Computer Software

Computer Software

Buying computer software is one of the most important decisions you will make about what you get out of your computer. You may want to add functions to your device such as video or photo editing and office document manipulation, to upgrade from a previous version of your operating system software or to protect the machine against viruses and malware.

Similar categories of computer software can come at a dizzying range of prices and formats so it is key to choose what is right for your specific needs. The most popular purchases by far are the Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite , Adobe editing software and various anti-virus brands.

Pirated copies of popular software packages means that you need to be extra vigilant when buying. A good sign of legitimate products is a certificate of authenticity (COA), which is on the hologram label. You also need a valid a product key to activate the product.

Many programmes offer various versions of the same product, depending on the usage or the range of functionalities required; for example, the MS Office range is available for Students, home office and businesses. If buying the computer software for business purposes, find out what the cost involves in terms of user licences, as the cost can be determined in many ways. The two most popular ways are Per Seat or Per Concurrent User. Per Seat is determined by how many seats in your business will be using the software at any given time. On the other hand, Per Concurrent User is based on a set amount of users that can access the software at any given time.

For anti-virus programmes, as the threats proliferate, so do the requirements of the end user in terms of protection. Expect to find the following in a good up to date anti-virus suite; email and file download scanning, malware and spyware scans. It is important to check that any software you buy is actually compatible with your computer itself in terms of RAM. The modern standard is 64-bit operating systems, but older computers with 32-bit may not be compatible with the software purchased.