Description
I am constantly being asked if MS-Office is installed in our used laptops. I have come to realize that people just don't know (or don't care) that to do so, IS ILLEGAL. Its called software piracy. MS-Office is protected by copyright law and if you want to use that product, you need to purchase a license to use it. So we install Open Office which, in terms of functionality, is pretty much the same thing AND ITS FREE!
Many have said, well if MS-Office is in there anyhow? Isn't it then OK? Well to begin with, we are professionals and part of our job is to wipe the system clean from prior users and two, even if we did not wipe it clean, the previous owner of the laptop will likely install their copy of MS-Office in their next computer and then it would be installed in two computers, which is when the law has been broken.
Now I know that some people will leave a copy of MS-Office in a laptop when they sell the laptop and what this tells me is that one, they are not professional and two, they have no respect for the law and my question to the buyer is, is that who you want to buy from?
Last but not least, if you are using an illegal copy of MS-Office and something goes wrong, you will not be able to reinstall it and you will loose access to all your data. Is it worth it for what you save in the short run? If you want to use a product like MS-Office, then buy a legitimate copy of that product.
Open Office is a great little office package and for what the average person needs it for, it is quite adequate for the job and again, ITS FREE!
