Buying A Computer For Dummies, 2006 Edition (2005)

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Public domain software says so, either in the program or in the documentation. Never assume that something is public domain just because someone else tells you that it is.

Don’t sell public domain software or buy it from anyone. It’s free!

Freeware or open source

Freeware is software that has no cost but isn’t in the public domain. The primary difference is ownership. Because public domain software has no owner, anyone could, theoretically, modify it and resell it. With freeware, the author gives the stuff away but retains ownership and control. The software may not be modified or, often, redistributed without the author’s permission.

An example of freeware is Linux. The program is given away freely. (What you pay for is a Linux distribution, not Linux itself — a weird concept a lawyer may be able to explain to you.)

A hefty amount of Palm OS software is freeware, including the addicting Hearts game.

Shareware

A popular form of free software is referred to as shareware, or software that’s available at no cost, just like public domain software and freeware. The exception is that if you use and enjoy the program, the author requests that you contribute a donation. After that, the software is usually “unlocked” and more features are available or the author provides free updates.

I’ve used many shareware programs and pay for those I continue to use.

The fee for buying shareware is really cheap, often $10 or less.

Unlike with real software, which you cannot give away, shareware authors encourage you to give their programs away.

Demo software

Another category of free software is the demo program. These programs are special versions of major applications that you can try before you buy.

Sometimes, they’re the real thing and lack only a few features. At other times, the demo software self-destructs after a few weeks (the demo is over).

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Beware of Illegal or Pirated Software

Though you can find lots of software available without cost, many programs still are sold through retail channels. These programs are not free and are not meant to be given away. Don’t accept any software you can otherwise buy as free. Even if a well-meaning, innocent friend is offering you the program, don’t accept it. This practice constitutes theft. Only if the software states that it’s free (or it’s a demo) can you legally use it without paying.

Stolen versions of software are typically infected with computer viruses, or they may be nasty programs masquerading as the real thing.

Pirated versions of popular games usually contain viruses or other nasty programs. Please avoid the temptation to get this software for “free.”

The most pirated software worldwide is Windows. In many countries on this planet, millions of computers run Windows, but only a few thousand copies have ever been sold.

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Part III

Finding Your

Perfect Computer

In this part . . .

If buying groceries were as complex as buying a computer, we would all starve. Food is easy to buy in a store, probably because so many people enjoy eating. I would even bet that the first human to eat an avocado wasn’t thinking about whether it was a fruit or vegetable or how many carbs it had or which vitamins it supplied or what other kinds of food would go well with it. Nope — he

was thinking “Big pit.”

This part of the book continues with the five-step process of buying a computer. The next several chapters continue with Steps 2 through 5: the task of hunting for software, finding hardware, searching for service and support, and, finally, buying a computer. The idea here is to remove the complexity and make computer buying as easy as grocery shopping.

Oh, and an avocado is a fruit. So is a tomato. (But, for political reasons, the United States government legally declared that a tomato is a vegetable. Go figure.)

Chapter 17

Shopping for Software

In This Chapter

Test-driving software

Looking for help

Checking for developer support

Reading the software box

Filling in the software worksheet

See computer. See computer go. Go, computer, go! How does the computer go? Software!

After deciding what it is that you want your computer to do, the second step in buying a computer is to shop for software. After all, the software does the work. Even though a computer’s hardware specs may look great on paper or the advertising promises the latest and greatest technology, that means nothing without the software to drive it. Gotta have that software! This chapter tells you how to find stuff that works with you and gets your job done.

How to Buy Software

Before heading off to the Mr. Software store, you should know what it is that you’re about to do. I don’t want you to walk around and pick up various software boxes because they’re pretty or look impressively hefty. No, you need a plan of attack. Here ’tis:

Take a test drive.

Confirm the support that’s available.

Obtain product information.

Fill in this book’s software worksheet.

This section outlines each of the steps in your software plan of attack.

Don’t buy anything just yet! You’re shopping, not buying.

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Some stuff about software boxes you don’t have to read

Software looks great on the shelf — and there’s a reason for that. It’s designed to look alluring, impressive, fun, exciting, or whatever the software promises. Don’t be fooled by clever packaging.

Here are some little-known facts about software in the box, on the shelf, in the store:

Software boxes contain lots of air. They used to contain manuals, disks, coupons, and other stuff. Now, the typical software box contains a CD in a paper envelope and maybe a thin, pamphlet-size manual. Even so, the boxes are just as big as when the software came with a 500-page manual and a 350-page reference book.

Some software boxes contain manuals and references. How can you tell? Pick the thing up and shake!

All software boxes are a certain size because psychologists have determined that a given size looks good on the shelf at the software store.

A theory a few years ago implied that software boxes were made intentionally larger than necessary so as to literally push the competition off the shelves!

For a while, the product name on the software box appeared one-third of the way from the top. The reason was that the shelves at Egghead Software were tilted in such a way that you couldn’t see the top third of the box. (Even now, the product name appears on the lower half of the software box.)

Taking a test drive

Buying software is a matter of taste. As with discovering new food, you should sit down at a computer and try out any software you plan to buy. Any store that sells software should let you do so. All you have to do is ask “Can I try out the Mobius spreadsheet?” As a buyer, you’re entitled to take a test drive.

What should you look for? Look for things you like. If the program is a word processor, how easy is it for you to start typing? Do the various things on the screen look obvious to you? Is it cryptic? Does it feel slow or awkward? Make a note of these things, and if the word processor isn’t to your liking, try another. You should apply this technique to all the software you test-drive.

