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Re: Buying software oneself in order to learn it

Subject: Re: Buying software oneself in order to learn it
From: Win Day <winday -at- rogers -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 17:47:30 -0500

At 01:58 PM 17/12/2001 -0800, Bruce Byfield wrote:

Ellen Vanrenen wrote:

Is it customary for technical writers to buy software themselves to load on
their PCs in order to learn that particular software? I have bought RoboHelp
and FrameMaker, and I am thinking of buying Photoshop.
Or, do most technical writers find more clever and less costly ways to pick
up skills? If so, what are these ways?
Software is a professional tool, and counts as a business expense in Canada. I assume that it probably would in the United State and most industrial countries, so why not buy it? Having your own copy is very convenient.

If you're a full-time employee, though, I don't think you'd qualify. Don't you have to be an independent contractor to qualify for the tax break in Canada?

If you don't want to pay full price, you can often find a way around. For example:

- Register for courses at an accredited institution. Then buy an academic version. Once you register, many companies make no distinction between academic and full versions, apparently reasoning that they'll make their money from you on upgrades. You'll get the software and learn something, too.

Be VERY careful about this. Some software companies, Macromedia in particular, do NOT allow upgrades to the full version from the academic version.

Which is why I still don't own Director <sigh>.

Check with the manufacturer before you buy, especially if you're thinking of buying from someplace like http://www.buycheapsoftware.com/

Win
-----------------

Win Day

Multimedia Developer

http://www.wordsplus.net
mailto:winday -at- wordsplus -dot- net


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Follow-Ups:

References:
Buying software oneself in order to learn it: From: Ellen Vanrenen
Re: Buying software oneself in order to learn it: From: Bruce Byfield

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