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(The
reasons for...)
In this day and age, when doing business
gets tough and staying afloat to meet one's needs become a matter of
day to day stride, having to respond to a lawsuit while trying to
earn one's keep is downright unacceptable. However,
when peoples' needs and principles collide, challenged by
the ever-shrinking piece of the pie each one must content himself
with against the demand for a bigger one, we human beings learn
to cut corners the wrong way.
While there are legitimate
means by which one can reduce expenses, people fail to see there
are areas wherein one has to pay his dues, one of which lies in
the service arena. People who receive service should realize
there is cost involved. While one might be tempted to think of this
as "reasonable" all the time, reality tell us that it is
not. Well, most of the time, our perception of "what's
reasonable" is modified by our need for that "bigger
share". While the cost of commodities has gone up countless
number of times over the last decade, the cost of providing
service over this region continues to decline. Is it because of the
failing economy? Or is it due to the "kamikaze" or
the "dalawa singko" minded
entrepreneurs? What everyone fails to see is this, some service
providers prepare more, offer more quality in their service, and
thus, their service costs more. While others offer less, therefore,
costs less. Forcing those who provide more to give it for less
is a guaranteed formula for disaster. Eventually, either they go out
of business, or they start giving less than what they ought to.
Either way, the consumer suffers.
Another area, while not
attempting to enumerate all, lies in software development. One might say, "This giant is already
rich beyond wild imagination! Surely, it won't hurt him a bit if
I steal just one of his softwares!" Well, this giant also
has giant bills to pay, giant projects to finish, giant taxes to
settle, giant workforce to feed, and a giant consumer base
all over the world to support. Not
to mention the gigantic competition this giant is facing right now.
On top of that, this giant has devoted gigantic amounts of cash for
causes that would benefit people across this small-gigantic world we
live in. If there were only one person in this world who thinks of
acquiring something for sale without ever purchasing, then
that would not be much of a problem. What if there are hundreds
of thousands of them who sport the same philosophy? Moreover,
each one requiring support of some kind, consuming precious resources
of this giant... just do the math.
Now that the idea of
software piracy has been brought into view, let us see for a moment
how it affects the consumer. Such a consumer would probably say, "How
can that affect me?" Well, not what every service provider is
telling them is this; using pirated software is hopeless. Maintaining
it is an endeavor headed toward the ravines. They might even show
their great disbelief by saying, "But we have been doing this
for years! It has always worked this way. Why not now?" The
truth is, pirated software do not enjoy support from their maker.
And why should it? If these producers will not provide it, who or
what in the world will? Just in case you have not realized it
yet, computers installed with illegal software that connect to the
Internet, more often than not, bug down on a regular basis. Why so?
Because software need maintenance. Moreover, each time that
un-maintained machine goes down, it requires a major fix. This
translates into higher overall maintenance cost than PCs that receive
regular updates. If you do not believe me, ask around and make your
own statistics.
These service providers are just probably
afraid to tell their customers for fear of losing them. Well, I have
seen it happen repeatedly, techs who try to maintain pirated
software lose their credibility in front of the very ones they try
to help. Clients move from one technician to another, each time
expressing doubt over the skill of the former in front of the
new one, no doubt making a challenge each time. What the new
unsuspecting tech does not know is this -- he is next in line.
I am not saying there are no hucksters out there who
deliberately put bugs in their clientèle's PCs. Nevertheless,
if ever there is one; there are probably ninety-nine service
providers who would not do so for fear of losing customers.
Let's face it. Most of us just want to make a decent living.
Okay.
Where is this whole charade taking us? I could go on detailing
my claims above why should consumers shy away from bottom rock
priced service that's killing the industry, and of course, from
software piracy. However, time and space prevent me from doing so.
Well, I have not even discussed yet what goes on between these
service providers while the entire hoopla above happens. So I'll just
leave that to your imagination. What I'm saying here is
this, the world we live
in, to a certain extent, has gone nuts. When most of us are
thinking only of putting food on the table, other people are
scheming in their sleep against others. Some do it for fun,
while others out of perceived necessity.
The Terms of
Service document found here was created with the things above in
mind. Some kind of device must
be put in place to maintain order, that is, to define the
so-called rules of engagement. The PC Tech regrets
making this document as well as the provisions in it. However, it
becomes necessary in order to shed light on what one should expect
over the other, meaning, the client vis-à-vis the service
provider. The PC Tech also hopes that by this document, if ever
they get the chance to read it, budding techs out there would realize
that we computer professionals have a certain code of ethics to
follow. That is, to adhere to the standards the industry associations
have already established; to protect our trade and to keep it a
viable source of income; and to protect ourselves from possible legal
entanglements. After all, if we neglect these things, it is only us
who will suffer the most. Growth will never be found in our
path.
Please click here
to download the signed terms of service.
Click here
to continue reporting your PC problems.
Click here
to return to the contact page.
If you want to know
your software alternative, please click here.
For
reactions, please e-mail The
PC Tech.
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