Do You Prefer to Own or Rent your...

[Gaystoryman]

Software applications? :D

A lot of the big boys are going to web based products, that you can access online, with no downloads needed, no CD's to install and all that crap. Updates are done on their side, so you know you are always up to date, but most of them are subscription based.

So I wonder, do you prefer to have a 'hard copy' or are you more inclined to 'subscribe' to the program? Price may seem cheaper now, but I know at times I have purchased my software early on, and then saw the upgrade price jump to beyond what I originally paid for it, and simply never upgraded, as the old version did the job, but at least I still had it.

Take MS Word, for those who use it, as an example. I still don't think I have used anywhere near all the options it has, even when it was Word 2.0, and I started with it, when it first came out.

So what do you think?

[gaybucks_chip]

I think we own just about every application we use. The exception is NATS, which we lease, and there might be one or two other things, like our mailer application, that we lease along with a service.

I like the idea of having a version I can continue to use without paying extra for it; like Ian, I don't see a need to upgrade if the application I have suits my purpose.

[Gaystoryman]

The other thing about owning, is I get to choose when to upgrade, if need be. I mean there are so many upgrades these days for web apps, like browsers, that it makes me leery when the software is also online, regarding security.

Like XP & Vista being a perfect example. The upgrade or new version does not seem to be as good as the one it replaced, so without owning, I can see a lot of difficulties. :bang:

[NeteQuette]

Watch that your not missing out on security patches or upgrades Ian.

[Gaystoryman]

Watch that your not missing out on security patches or upgrades Ian.

True, there is that concern, but you know, I think these software companies use it as more of a scare than reality. Yes, I know, there are a lot of nasty stuff out there, but come on, my graphics program that I use doesn't need to be online, it is for working on my desk, and if the firewall isn't doing its job, time for a new one.

A lot of these programs don't need to go online, yet they do, which makes me wonder why, and just what is being sent out too. :bad:

Call me paranoid, but I really think a lot of these so called 'security' upgrades are just BS. :bang: