Where to buy PC software

[TFNG]

All,

Need to purchase MS Office 2010 and virus protection software for my Windows 7 PC.

Tried to buy via amazon but could not purchase the download only version of the required software (download option available only in the US).

Looking to the forum for advice where to go in SG to purchase the above software.

Would it be better (cheaper) to buy it online and have it shipped here???

I appreciate everyone's help/advise/comments.

[JR8]

All,
Need to purchase MS Office 2010 and virus protection software for my Windows 7 PC.
Tried to buy via amazon but could not purchase the download only version of the required software (download option available only in the US).
Looking to the forum for advice where to go in SG to purchase the above software.
Would it be better (cheaper) to buy it online and have it shipped here???
I appreciate everyone's help/advise/comments.

I think I ended up buying my last version of MS Office from Courts, but only because I couldn't be bothered to trek off to Sim Lim to get it. MS products in SG seem to have RRPs and I reckon there is not much in it anyway.

Maybe look in a local store, and also check what it costs online from a reputable foreign vendor. Are you in a rush to warrant any local premium?

The good news is you do not need additional AV software as Win7 comes with it's own inbuilt version 'Microsoft Security Essentials'. Unusually for MS it is very good! Furthermore I have seen it suggested on techie forums by 'people who know' that installing a 3rd party AV on Win7 is trouble as it causes conflicts, and enabling and running MSE is the way forward.

[x9200]

i.e.:
http://resources.vr-zone.com/pricewatch ... ermind.pdf

Check some other pricelists in that site.

[zzm9980]

All,
Need to purchase MS Office 2010 and virus protection software for my Windows 7 PC.
Tried to buy via amazon but could not purchase the download only version of the required software (download option available only in the US).
Looking to the forum for advice where to go in SG to purchase the above software.
Would it be better (cheaper) to buy it online and have it shipped here???
I appreciate everyone's help/advise/comments.

I think I ended up buying my last version of MS Office from Courts, but only because I couldn't be bothered to trek off to Sim Lim to get it. MS products in SG seem to have RRPs and I reckon there is not much in it anyway.

Maybe look in a local store, and also check what it costs online from a reputable foreign vendor. Are you in a rush to warrant any local premium?

The good news is you do not need additional AV software as Win7 comes with it's own inbuilt version 'Microsoft Security Essentials'. Unusually for MS it is very good! Furthermore I have seen it suggested on techie forums by 'people who know' that installing a 3rd party AV on Win7 is trouble as it causes conflicts, and enabling and running MSE is the way forward.

As a security "techie" I can confirm this. All anti-virus products are pretty much all the same thing (except the ones that are viruses themselves are and trying to scam you, but obviously that doesnt count). They'll all find the most common infections, and they're all updated in about the same time-frame.

Microsoft Security Essentials has the huge advantage of being free, and of slowing your system down the least (by far) compared to most of its competitors. I don't think it COMES with Windows 7, but it's definitely a free download from Microsoft's website.

[zzm9980]

Alternatively, if you want to buy that software from Amazon, here is what you do.

Find an online VPN service with an END POINT in the US. These are cheap and sometimes free. (If you're having a hard time finding it, google for "us wow vpn". 'Wow' because world of warcraft players often purchase VPN services when overseas, since it improves their performance.)

Now, once on your VPN, go to Amazon's site. Make an account. PIck a US address. Any will do. 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA. 95014 if you can't think of anything. (Apple HQ). Now go back to your real account with your credit cards attached and send the new account an email giftcard for the amount of the purchase. Log back into the new account, redeem the gift card, and go download your stuff.

1) The VPN makes it look like you're coming from the US. Essentially your system in Singapore establishes an encrypted tunnel to that US end-point. No one except the US end-point knows where you're really coming from.

2) By sending the gift-card, you essentially launder the funds to the US. This is important because some sites will also make sure the billing information is from the US. Since you have credit at a California address, this works.

This same technique should work for many other sites (streaming and such). Amazon is just the easiest since they let you email giftcards.

[nutnut]

I use Avast for free, it's not too bad.

Office 2010, you can buy over the internet and download the image from Microsoft directly can't you?

