Buying Software Online, via Download

[gcutler]

I've noticed lately that many pieces of software that I have purchased via the Internet, have offered a "Download Purchase" instead of Boxed Delivery purchase (usually $5-$10 cheaper or so than Boxed delivery) I've often taken that route as it gives me the software immediately. Since I have a CD burner it isn't hard to get the SW on CD for archival and I have a two sided Inkjet printer so printing out the manuals (via PDF) isn't so bad either.

Has anyone started to go the download route instead of boxed delivery route as well? The Immediate availability is nice, but as I take the CD-R and write the name of the SW, it does feel like the old days of software piracy.

Do you think this is the way it will go more in the future? I realized I don't even goto CompUSA anymore as the boxed stuff is cheaper online and the download delivery is more convenient if available (CompUSA is only for browsing and for SW that I need immediately and isn't downloadable)

[J.W.]

I love downloadable software exept when I lose it :) Why not get a bargain on something if it saves the company money and sames me money too then go for it!

[gcutler]

I think alot of people want the pre-printed book and the fancy looking CD. And there is the whole issue of Piracy, you see a hand written CD or Disk and you used think it is a bootleg (the SPA even had tons of ads that said if you had a hand printed label on SW it was probably bootleged). But now the printer/photo copier paper manual and hand written CD no longer means that. It will take time to get away from that :D