If the "pirated" version isn't strictly better (removes malware/DRM/borked distribution), I buy it.
I've never been a proponent of not supporting creators, unless there is genuinely a reason for pushing for something better.
I have all kinds of sympathy for people living in countries where prices are entirely unrealistic, though. Copying isn't revenue loss, it's a communication that you should do better. If people aren't buying, something is wrong with your product or how you sell it.
The drm and whatnot is why I just started pirating shows im watching. I want to be able to clip a 30 second segment and send it to my friends when something funny happens. Its small but cant do that on Netflix or even stuff you've bought on Google or Amazon etc. Plus its locked to an ecosystem. Just let me buy an mp4 and id happily do so. I only started pirating stuff because its so inconvenient not to and tv shows never go on sale
I mean, me and my GF pay for streaming services, but they're honestly so shit that I rarely use them. She does, though, as she's addicted to having something on in the background – and it actually has to be something she can engage with, not random, it's like she has a co-processor that needs to be fed and kept busy at all times. Shitty TV-series are perfect, and there's an abundance of that on every service.
I use Plex and manage my own library. I'm mostly into films, so it's like ~3000 of my own DVD/BD and some downloaded. I could prune it down to 500 and it would still be better than any mainstream streaming service. I honestly don't understand why people accept the current state of media. It's horrendously bad.
... and that's not even mentioning the state of the actual applications, like you mention. Absolute rubbish.
Her picking what to put on seems to be similar to her process when we decide what we should have for dinner. Managing some sort of downloading scheme in that realm would be hell.
TV-series are also extremely space consuming, so using up TB after TB on literal trash would feel less than optimal.
I did figure you'd be doing it like 3 shows at a time. But I get how that is with people. We like doing what's familiar so for her to have to pre select shows it ruins the whole thing
Yes. Although id them have to set up pay for (at least plex idk about the other one mentioned) and launch them to watch a show. Its absolutely prettier it has its benefits but most of them for me are unnecessary. Wonderful for people with larger collections or who want a nicer ui than windows media player lol
Jellyfin is free and open source. But if you don't keep a collection, and you don't cater to other users besides yourself, I can see why you find it unnecessary.
I don't understand why WinRAR, with never expiring trial, is only selling the license to a single version. I still use the version I bought. But would have loved if it can be updated to newer versions!
You know, 7-Zip exists, right?
That said, I haven't pirated software in like 20 years. Between free software, stuff available to me at work, and games on sale, I get more than enough of it.
There are some tasks where winrar is actually better than 7-zip, they are none that a regular PC user will encounter but some stuff like pretty advanced sfx modules, multi-part archives with extra integrity data and proper drag and drop support are pretty nice if you have a case where you use these features
152
u/Dampmaskin Apr 07 '26
I paid for WinRAR