Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

College Students Are Buying More, Warez-ing Less

Posted by timothy on from the don't-forget-$5-copies-of-windows-and-office dept.

Keefesis writes: "This story from a researcher at the University of Florida states that software piracy among college students dropped between the 1996-97 school year and the 2000-01 school year. One reason cited is that software makers have found 'creative' ways to entice students to purchase software(rather than the heavy-handed and largely unsuccessful tactics of the RIAA)."

2 of 556 comments (clear)

  1. Effect of free software? by nakhla · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Does this report take into account the use of free software among students? Maybe students don't need to pirate XP/Office/Photoshop/etc. because they're using Linux/StarOffice/Gimp/etc.

  2. They endorse bundling! by mjh · · Score: 5, Interesting
    This part scares me:

    Chiang said several anti-piracy strategies by software makers have panned out. For one thing, software makers now commonly make agreements with computer manufacturers to "bundle" software with new computers

    Which of our favorite monopolies do you think will use this study to say that bundling provides customer benefit?

    Am I off my rocker? Is there another way to interpret this that doesn't say that bundling provides customer benefit? Is this an endorsement of Microsoft's biz practices?

    --
    Key to financial independence: Spend less than you earn. Save and invest the difference. Do it for a long time.