Most computer stores have machines set up on which you can test-drive the software. Some office-supply and department stores may be set up this way.

Don’t feel guilty about asking to test-drive! If the dealer says No, go somewhere else.

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Please, please don’t have a salesperson demo the software; that person is often too familiar with it to do you any good. It’s up to you to fiddle with the software.

When you find something you like, fill out a software worksheet for it (see the sample worksheet at the end of this chapter).

Other sources for test-driving

Not everyone lives near the dream Software-o-Rama that carries everything and lets you test-drive and has truly knowledgeable and trustworthy employees. If you’re not so lucky, you can consider some other test-driving sources:

Your guru: Having a computer-knowledgeable friend can be a boost to picking out some good software. Let your friend show you some of his or her favorite software packages. That’s how I got started years ago; I basically used everything my computer guru was using on his computer. Although it wasn’t what I ended up with, it was a good start.

Computer groups: Most areas have coffee groups that meet to discuss computers and hear guest speakers. These groups are listed in the newspaper or local computer circulars. Stop by and visit one to find out what people use and what their opinions are.

Buy what’s popular: Another tactic some people use is to look at what’s popular. If you live out in the boonies (like I do), call up a mail-order place and ask what sells best (for example, “What’s the best-selling database for a philatelist like me?”). Then have the person you’re talking to read the requirements from the side of the box for you. That person may also be able to fax you information, if you have access to a fax machine.

Check the Internet: If you’re already blessed with a computer, or are clever enough to borrow one at the library, you can surf the Internet to visit both software stores and the manufacturer’s own home page for information. Also check out online reviews at places such as www.zdnet.com and www.cnet.com.

Use school or the office: An easy way to instantly decide which software is best for you is to go with what you know. If you use WordPerfect at work, why not buy it for home? Likewise, find out what kind of software your child uses in school and buy that product to use at home.

Please make sure that you don’t “borrow” software from work or school. Though it seems an easy and effortless thing to do, it’s really theft. Always buy every software package you use or own, unless it states right up front that it’s free or in the public domain.

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Rating the games

Nothing can be as disappointing as buying what you think is a nice, engaging computer game for your 9-year old, only to find him frothing at the mouth as he controls a character on the screen who’s ripping the spine from his electronic opponent. To prevent such shock (to the parent, not to the electronic opponent, who really doesn’t feel a thing), two rating systems have evolved to allow parents or any PC game buyer to know what to expect before buying anything.

The Entertainment Software Review Board (ESRB) uses a five-level scale, similar to movie ratings, for its games (I would show you the graphics, but they’re trademarked and I’m too lazy to get permission):

EC (Early Childhood): Designed for young children and would probably bore a teenager to tears

E (Everyone): A G-rated game for kids to adults

T (Teen): Contains some violence and language, but nothing too offensive

M (Mature): For mature audiences only, preferably 17 years old or older — the type of game the teenager wants

AO (Adults Only): Contains strong sexual content or gross violence

You can get more information from the ESRB Web site, at www.esrb.org/.

How Helpful Is the Software?

Most software developers have given up on user friendly. Thank goodness. Whenever a developer tries to make something user friendly, it usually winds up being inane or boring. Rather than look for software that’s friendly, you should examine the various ways the developer has to offer you aftersale help.

Two kinds of help are in any software package you plan to buy: in the form of online help (while the program is running) and from the software developer, in the form of phone support.

If you can’t get help with your software, you probably bought the wrong thing in the first place (which is what this chapter tries to prevent).

Because many places don’t let you return computer software after you open it, make sure that you’re buying the right thing in the first place.

Types of help you find in software

Programs that are nice enough to offer help come in several varieties:

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Online help: Wherever you’re using the program, you can press a special key to see a list of options or review the manual. This technique is good for looking up topics or seeing how things are done. (Online help is different from help on the Internet; see the end of this list.)

Contextual help: This is the same kind of help as online help, except that the helpful information you see pertains to whatever you’re doing in the program. If you’re about to print, for example, the helpful information is about printing. If you’re about to save something to a disk, the helpful information is about saving.

Tutorial help: When you pay a bit more for a program, it usually comes with a manual for reference and a tutorial for learning. That’s always a good thing. The tutorial trains you in using the program step by step. Doing the exercises is the best way to become familiar with the program. (Consider getting a good book on the product if the tutorial really reeks.)

Internet help: You can also obtain help from the Internet. The company may have an e-mail address you can use or offer support on a Web page (look for the FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions). You can also find online forums in the newsgroups to get help from regular schmoes who use the program.

Don’t forget support!

Some software manufacturers offer telephone support when you really get stuck. With phone support, you can call up the company and directly ask questions about the software. Strange, but true. In fact, one reason that WordPerfect shot to the top of the charts in the late 1980s was because of its wonderful toll-free phone support.

Not all software phone support is created equal. It comes in what I call the four flavors: vanilla, chocolate, carob, and fudge. These are my flavors, by the way — not an industry standard (well, maybe in the ice cream industry).

Vanilla: With this type of phone support, you pay for not only the phone call but also the support. When the software developer answers the phone, you’re usually greeted with “Hi! What’s your credit card number?” These developers charge you per call (often per minute) just so that you can ask questions about their products.

Chocolate: With this type of support, which is better than the vanilla type, you pay for only the phone call. After you get connected, you simply wait on hold until someone happens by to answer your question. The answer is free; it’s just that most of these places tend to involve long-distance calls.

Carob: This type of support is like chocolate, but not as good. It starts out like chocolate: You get free support, but must pay for the phone call. After 90