the last time you bought physical programs...

[kuwisdelu]

I was just thinking and now I'm curious. When was the last time you bought a physical CD or DVD for a computer program? For me, I think it was nearly three years ago.

Everything but my OS I've downloaded and paid for online, from my office suite to my games and other media applications, etc. The only software I've bought as physical DVDs were my operating systems (Leopard, and now Snow Leopard).

I only use my optical drive for ripping and creating movie DVDs. The more ubiquitous movie downloads and home media centers with their own local storage become, the less I'll see myself using my DVD drive for that, too. How much longer do we have before optical media dies out entirely?

[Tirjasdyn]

Christmas, someone bought me games...as for my own software...last year some time.

It will probably die out but before it does, back up everything to newer media. that's one of the tragedies of this world, information can be lost forever for want of a drive.

[thothguard51]

Operating and security systems I will always buy from a local retailer. Same with my MS office and the few games I play. I like having the CD's in case anything happens, then I don't have to spend hours downloading from the net. Everything else is generally downloaded on line.

As for my CD/DVD hardware, I don't remember when the last time was I burned a CD for anything, including back ups. I still have several packs of high quality blank CD's I bought several years ago that have not even been opened.

I do use the CD/DVD player though to still play movies and games, especially on my laptop if traveling.

[JulieHowe]

I was just thinking and now I'm curious. When was the last time you bought a physical CD or DVD for a computer program? For me, I think it was nearly three years ago.

Everything but my OS I've downloaded and paid for online, from my office suite to my games and other media applications, etc. The only software I've bought as physical DVDs were my operating systems (Leopard, and now Snow Leopard).

I only use my optical drive for ripping and creating movie DVDs. The more ubiquitous movie downloads and home media centers with their own local storage become, the less I'll see myself using my DVD drive for that, too. How much longer do we have before optical media dies out entirely?

I just bought Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 on DVD only because Amazon offered a super-discounted one-day price for the product. The next version of Microsoft Office I buy will most likely be a download purchase.

[Tirjasdyn]

I have two computers I use at home for work. One does not have an optical drive. So I network the CD/DVD writer from my other computer over the wifis. Only needed it few times.

[DeleyanLee]

Earlier this year, actually. I paid the extra $5 to get the CD with renewal for my anti-virus program. Not having that installed on my computer before going on the 'Net to get my other stuff always makes me nervous.

Anything important to me, I make sure to get on CD, even if I have to rip it myself. Connectivity isn't a guaranteed thing in my experience and I really hate not having back-ups. Not getting the CDs on Windows XP directly lead to my losing 20 years of writing history (thanks to brainless techs), so I'm really anal about that now.

[zerospark]

I couldn't even tell you; it's been a few years at the very least. I tend to download everything, even the OS since I started using Linux distros almost exclusively. Package managers and the explosion of open source software have made software purchases pretty redundant for me.

[charlotte49ers]

I don't think I've bought a CD since high school (10 years ago). DVDs, I buy. I like having them, but I think the last one was probably a year ago.

Oh, and I bought the CD-ROM for Lightroom a couple of months ago, but only because I had to in order to use my educational discount. :D

[WriteMinded]

Maybe three years ago? I prefer buying CDs to downloading. And I hate the activation process. In the old days, the CD came with a code. After installing the program and entering the code, all was well for however many years I chose to use it, no matter how many times my system crashed. Now, with no CDs for most of my software, a simple change to my computer configuration, and I could find myself unable to activate software programs that hold precious files. Scary.

[Clair Dickson]

Besides a few games here and there, never. But there's more to the story. My family buys a site license of software. There's one CD/ DVD set-- though we often rip copies to pass around for reinstalls. Between all of us and the several duplicate computers (laptops and desktops), I think we're up to a 20 pack of licenses now.

I like having physical media but will use whatever I need to in order to get back up and running. I'm really uncomfortable with the pre-loaded computers that don't include any software keys-- unless you pay extra. This scares me because without the keys, you can't reinstall after a virus or hardware failure. I've never caught a virus, but I have had more than my share of hardware failure (a risk when running 10 year old equipment!)