Also, check with your employer, Microsoft started doing a thing where you can get a license from your employer as you only use it form home when you don't use it at work, not sure what it's called, HR may have it down as an employee benefit?

[ecureilx]

Microsoft Security Essentials has the huge advantage of being free, and of slowing your system down the least (by far) compared to most of its competitors. I don't think it COMES with Windows 7, but it's definitely a free download from Microsoft's website.

Yes, I have found that MSE is least resource consuming, compared to others, and is pretty effective, though it lacks all the bells and whistles of others, like no Firewall, no anti-phishing filter, no spam filter .. good value for money, or good value for FREE !!!!!!!

[zzm9980]

Microsoft Security Essentials has the huge advantage of being free, and of slowing your system down the least (by far) compared to most of its competitors. I don't think it COMES with Windows 7, but it's definitely a free download from Microsoft's website.

Yes, I have found that MSE is least resource consuming, compared to others, and is pretty effective, though it lacks all the bells and whistles of others, like no Firewall, no anti-phishing filter, no spam filter .. good value for money, or good value for FREE !!!!!!!

Most of that stuff is worthless though. Windows has a built in firewall. (and you don't even need that for users at home behind their typical router) Most browsers have anti-phishing support.Even then, it's more 'common sense' that protects people anyway. Spam filter for what? 99% of the non-corporate world uses web-based email now.

[ecureilx]

Most of that stuff is worthless though. Windows has a built in firewall. (and you don't even need that for users at home behind their typical router) Most browsers have anti-phishing support.Even then, it's more 'common sense' that protects people anyway. Spam filter for what? 99% of the non-corporate world uses web-based email now.

But that doesn't stop the amazing adverstising minds from convincing people that you must have an anti-phishing filter, URL filter, Spam filter, intelligent firewall .. etc. etc. when in reality there is not defense for a user who insists on infecting themselves

[nakatago]

Most of that stuff is worthless though. Windows has a built in firewall. (and you don't even need that for users at home behind their typical router) Most browsers have anti-phishing support.Even then, it's more 'common sense' that protects people anyway. Spam filter for what? 99% of the non-corporate world uses web-based email now.

But that doesn't stop the amazing adverstising minds from convincing people that you must have an anti-phishing filter, URL filter, Spam filter, intelligent firewall .. etc. etc. when in reality there is not defense for a user who insists on infecting themselves

Modern browsers do a banged up job of doing those already. Besides, no software is capable of protecting an idjit who's (unwittingly) out to feck up his system ("oooh. punch the grizzly bear in the arse to win an ipad2! click. more women members in this adult chat forum? need more men members? click. click here for free smileys! ok!!!")

[Strong Eagle]

Besides which, if you are behind a router, you really don't need a firewall.

[ecureilx]

Besides which, if you are behind a router, you really don't need a firewall.

when I used to support Trend I used to say otherwise, as a personal firewall will stop network virusses from spreading ..

Of course we never had a customer who asked us how the network virus go in, if the gateway AV was doing a great job, in the first place

Nakatago : + 1 - simple but true ..

[zzm9980]

Besides which, if you are behind a router, you really don't need a firewall.

when I used to support Trend I used to say otherwise, as a personal firewall will stop network virusses from spreading ..

Of course we never had a customer who asked us how the network virus go in, if the gateway AV was doing a great job, in the first place

Nakatago : + 1 - simple but true ..

User shouldn't get a virus in the first place. If they have to rely on a program to warn them something nefarious is trying to access the network, the user screwed up anyway. Besides, if the virus just hooks something included in Windows, it'll either get around the warning or give the user a false-warning for a component that they might not hesitate to allow.

[zzm9980]

Besides all of this, most network based worms spread via vulnerabilities that haven't been present in Windows 7 for the most part.

[BillyB]

I use Avast for free, it's not too bad.

Office 2010, you can buy over the internet and download the image from Microsoft directly can't you?

Also, check with your employer, Microsoft started doing a thing where you can get a license from your employer as you only use it form home when you don't use it at work, not sure what it's called, HR may have it down as an employee benefit?

Based on the amount of porn you look at, I'm surprised that avast protects you............