Where to Buy Software

A few weeks ago I ran a poll asking readers where they purchased software. I got few replies, but the majority said they bought software at computer stores. In nearly three years of purchasing and reviewing children's software, I have found that computer stores probably have the poorest selection. What they will carry is what is most popular, not necessarily what is best. They will also feature titles produced by big name software publishers, not independent publishers. Therefore, if you stick to just purchasing from computer stores you might be missing out on a lot of excellent titles.

This is especially true for Mac users. It's a common misconception that there is little available software for the Macintosh. In reality, there is quite a bit. It's just not readily found in most retail stores.

So if not a computer store, where do you buy? Educational toy stores are one place to start. I'm not sure what is available in other countries, but Zany Brainy carries the best selection I know of in the United States. You can also find some of the lesser known titles there.

Not everyone is comfortable shopping on the internet, but that is probably where I've found my best software buys. I am not particularly fond of the giant dot coms, like Amazon, mostly because I prefer smaller "mom and pop" type retailers. However, I have found reasonable buys at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/bro... and http://www.kbkids.com/soft/index.html?ls... Another good source is http://www.smarterkids.com/

Also, your children may recieve the Scholastic Software Club newsletter from their school. They have a good selection of software at reasonable prices. Homeschoolers may receive a catalog by going to http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/inde...

If you are on a budget, there are many "free" software sites available. Most of these sell software for under $10, sometimes under $5. Many will say the software is free, and you are just paying shipping and handling. I have links to several bargain sites available.

A new site I recently discovered is http://store.yahoo.com/purplus/ Here I found a Franklin the Turtle and a Beatrix Potter CD-rom which had long been out of print. Some of their software comes in the retail box, some in the jewel box. They clearly specify that in the description.

Another favorite bargain site is http://www.arcamax.com/cgi-bin/shop?cat=... Their software is usually $7.95, but it almost always comes in a jewel box, making it respectable for gift giving.

Unbeatable deals has a great selection for a low price, but like other "free" sites the software comes in a paper sleeve without a manual or registration card. I have had no problems with this "free" software, but this may be a concern for other people. And as I mentioned in my early article "Bargain Hunting" be careful buying from bargain sites. Much of the software is older and may not be compatible with newer computers. Always double check the system requirements before buying.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic