Finally went out and did it, finally ended all the procrastination and bought myself a webcam after more than 2 years of "i'll think about it". Bought the Logitech Webcam Express (ok lah for simple webcamming) for RM100 (about USD$25) at Low Yatt Plaza this afternoon before having a wonderful chicken rice meal at the famous corner hainanese shop.
Low Yatt Plaza is really a haven for the software pirates. So many shops were selling pirated software, it was amazing. Made me wonder, what would happen if these people DIDN'T sell pirated software and everyone was forced to buy original products.
What would happen in a country like malaysia is that very much fewer people would be using computers. This country's ICT capabilities would be severely crippled by the low number of IT-capable citizens, as a direct result of the un-affordability of the expensive software. Windows XP would cost RM500. MS Office would cost RM1,500. Development tools like Delphi and the rest would be priced out of reach, meaning less people will be able to learn how to use it. Even computers may begin to cost more - i am under no illusion that most new computers sold use pirated software. Fewer users, a weaker critical mass = Malaysia ICT vision will be under threat.
Maybe that's why software copyright enforcement seems little more than lip service by the government. If they were serious, places like Low Yatt Plaza would not exist. If they were serious, i may not be writing this to you.
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