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By Design News Staff -- Design News, November 21, 2005
BUYER BEWARE
Software on eBay, it is a great thing. But when it comes down to it . . . buyer beware. I don't believe in piracy. If you want a piece of software, then pay for it like the rest of us! If it costs $300 new, then either buy it or go without. Simple! Too many people in the world today want things for almost nothing or free all together. Too bad! Get caught doing the crime, then do the time.
As for the eBay thing, be really careful when looking for expensive mathematical, scientific, and engineering related software packages in this domain. Too many companies offer reduced priced trial versions or free "academic versions." My best advice is to do a little "independent research" on the product your interested in purchasing. For example, find a company or individual that has the same product and then ask them about the details. How many books came with the retail package, how many CDs were in the box, color of the CDs, what does the retail box read for minimum requirements, etc.
You can obtain great deals on eBay for older, expensive software packages but you have to be a little "knowledgeable" in what you're looking for. A little time spent upfront can be very satisfying in the end. Don't do your homework and you could be in for a big surprise when your package arrives!
Dean Oliver, Kansas City, MO
DO IT ALL THE TIME
Why should software be different from any other item sold on eBay? I have purchased legal software on eBay at great savings. It came in the original shrink-wrapped box with valid serial number and the vendor (Adobe in this case) accepted the registration. Of course there may well be pirated software on eBay as well, and knowingly buying and selling it is both outright piracy and sleazy. But so is knowingly buying any stolen good from any source.
John Kessler, Design News reader
HOW TO AVOID GETTING RIPPED OFF
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with eBay software. Unfortunately there are only a few things you can do to try to prevent it, namely:
1) Ensure the person has many sales behind them
2) Those sales resulted in a 97 percent or higher rating
3) There is a statement AND photo of the software in original packaging
THEN if you get pirated software, you can burn that person's rating and they may be hard pressed to get business in the future.
Larry Crittenden, Dallas, TX
JUST TRANSFER THE LICENSE!
I have not looked for software on eBay until now. It would seem to me that if you purchase "used" software and receive all the documentation, authenticity seals, etc. and you contact the manufacturer to transfer the license then it is a reuse (reduce, reuse, recycle). A few years ago the design group that supported me for years underwent a significant reduction in size due to downsizing and retirements. I arranged for one of the CAD licenses to be transferred to me for my use. I contacted the manufacturer to change the name on the license and they had no problem with my request.
Leonard Quinn, Webster NY
MAKE IT EASY FOR ENGINEERS
I have not bought software on eBay. However, as an engineer who would love to have a home version of Pro/E but can't justify the cost of the software, much less the computer required to run it, I believe the marketing folks at these CAD software companies should take a page from the Microsoft play book.
In the good old days, Microsoft encouraged people to have a copy of its software at home if they had one at work. It helped establish them as the standard operating system (Windows), word processor (Word), spreadsheet (Excel), etc. Once everyone became comfortable with its software, Microsoft cornered the market. If Pro/E, Solid Works, Solid Edge, Ideas, etc. want to be the standard, they need to make it easy for engineers to own it at home and become comfortable with their product. We are the ones who make recommendations and purchase this software for work. Call it a home version, personal version, student version or whatever but sell it at a price that encourages engineers to purchase it to learn how to use it at home. This would definitely help them build loyalty and market share and discourage piracy.
Anthony Van Allen, Ames, IA
