🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <QbRA3Yy00VpGMslmRB@andrew.cmu.edu> hp0p+@andrew.cmu.edu
>i think it is a terrible idea to pirate reasonably priced (such as borland's)
>and personal-use oriented (such as procomm, pc tools, games, etc) softwares.
>my feeling is that these softwares truly reflect their worth, what you invest
>is what you enjoy. on the other hand, i probably wouldn't mind using an ...
>copy of lotus 123/autocad if my usage is not profit-related.
.
>do they really care if someone use an ilegal copy of lotus 123 to balance his
>personal checkbook? or dbase to manage his personal collection of wines?

   This is exactly the same as saying it's wrong to steal gas from gas stations
when I feel the gas is affordable, but just fine when or if I deceide that
it's just too expensive.  Try going into the software store, leaving what you
feel is right on the counter and walking out the door...
   In the case of both examples you cites (lotus/123 & autocad) thare are
several, PD, Shareware or Cheapware that do part/most/all of the job of the
copy.  There's a lotus 'clone' on simtel, and the twin advanced (another) runs
about $ 40.  Dan Cad is Share/Freeware and several cad texts come with generic
cad or some other freeware.
   If the software is really overpriced, your better off helping your company
researching and using a cloneware and save them money too.   If the cloneware
doesn't provide either the bells whistles, support, or upgrades and enhance-
ments that 'the big boys' do, then isn't that one of the things your paying
for ?  I would buy lotus even if a driver for my device wasn;t available, 
because I'd only buy what I thought was reasonably common..., and that lotus
will provide support for it in the next version.  Neither the simtel or twin
yet provide support for postscript devices, and the major reason is $$$.
al
-- 
Al. Michielsen, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University
 InterNet: amichiel@rodan.acs.syr.edu  amichiel@sunrise.acs.syr.edu
 Bitnet: AMICHIEL@SUNRISE