livid. After all, how could I possibly make an informed decision if I couldn't hold a pretty box in my hands and read the developers cryptic claims while trying to determine what they really meant? Spending money for 1s and 0s sent through a phone line seemed somewhat unsatisfying. I wanted an honest-to-goodness CD or packet of floppies to give weight to my purchase.
My dissatisfaction didn't last for long, however, as it turned-out that the download was the best thing to happen to software shoppers since WordStar gave way to WordPerfect. Suddenly there was a plethora of applications available, most of them from small developers who never could have afforded to get shrink wrapped packages on the shelves of Egghead. Even better, nearly all came with a thirty day trial, meaning it was now possible to test drive your software.
There are probably a hundred or more good sites to shop for software. My favorite is the download section at ZD Net, which contains tens of thousands of software applications, neatly divided into separate categories for easy searching. They offer everything from brand name products from major developers to freeware titles that are available for absolutely no cost. Although the occasional title requires an up-front purchase, the vast majority will allow you to try before you buy.
A nice thing about ZD Net is that the site recognizes your operating system and only shows you titles that will run on your machine. This is especially useful for Mac users, or those running Linux boxes, since you don't have to wade through hundreds of Windows titles to find an application that will work on your computer. However, it's possible with a few clicks to look for Mac software from a Windows machine, so you can look for an application for your home computer from the workplace if your boss permits this.
The first thing I do when I find an application that interests me is to go to the description page, which contains a brief write-up by the program's developer and the size of the download. The size is important, because it lets me know if it can be downloaded on a coffee break or will need to begin just before bedtime since it'll take hours to complete. It also supplies other useful information, like the price, and whether the program comes with an uninstaller (if it doesn't, don't download it - especially if you're running Windows).
Another great feature at ZD Net is the user comment section, where those who've downloaded the product and tried it are invited to rate the software. Since poorly designed software can wreck your system, especially Windows, I pay careful attention here. If three out of four users say the program caused system hangs and crashes, I quit my investigation. If three out of four say the application worked fine, I continue.
Finally, I go to the developer's home page, where I can usually find much more information about the product, like a complete list of it's features, some FAQs, and screen shots to give me some idea of the user friendliness and intuitiveness of the graphical interfaces. At this point, if I'm still interested, I download the program and begin my test drive.
HELPFUL HINT: Create a directory called "Install Files," and sub-directories for each application you download. If you subsequently buy the program, make a text file with the unlock code and save it in the directory that contains the install program. Be sure to back-up your Install Files directory periodically to a CD ROM, this way you won't lose your valuable programs if you suffer a major system failure or if you replace your computer.
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2003 by AlternativeApproaches.com
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