[Chris P]

Two years ago I got Word 2007 on CD through a special promotion Microsoft had with my employer. Everything else I use is downloaded freeware.

[backslashbaby]

I always like having a physical DVD or CD. I just think it's simpler later.

On the home media stuff? I'm cheap, so I use DVDs, definitely. I have a lot of yoga DVDs, etc.

I don't download movies online, either. I have a limited data plan, and going over is insanely expensive. Video is rough on the data plan.

[Tirjasdyn]

I have to change my answer to a week ago...but I wanted some of the goodies that came with the game.

[kuwisdelu]

I have to change my answer to a week ago...but I wanted some of the goodies that came with the game.

Goodies are always good. :D

The only time I buy music on physical media these days are shiny limited editions or vinyls.

[Matera the Mad]

I had to put out for an M$ operating system a year ago. I will never live down the shame.

I'm posting from Debian :ROFL:

[Susan Littlefield]

I was just thinking and now I'm curious. When was the last time you bought a physical CD or DVD for a computer program? For me, I think it was nearly three years ago.

Everything but my OS I've downloaded and paid for online, from my office suite to my games and other media applications, etc. The only software I've bought as physical DVDs were my operating systems (Leopard, and now Snow Leopard).

I only use my optical drive for ripping and creating movie DVDs. The more ubiquitous movie downloads and home media centers with their own local storage become, the less I'll see myself using my DVD drive for that, too. How much longer do we have before optical media dies out entirely?

I bought Norton 360 for my computer earlier in the year. Other than that, I can''t recall when I bought a CD or DVD for my computer....

[Matera the Mad]

Norton! Oh dear. *shakes head sadly*

[Susan Littlefield]

Matera, tell me! It sounds like you might not like Norton.

It is a big program. I used the free Version of AVG (downloaded online, of course), but it didn't stop a few viruses from coming through.

[sisco]

Last one I bought was Dragon Age: Origins, when it was released. I almost downloaded it but I wanted some of the goodies that came with the store bought version. Other than that it has been a couple of years since I bought a physical copy. My netbook doesn't even have an optical and I do all of my backups to a series of usb thumb drives in case one breaks down and I sync files between my computers just in case. I have a few packs of recordable DVDs and CDs that are collecting dust. I don't even remember where exactly I stored them its been so long since I used them.

[Medievalist]

I"m now getting books on DVDs--scholarly digital books that are manuscript facsimiles, with high res scans, and all the scholarly appendices etc.

[Steph]

The one and only physical program CD/DVD I've ever purchased was an upgrade to Windows 7 a few months ago. I got an awesome magical deal on it, too.

[leighh]

I think it's been three or four years. The last I recall was Office for Mac. (It was twenty dollars through my work. Hard to pass up.) Of course, since I got a new hard drive last year, I can't find the freaking discs to re-install it!

[cbenoi1]

MacAfee. A year ago. I always manage to get the CD/DVD, no matter if I originally get the software online. Even if I have to pay extra. I got bitten enough times with software that asks for the original CD to allow the upgrade (Adobe comes to mind). I also got bitten by software companies who do not keep a copy of the version I bought online. So when I change computer, I'm screwed and forced to upgrade those as well... @#$@#$ Intuit is the all-category champion in this area.

-cb

[Williebee]

Personal use? Years.

Workwise -- Windows Server 2008, a couple years ago. (Applications get pulled down from the web.)

[benbradley]

Optical drives may go away soon, but that doesn't mean physical media will disappear. I use USB flash drives a good bit to easily move gigabytes' worth of files between my desktop and laptop (I send smaller files through gmail), as well as a microSD flash card in my cheapo flipcam to take puppy pics and puppy videos and put them online. These things aready hold more than a DVD at reasonable prices.

Look what you can get on USB:
http://beatles.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/product?sourceCode=BEAWEB&sku=BEA48315

The main problem with a 5-inch round disc is you can't put it in your pocket.

[RobJ]

Recently bought Family Tree Maker 2011 from Avanquest Software, which came on CD.

[RJK]

I got a TaxCut CD in the mail in December. I used it to do my taxes. Of course the first thing the program did was download a pile of updates.