How much have you invested in software? (laptop, hard drive, operating system)

[tee-tee]

Solely on your current primary desktop/laptop platform, how much have you invested in software programs?

Just curious, but this might include:

• Operating system
• Word processing/Spreadsheet
• Database (if not integrated w/ Office)
• Graphics manipulation
• video or audio editing
• Contact management
• Email or web programs
• Security/antispyware/antivirus/firewall
• Developer suites
• Backup utilities
• Anything else that comes to mind........

But don't include games!

[mrdude]

i haven't spent much at all. i haven't done much to my computer since i was in college, and when you're in college you either use free software, trial versions, or MS student edition software.

on my laptop i use:
open office
MS office 07 (free)
oracle (free)
MS visual studio (not free but purchased for school at a discount)
AVG
Zonealarm
firefox browser (though i'm starting to consider going back to Opera)
for most of my utilities (such as perfect disk) i use trial software
and i use windows XP, which wasn't free

on my server/PC i use:
windows server 2003 trial version
xp pro (student edition)
firefox
open office
AVG
zonealarm
perfectdisk (trial version)
and WSS 2.0 (free as well)


as you can see, I'm rather cheap

[BrianH]

Havent bought an OS since 1998. I use Win2k Pro on my home box. I did spend about $70 on a vscan over the years and thats about it. I use OpenOffice.org which is free, UltraVNC which is a free program like GoToMyPC, I dont use backup utilities, as its easy to just update myself. Anything I have to pay for I get for free on sourceforge (well sommet similar), gotta support the open source community

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by tee-tee

Solely on your current primary desktop/laptop platform, how much have you invested in software programs?

Just curious, but this might include:

• Operating system
• Word processing/Spreadsheet
• Database (if not integrated w/ Office)
• Graphics manipulation
• video or audio editing
• Contact management
• Email or web programs
• Security/antispyware/antivirus/firewall
• Developer suites
• Backup utilities
• Anything else that comes to mind........

But don't include games!

Keeping in mind that my "main PC" was a top-of-the-line box when I bought it back in 1996, and that I still use software on it purchased in the late 80's and early 90's, I'd say perhaps $8000-9000 in combined hardware/software.

Around $5k was for the original hardware and 21" monitor. The rest of the cost is hardware upgrades (CD burner, new hard drives, etc.), and software cost, but that includes a LOT of software for DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and OS/2. I tend to pick up stuff these days on eBay for not much money (e.g., my copy of Photoshop 3.04 was $25 + S&H), but some of the stuff I have was quite expensive (WordPerfect 5 for DOS was over $400 just by itself, as was my copy of Star Office 3.0 for OS/2).

I use a LOT of open source software, also, on the same box.

[tee-tee]

The last time we bought a new computer - maybe 3-4 yrs ago? - I thought I'd buy some software and do things "right".

What a frickin' mistake: spend a lot of money to fix things that are inherently broken in MS's OS; get programs that have bugs; and get zero tech support from the vendor. I really wondered why anyone would willingly do that.

I immediately deleted all proprietary s/w except the OS and switched to F/OSS alternatives.

So I bought a used laptop and started with the Linux distros. I had Red Hat experience and training from my job. Tried OpenSuse, Fedora, MEPIS, Ubuntu. In fact for the first year I would switch distros every few months just to try new things.

Now, it's Ubuntu on our laptop with all free/open source software. It is a wonderful experience and I cannot imagine running MS. My wife, who is not a geek by any means, enjoys it as well and can do everything she needs w/o any instruction or help from me. Our Windows machine sits upstairs, rarely used - it is slated for a reformat & fresh install.

To be able to actually use the machine and enjoy the machine without worry - what a novel idea!

[jhlcomp]

Linux and Open Source SW is the way to go and we use this for home and business. However, we still have to use MS Windows for other aspects of our business which include over $50k+ in software such as Maya, all Adobe SW, etc. and MS SW.

Plus we do a lot of embedded development and training under Linux and Windows -- so, need to have the sw.

[tazmanny]

I was studying Computer Software Engineering, since High School I love Video, Picture & Music edition, and not too long ago switched from Software Engineer to Business Administration. Well all those careers have software related to them... my inventory:

AutoDesk 2008
AutoCad 2008
CS3 Master Collection
2007 Microsoft Office Proffessional
Pinnacle Studio 11
Ulead 11
Power Director 6
DIVX (not worth much, but adds up)
Quicktime Pro


well... no need to mention all the little ones... those there ripped my pocket and left only pennies behind.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by tee-tee

Solely on your current primary desktop/laptop platform, how much have you invested in software programs?

Just curious, but this might include:

• Operating system
• Word processing/Spreadsheet
• Database (if not integrated w/ Office)
• Graphics manipulation
• video or audio editing
• Contact management
• Email or web programs
• Security/antispyware/antivirus/firewall
• Developer suites
• Backup utilities
• Anything else that comes to mind........

But don't include games!

I responded to the poll before reading the last line. I've spent maybe $150 on software for my home PCs.

Well, I use:
Windows XP Pro
Windows XP MCE
Occasionally I'll get masochistic enough to try Vista Premium again.
Office 2003 Pro
Office 2000 Pro
Office XP Pro
OpenOffice

However, I have friends/family at Microsoft, so those Evil Empire products are all free. I've also done playtesting. So, I have a copy of XP home and 3 copies of XP Pro and I'm only using 1 copy of XP Pro and the MCE came with the laptop.

I've also obtained copies of:
AutoCAD 2007
Alcohol 120
mIRC
Winamp Pro
and various other pieces of software.

Total value: $2000+ of software alone.

At work, well... I dont even want to think about those numbers. Video editting software for use with cameras attached to PCs is EXPENSIVE!


Oh, and games? If we add that in there, I'm sure the number is over $3000.

No, you can't have my copies of XP Pro. They will be used when I build a server and a HTPC.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by tazmanny

I was studying Computer Software Engineering, since High School I love Video, Picture & Music edition, and not too long ago switched from Software Engineer to Business Administration. Well all those careers have software related to them... my inventory:

AutoDesk 2008
AutoCad 2008
CS3 Master Collection
2007 Microsoft Office Proffessional
Pinnacle Studio 11
Ulead 11
Power Director 6
DIVX (not worth much, but adds up)
Quicktime Pro


well... no need to mention all the little ones... those there ripped my pocket and left only pennies behind.

Ewww. I HATE Office 07.

[Tek_Freek]

Let's see, three copies of XP, one is Pro. One Vista Ultimate.

In the past I've had multiple copies of OS's since DOS 1.x

Three copies of Office, two are 2003, one is older, all are Pro.

AutoCAD, QuickBooks, Quicken, Jaxc PSP, a ton I can't remember right now, and more games than a lot of stores.

We have every version of Tomb Raider and play them every winter, taking turns playing and directing. Been buying first-person shooters since Castle Wolfenstein (still have the 3 1/2" set for DOS)

A ton of other stuff in the PC closet,

Cost?