Subscription Based Software?

Back in my student days when I didn't pay for software, when you bought software (which I never did), you bought it once. That was it. When an patch came out for that software you could download it freely (if you were fortunate enough to have internet access back in those early net days). But when a new version of that software came out (technically just another update to screw more money out of you) you had to pay for it, again. It was all moral and correct in those days. You basically got what you paid for and that was it. No hidden gimmicks or small print to worry about.

But since the internet has matured (or rather just "grown") software developers have taken to new measures to get money out of you. I'm not sure what they call it but I call it Subscription Based Software. I'm not talking about game subscriptions or MMOGs. I'm talking about software that you need for your everyday normal computing needs. Like compression software, imaging software, etc. Usually, it's the little programs that you rarely use but are so vital that you couldn't live without them.

Anti-virus software is a common example of Subscription Based Software (SBS henceforth). For the sake of clarification I'm not ranting about AV software here. With AV software you will have purchased the software itself and (usually) a year's subscription to updates (program updates as well as virus definitions). This is morally ambiguous but I guess I can live with it. AV software designers are basically making a living from defending people against Microsoft's poorly designed and easily hacked operating system. When did you last hear of a crippling virus attack on Mac systems? Or Linux systems? But that's a different rant for a different time...

I digress. My real rant is, without naming names, utility software that I frequently use to keep my system fit and healthy. I (have to) use registry cleaners and compression software and some other programs regularly for Windows (without them Windows would die on my computer like an overweight, bloated walrus). When I ignorantly bought these programs a few years ago, I didn't realise that I'd have to pay a "subscription" every year to keep using them, or rather, to be able to access necessary patches. I can still use the software, but without renewing my subscription, I won't be able to download a patch for a critical bug that may be making my system vulnerable.

Now, you might say; "Well this is fair; the developers need to make a living". But consider that there are vendors of software that offer similar (and even better) functionality but with a once for all fee, then you have to ask yourself how the SBS developers can justify their methods. I look about on the Internet a lot more now before buying software I need. There are various tricks developers employ to get more money out of you; a common one being "download insurance". Download insurance basically means that for an extra £5 or $5 or whatever your currency is, you are able to download the software you bought from their website for a whole year instead of a month or week or whatever time limit they impose on you if you don't purchase the download insurance. This is daylight robbery. They're charging you, basically, for using up their disk space. I can point you (or rather Google can) to hundreds of websites where you can download software for free, all the time and you won't get charged a single penny.

My University days are over, and I can no longer get "free" software. I wouldn't want to anyway. I much prefer owning software legally. But when software developers go to bizarre and, in some cases, immoral lengths to make a profit, you can't help but feel that the hackers out there aren't so bad after all. I have several software "subscriptions" coming to a close in the coming months, and I have no intention of re-subscribing. I've found alternatives. Alternatives that are non-subscription based and I can download patches and updates for FREE until I'm old and grey or they go out of business.

Here ends my first rant. When buying software online and you see something like "A year's free updates when you purchase", then take your time and look around some more. There is always a better, and in many cases, a free alternative. You don't buy your clothes for a year do you? Or a book for a year? Or a CD? Then you shouldn't have to with your software either.

Introduction

Who is Ragle and why does he want to start a blog? There are already enough blogs out there aren't there? You can read blogs about everything; from bored teenagers to even more bored housewives (in some countries these two may be the same).

Ragle Gumm is a fictional character from a Philip K Dick book called "Time Out of Joint". I found the name appropriate because everything around him is an illusion. I won't reveal any more in case you decide to read the book yourself (which I highly recommend along with anything else by PKD). The name leads on to why I decided to write a blog. I think I've reached an age in life where very little makes any sense. Perhaps I think too much. Anyway, I decided it was finally time to put some of my rants down onto paper (or in this case CRT; I hate LCD, but I've never tried LSD). Blogging is a brilliantly anonymous way to express yourself, and if bored married teenagers who live in countries who's name I can't pronounce can do it, then so can I!

I've had a few ideas about my first few posts and, mainly for my own sake so I won't forget, I'll list them as follows;

The Media (specifically 24 hour news)
Subscription based software (my current pet-hate)
World of Borecraft and my continuing temptation to play it
EVE Online and my continuing temptation to stop playing it

OK, that's enough for now. Stay tuned...