Say NO to pirated softwares!
Most local shops that sell unbranded PCs will install a pirated copy of Windows for you. It happens not only in Pakistan but also in many other countries. I have myself experienced this when I purchased my very first PC in Qatar (Middle East). But not many of us realize the problem in using pirated softwares.
Islam protects copyrights and does not encourage acts that affect ones’ business. Once we install Windows (or any other OS), we install many other types of pirated softwares like anti-virus, games, development IDEs, photo-effect tools and what not. It’s really easy to go to a torrent website and get a cracked version of latest software that’s available in the market. But where is this all leading to? In our daily lives, we avoid every kind of bad deeds and neither would we do an act like ‘theft’ as we all consider it against humanity. Since what is ‘Haram’ is Haram and what is ‘Chori’ is Chori – either we do it in our real world or we do it in the virtual world, it’s all same!
Few people recently argued with me that I have become anti-Microsoft but that’s not the reality. I would prefer to use some other OS rather to pay for Windows as it does not satisfy my needs. To some people things click early, and to some they might click late. If you realize that you’re also heading in the wrong direction, do not hesitate for a change. Either you should pay for a commercial product or use free-ware products. Because if you’re using pirated softwares and earning through it, you know where you’re heading!
7 comments
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Okay, an interesting point of view.
As for my argument, with the dirt easy availability of pirated softwares in cheap prices, its darn easy to use these softwares without any tug of guilt conscious since the usage seemingly doesn’t seem to harm anyone. Thanks to factors like unavailability of genuine software, astronomical prices and general unawareness about piracy- its pretty easy to see why piracy is thriving. There has to be reliable alternative available before one could make the right switch. OS yes, its a great option but how many housewives, senior citizens or general public can automatically make a switch without any proper guidance? OS no doubt is free and better choice but unfortunately its not as user friendly.
If copyrighted software is not available easily, only in that case we are allowed to go against it. But I believe today, we can easily buy softwares on the internet. As far as an alternative is concerned, I have myself switched to Ubuntu after evaluating it for 2 days. And my other non-techy siblings are finding no difficulty in using the same. It’s all about adapting a change
MX, when I was in AIG, an ex-MS executive (who join the AIG) visited us in Duabi. and the pirated software came on the table. everyone from the region was blaming MS for availibility of their software. this executive was smiling on our comments and in last he told us that it’s a MS’s stratagy to let the software available in market so they have plenty of professionals/MS-certified people which force the market to go for their products. This strategy has also been adopted by other companies to drive the market force. That’s why they are available evrywhere in the world, even you can buy in US/E.U. and that’s why we are using it.
@riz1
I agree with you that most companies spread the pirated software themselves. It’s their own strategy to spread the softwares and make it so common that every other user uses it and then they can claim its license. However, for us..I believe, we should avoid using what’s not legally and religiously right!
I would agree with the author’s take choice here. Nice thought of linking it with Islam.
And I would like to second the fact of usability. I have made my dad switch to Ubuntu. It is so easy. An experiment was performed on the usability of Ubuntu.
http://contentconsumer.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/is-ubuntu-useable-enough-for-my-girlfriend/
Waise, did anyone tell you that, on Linux / Ubuntu, there is no worry about a friend coming to your place, inserting USB into your system and you getting a virus. Linux / Ubuntu are practically VIRUS FREE.
@Salman
Thanks for the comment Salman. Yes, Ubuntu is very user-friendly..we humans usually resist change. No one would like to dispose of all their Windows program and dive into a world in which they know nothing. But the fact is, Ubuntu is as easy as Windows
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