The results are in: Many dotTechies are freeware adicts, while others still pull out the checkbook sometimes
April 24, 2010 7
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Three weeks ago I inquired about dotTechies’ software purchasing habits. The polls have closed and the results are in:
[poll id="14"]
[poll id="15"]
I expected that the most votes would go for 0-3 purchases. However, I was surprised that so many people voted that dotTech had no effect on their purchasing habits; and here I thought dotTech was like a life saving pill (that you take over and over) =D.
Thank you everyone for participating and see you in the next Ask dotTechies!
About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf
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Don’t be concerned about having so many readers respond “little or no effect”. Remember, in a lot of cases, you’re preaching to a pretty geeky choir here. Many of us are long-time techies and are already familiar with the software we need/use/like. Besides, it ‘s my impression many of your articles relate to the GOTD offerings and are quite valuable to readers who frequent that site. For myself, I have no interest in GOTD; it’s possible I’m not alone in that respect.
What you really have done, in my opinion, is provide a meeting place for for like-minded folks to gather together. It’s a daily campfire and marshmallow for all, and you should take pride in that.
Above all, recall there are no absolutes. Take that poll in six months or a year and see what results you get. 8-)
Actually, I started going freebie hunting when I found out about AskVG. VG Shared freebies with his fans and I were able to get many awesome stuff. Then, one day, I typed in “free giveaways” on Google, and outcame GAOTD! I downloaded so many cool giveaways and I also saw reviews from this guy named “Ashraf”. Yes, you sir, dot.Tech also helped me A LOT, including GAOTD reivews, freebies, and other techie stuff! I also checked your sidebar once and wanted more! I soon found out about Raymond.cc. Also a very good site!
Pretty much, thanks for everything dot.Tech for making part of my life so much better! :P
~Joji~
Hi Ashraf,
Because I’m a foreigner on a non-immigrant B visa here in Southeast Asia, I cannot seem to get a credit card.
Banks tell me they can’t risk giving a credit card to a foreigner on a one-year renewable visa since…well, they just might max the thing out and skip town. Seems like a reasonable rule they have, and I can’t blame them. I have managed to secure a loan through a company called First Choice, but it was a paperwork nightmare that I wouldn’t care to ever go through again. Since I don’t have a Thai ID card, and don’t possess a Thai “Number” it was a real mess just to try and pay them, since I’d have to fill out these incredible forms and have them faxed to first choice. But, it ended up working and I acquired my SVOA computer that way.
Not having a credit card, for me, is actually a godsend since living here it’s hard to acquire books to read, and I’d probably go nuts on Amazon, driving my wife and I into debt fast. So, I rely on all the Internet freebies whenever I can get ahold of them.
dotTech is a great source, as is GAOTD and Game GAOTD (when it’s in operation). So, thanks for keeping me out of debt Ashraf!!!
Jeeem
Ashraf…dotTech is not just for freeware…it’s also for great computer advice!
Oh, but Ashraf, you *have* changed my software habits. I can get enough things as freebies (and spend little enough time vetting which ones are any good!) that I can spend money on the specific software that is best gotten for paid licenses. It allows me to have more quality software, I believe, by far, free and paid both! I rely on your reviews a lot.
Give yourself more credit! :)
You should also ask the amount (Approx.) Spent! I purchased…
1.) Acronis 2009 home,
2.) Superantispyware, &
3.) WinPatrol Plus.
I spent less than $10.00 TOTAL for all three!
I found these thanks to you & Gizmo. (http://techsupportalert.com).
KEEP UP the GREAT WORK!!!
@ Ashraf: Dont lose heart man. Seriously !!
Just for your record i would say -that I have been following your site almost daily, rightly told by Ron as a camp fire, since more than 6 months. Before that my computer ran on 99.99 % pirated software (.01% comprised Yahoo messenger & Gtalk). Reason being obvious. But today 99.99% software on my computer are original & Freeware. All courtesy to you as you provided the best free alternative and for last 6 months my system hadn’t crashed once and also boots up very fast.
So keep the NOBLE work going !!!!