I think we should definitely get the basics free, for me that would be word, powerpoint and maybe excel.
I suppose that would vary from person to person, though
I suppose that would vary from person to person, though
Should students be given free software for school?
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Schools should be using open source stuff, but I know how these things go down because one of my old professors had a huge rage attack as the school was enforcing what software he should teach.
Anyway some generous donators (MS) give schools free software and even computers for the low price of "teach them to work with our shit so when they get out of school that is the only thing they know".
Ofcourse the extra money is very sweet but those are devilish deals.
Anyway some generous donators (MS) give schools free software and even computers for the low price of "teach them to work with our shit so when they get out of school that is the only thing they know".
Ofcourse the extra money is very sweet but those are devilish deals.
At my school when I was there, everyone got free anti-virus software and a free copy of Microsoft Outlook, because it was essential for accessing the school e-mail system. The IT department sold MS Office for $10. Any other necessary software for classes was kept on campus servers we could access to use the programs from anywhere on campus. Computer Science students used at least mostly open-source stuff, if not exclusively open-source. Licensing fees were incorporated into the charges for each term. It was a pretty nice setup all-around, as far as I'm concerned.
This is already done - I know Microsoft at least has a program where they allow Universities and their enrolled students can get free copies of of their software to use on school projects and other non-commercial uses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSDN_Academic_Alliance. I got a ton of free stuff off that when I was still a student at UTD.
I really don't understand the the question here. I mean why shouldn't students get free software, especially software that's a necessary part of their education?
I really don't understand the the question here. I mean why shouldn't students get free software, especially software that's a necessary part of their education?
i got Autodesk Inventor free for my Graph Comm. thats really all the software ive needed this year, but i agree with your point. nobody wants to be behind on coursework because they cant afford programs and software.
Usually it's included in the tuition. The tech office I worked at a few years ago had a special deal with Adobe to receive their products at a bulk price, and students were expected to pay that discounted price as part of what they already owed. It's simple, Adobe makes money, and the student has the software they need.
Lol. This post makes it obvious that you are involved in a field that does neither graphic design nor group writing. GIMP and Photoshop are no where near on the same level. And OEri said:
only works if everyone uses it (or a pre-2003 version of Word) or you don't let anyone else touch the file after you start formatting.ETA: It also is clear you aren't studying or involved in a field with industry standard software. There are certain programs that you are just flat out expected to know in the industry. There is no reason to cripple students by teaching them cheap or free, half-assed alternatives. I support free or at least heavily-discounted versions mainly for this reason.
School computers with the required software on it is a nice workaround if they're quality computers (and student access is at least partially restricted), but that's the school's answer. I think the companies should contribute. Here's another way to look at it - these are programs with lots of quirks and special functions. If the students get hooked on them in school, they'll continue using them throughout their career, when they'll have both the money and the need to buy the full programs.
Most universities offer massive discounts to students for software. Most schools also have computer labs that they make available to people who do not have computers of their own. I think schools make it possible to do your work even if you're not in a great financial position. It might not necessarily be as convenient for poorer people as it is for someone with money, but it's not the school's (or the government's) job to make your life easy.
depends on their major. If they are an art major that NEEDS or WOULD LIKELY USE photoshop or the like. Yes. But if you are in computer programming and you won't even use a pen tool in photoshop, then no.
I think programming majors (such as myself) should be given a nice computer with 4 or more gigs of RAM since some of the 3D rendering stuff takes up quite a bit of it.
I think programming majors (such as myself) should be given a nice computer with 4 or more gigs of RAM since some of the 3D rendering stuff takes up quite a bit of it.
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.