Before You Purchase That New Software Online
Just about anything you are looking for, from games to advanced physics simulation software, is
available for purchase and download on the Internet. I regularly purchase software online packages and
solutions on the Internet.
It's important to remember that most
software solutions can be buggy at times and you will likely need support
somewhere down the line. Many online software retailers provide
support only through e-mail or web based support such as knowledge bases or
FAQ's.
Before you purchase online software packages do a
little home work on the product. Check to see how long the product has
been around, if there are any comments or feedback about the software
online, and what type of support is available. Many of the
developers of non-brand name products are in other countries and therefore
in significantly different times-zones. So if they have phone support, it
could mean long-distance calls and calls in the middle of the night.
Many people download software packages and
have problems during the install process. When they try to
contact the company for help via e-mail or message board, they
never get a response. And for those sites where the only contact
method is e-mail, who can you then turn to for assistance? This happens
quite frequently and in some cases it is by design, not accident.
How many people are going to argue on the
phone with their credit card company about not wanting to pay for a $49
piece of software that doesn't work? Many of the software developers
with buggy programs and sketchy support services know and count on this.
Educate yourself on the above points prior to
purchasing software and applications online. It will save you a lot of
time, money, and grief in the long run.
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