Should students be given free software for school?
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Given the examples of software in the OP, I don't think we're talking about the useless annoying programs teachers like to force on us for fun (I'm looking at you, Math 45 with your useless stupid ODE Architect that you need about 2 years to learn how to use even minimally for a half-term class) but programs that you learn because that's what you're going to be using later on.Mordwyl said:
Some places do, i never got discounts from school, but my university (and my college did similar) are part of microsoft msdn academy alliance so we get everything you can think of (made by microsoft) free other than office, this is very handy considering the versions of visual studio we use can go for over £1k a piece, also we get all the latest OS (and old ones) when we want, to keep for life (and were allowed up to 4 copies per software), so i'm pretty sorted, when it comes to testing all my programs out that i write.
If your looking for discounts and such though most companies (autodesk, etc.) offer student discounts or free student editions if you fill in the forms (and can figure out where there hiding them on there site). Although in all honesty when it comes to school you don't really need all this specialized software since your not focusing in one area, if you need the software then just do the work at school, if the softwares not on the school computers then you don't really need it.
If your looking for discounts and such though most companies (autodesk, etc.) offer student discounts or free student editions if you fill in the forms (and can figure out where there hiding them on there site). Although in all honesty when it comes to school you don't really need all this specialized software since your not focusing in one area, if you need the software then just do the work at school, if the softwares not on the school computers then you don't really need it.
Moving from Max to Blender (it's free and can use it for commercial purposes) there's a world of difference between using either software. Another fitting example is the Visual Studio bundle whose edition is renewed every few years, with schools making you obtain an OLDER copy of the one you would use.Dunvi said:
If it applied to the course (and is college, not high school), yes. I'm a computer science major in college and we get copies of Visual Studio, SQL Server, Expression, etc. for free, but we're supposed to uninstall them after the class is finished. If you just want free stuff, no. 3DS Max I have yet to see a need for in any class, especially considering the price tag on it, and I've heard Milkshape is basically the same thing and it is free.
I got a copy of arcGIS for free, but that's about it. Why should we get software for free and not books though?
software is usually on university/college machines anyway, you can use it there. it makes more sense to me to make books free.
software is usually on university/college machines anyway, you can use it there. it makes more sense to me to make books free.
Assuming the license was withdrawn after the end of the student's education in the field for which said software was utilized, then yes.
A) Books cost money per unit to make and distribute (unless we're talking about e-books)Floppertje said:
B) Text books generally have no market outside academia
C) Not all colleges have computer labs open 24/7, and not all students are able to do their school work at a reasonable hour (work, family, etc)
Many schools already offer discounts. For example, I was about to purchase any Microsoft product for 10 dollars each. Thats how I upgraded both of my PCs to Windows 7.
That being said I don't think students should be given free software as long as it is available for public use on school computers. It would become too much of a financial burden to have to purchase new copies of Office for example. If you think its expensive for one copy, imagine a thousand copies every year. Even at a discount, if Microsoft provides one for schools, that would end up being extremely expensive.
That being said I don't think students should be given free software as long as it is available for public use on school computers. It would become too much of a financial burden to have to purchase new copies of Office for example. If you think its expensive for one copy, imagine a thousand copies every year. Even at a discount, if Microsoft provides one for schools, that would end up being extremely expensive.
A) So does software (if you buy it in the store). I don't quite see what your point is though... that books are expensive? they're usually cheaper than software.Scars Unseen said:
B) no, but i'm not saying the writers should write them for free. (that's what I think your point was, otherwise you make no sense)
C)no, they don't. but that doesn't mean they don't get the opportunity to use the computers. family time is flexible and work shouldn't be put before education anyway. assuming you have a job to pay for you education, it makes little sense to fail your classes because you have to work to PAY for your classes.
yea sure some programs are required for some classes
i know for a fact we get microsoft office, photoshop elements, and windows 7 for free, plus a few other editing programs i think
i know for a fact we get microsoft office, photoshop elements, and windows 7 for free, plus a few other editing programs i think
A) Every application I've gotten for free due to education has been downloaded. The user experience for a downloaded program is exactly the same for a box version in any case. Can you say the same when comparing physical books and e-books?Floppertje said:
B) My point is that software companies can provide free academic versions because it costs them nothing other than lost sales (which is offset by the fact that providing free software to academia provides the professional world with people trained to use their software). Textbook publishers have zero incentive to provide free books because they would be eliminating their sole market.
C) You must be either young, or are far more privileged for your own good. I have to work because if I don't, my family doesn't eat. Family time is not flexible because I have very limited time to spend with my family because they have to go to bed at a set time. I pursue education, often at the expense of sleep, in order to make a better life for my family where we don't just barely scrape by.
Absolutely not. For any number of reasons, not the least of which is the cost to the taxpayers. Not to mention that these adolescent morons ceaselessly photograph themselves in all manner of undress, and send them to each other. Can you imagine the kind of mischeif these little oxygen-wasters would get into if not only handed software like Photoshop or other, but left to their own devices?
Yeah, that's not a good use of government or taxpayer funds. If the kids wanna take a course that involves getting additional software, let their parental units pay for it.
Yeah, that's not a good use of government or taxpayer funds. If the kids wanna take a course that involves getting additional software, let their parental units pay for it.
I know that some colleges have Windows sponsorship, which means that students get a free/heavily discounted version of the latest OS. A friend of mine got Vista or Win7 that way. Personally, I'd probably stick to Linux just to spite the bastards. Creating a technological dependency *grumblegrumble*..
Well, sadly, that is a possibility. Given that the alternative is to pirate it in the first place, I can live with that risk. I'd also like to think that professionals who trained on software and are making money off the back of that software would have a much lower (0 please) percentage chance of pirating.HG131 said:
I believe it was one of the MS execs, possibly balmer himself, who said that he would rather people pirate MS office than switch to open office. The reasoning being that a pirate of office might one day become legit and buy, whereas an open office convert is a convert for life.
This is all an aside really, so back OT: I've been a student. Its hard enough to afford to live without buying specialist software like photoshop. All resources for a course should be provided as part of the course. All places of education have a library where you can borrow the required textbooks and take them home, I don't see how providing software on a similar bases is any less reasonable.