Im using MS office and Open office without any problems. you can get hold of perfectly legal copies of MS office from trusted sites like ebay. i did and it was fully packaged complete with product key. try amazon also

I'll reverse the question / if you wrote a nifty piece of software and spent a lot of time and effort on it, would you appreciate someone stealing it. How about your car? Having been in this business for many years, I´m constantly amazed at how many people don´t have any problem at all in ¨borrowing¨ or ¨copying¨ copyrighted material, even though they would be up in arms to the police if someone ¨borrowed¨their car.

I just went on the web and found WinXPpro for $49 and combo WinXPpro/Office 2003 for $99...

My caveat: I don´t have any problem at all paying for a software package because if I don´t, that company won´t be in business long to produce more. As for the many complaints about Microsoft, most who complain still use their products, whether they like them or not. But once you pay, you should be able to put it on as many computers as YOU own. I´m only talking personal here, not business.

definately not. copyright theft is illegal and its depriving the company of whats rightfully theirs. its like going in to a shop and taking something without paying for it. crime.

i have fun writing my own programs anyway using visual basic and visual studio.

Careful... I have made quite a few nifty piece's of software on multiple platforms. I have written programs as far and wide as an anti-spyware assistance program, to a web based sign up (CGI) package, for ISP's, complete with an optional Perl/Tk Administration Program, and released them all as open source.

What´s your point? I applaud your efforts and generosity. However, this thread refers to efforts that are made to generate profits, an entirely different goal. In our capitalistic system, companies have to make profits or cease to exist...

Granted, but all I'm saying is that a "how would you feel" about people stealing your programs, isn't necessarily a valid point. Granted someone "borrowing" or stealing your car is a good and valid point, but there are plenty of people who write programs for people to use and modify. I'm not advocating piracy here, but keep in mind that not every programmer has a problem with people using/copying their software.

OK, I'll grant you the point. But I maintain that you are not stealing if the program is freeware.

And I still compliment you on your generosity. People with your attitude are the reason the computer industry and the internet became so large so fast. We need more like you

To draw a parallel to the commercial side of the "how would you feel" question posed: I, too, have written and distributed works under the GPL. Nowadays I usually do it under the BSD license, but that's a different subject. Since you release GPL code, how would you feel if you were in the situation like the PearPC guys are in right now? Someone took their code, incorporated it into their proprietary work, and now they're claiming that the simlarities are just coincidental.

Even though money is not at stake, I'm sure that would hit a nerve with you. I know it certainly does with me! Technically, that's piracy just as much as warezing a copy of XP, in my book.

i am just going to say this. LOL to your topic...of course illegal software can cause problems.

i only write them for my use.