[squawksarah]

I love, love, love this website!

But I am wondering about the moral aspects and the practical consequences.

Morally, the thing is, most of these software companies are small, possibly single-person companies. They are not Microsoft-like corporations. So should we maybe consider paying for those very few worthwhile programs we couldn't do without?

Practically, I wonder what will happen to all these small software houses if they don't get paid for their hard work? It does seem a niche market after all.

I have no moral problems ripping off Microsoft or other large or multi-national software companies - I consider it a public duty

Am I the only one who is loving this site but wondering about where we are going with it? Should we maybe pick one essential, excellent program on our PPC devices and pay for it?

[XVI]

If u like it, and decide to keep it you should support the developer.
I have only ever purchased 1 program in all my years of owning windows mobile devices.
I would think that more people pay than what steals

[sdawson]

I don't think the intention of warez was ever to rip anyone off. From my time in the scene I know all crackers and suppliers expect you to support the developer if you like the software. It's about freedom of choice, not having severly limited demonstrations that don't give you a full understanding of the operation of the program, or a time limited trial that doesn't give you a fair time to actually test it out, or not having a demonstration at all.

That's what warez is about in my opinion. I always buy software I use regularly.

[codybear]

I don't think the intention of warez was ever to rip anyone off. From my time in the scene I know all crackers and suppliers expect you to support the developer if you like the software. It's about freedom of choice, not having severly limited demonstrations that don't give you a full understanding of the operation of the program, or a time limited trial that doesn't give you a fair time to actually test it out, or not having a demonstration at all.

That's what warez is about in my opinion. I always buy software I use regularly.

I agree.
When I find a program I like that I'll stick with,
I support the developer as soon as I can.
Whether that be a few donations till I get up to the price of the software,
or whether that be purchasing my own serial/activation for the software.
It's just like music,
I download tons of music,
But if I like what I've downloaded,
I buy it.
I think of it more like a money back guarantee without any exchanging of money.

i download and use programs from this site and if i really like the application i buy it from the developer

[Phex]

Practically, I wonder what will happen to all these small software houses if they don't get paid for their hard work? It does seem a niche market after all.

I have no moral problems ripping off Microsoft or other large or multi-national software companies - I consider it a public duty

I personally don't see a big difference (regarding a bad conscience what's your main aspect i think) between small software houses and big ones... whenever you don't pay someones job might be at risk or on the other hand a new job is not created... at the small companies, they can't pay the people or if it is only one person this one might stop developing coz it's not profitable... at the big companies, if they get more money, they will probably invest more money in development and that might create a new job...

Now you can decide if this helps you in a positiv or negativ way ;D lol

[maze1980]

Software developing is a high risk market, always.
If your program is bad then nobody will ever bother to crack it.
If your program is average it will be cracked and copied and deleted. It won't be bought often.
If your program is good it will be cracked and copied without licensing. And it will be bought often, too.
When doing the business plan this should be considered.