Are you aware much of today's software comes with an 'expiration date'? Certainly all that crapware (as it's lovingly refered to in the trade) that came with your computer does.
Trial versions of Norton Anti Virus, Office 2007, etc. are all provided as 'teasers' to encourage you to buy. You use it for a month-or-six and you're hooked. Up pops an invitation to buy the full blown version at a 'nominal cost'; nominal cost....that's a good one....YOU'LL be the judge of that!
Well, constant reader, there ARE alternatives. In virus protection I've been signing my clients up for AVAST! It's a great program that takes up not much space and automatically updates it's virus definitions and database continually. Oh, there may be a better free virus protection out there; we could have that debate. But this one will save you 50$ and a lotta grief.
As for Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Access, etc....), that one is a little tougher. It's a marvelous collection of programs 80-90% of all PC owners use everyday. But there ARE options, and they don't have to be too freaky for you. Open Office makes a free suite of software that has almost ALL of what Microsoft offers, AND you can set it up to read and save files in Microsoft formats so that your friends and business associates can open and alter your files even if they don't use Open Office. So if you can't afford $150+ for the Microsoft Office product then Open Office is the way to go. And the learning curve is virtually FLAT.
So don't let these EXPIRED warnings force you to get your wallet out. Check out these two tips. And if you don't like 'em, money back guarantee (just kidding....I don't recall you spending anything yet).
