Guys we keep coming back to the same point, but what about open source softwares? I literally download tens of MB every day of Free/Open source software, just to give them a try. Don't forget that these softwares (like, Linux, VLC, Apache, PHP, Python, OpenOffice.org, ...) do not set up real distribution network outside the Web, and their availability would be a blessing, especially for a third world country like ours.

Please don't ever give Piracy as an excuse for limited bandwith, there are bigger issues at stake.
@XhacK =>omg it seems you REALLY DIDNT get the point!!!!

When i wanna dl some linux distro for example , i use torrent!! freakin 70% of all open source software i dl, especially if they are large, i get through torrents!.
The torrent technology is legal but the media you are sharing isn't.
For your information, the ISP can report you to the authorities for breaking copyright rules.
=>> THANK YOU!

@XhacK => does that mean that torrents are illegal? NO! (e.g. if im downloading a ubuntu dvd using torrent, will i be doing anything illegal? no.)

and thats all im saying.

EDIT: @Rahmu => +1
eurybaric wrote@Rahmu => +1
This kind of looks like a cross between a Python decorator and a C# lambda expression.
WTF?
I DO KNOW that some of the torrents are legal but what I'm saying is that...we need to LEARN how to respect copyrights! PERIOD

@rahmu, totally agree with you that we should not link piracy with limited BW, but let us face it..ISPs in this country will try everything to maximize their profit and they WILL make this as an excuse so why not we start learning?
I mean the only thing that will change if we got a better connection and BW limitation is more piracy and less pirated DVDs from Syria!
What's bad with paying $1 for Microsoft Office again?
Don't be a freaking benevolent ***.

Give me one reason it's wrong and why should I pay any more if I can get it for less.
arithma wroteWhat's bad with paying $1 for Microsoft Office again?
Don't be a freaking benevolent ***.

Give me one reason it's wrong and why should I pay any more if I can get it for less.
people spending effort developing that application will risk losing their jobs because of their products being cracked and released for free...

target annual cash revenue will drop dramatically > head count reduction> people jobless > lack of competition between developers > crap softwares
Flakk wroteAnd that is why Rapidshare and Megaupload were created :P
They are giving IP's of downloading/uploading people to RIAA/etc by request... as soon as they will refuse to do that - they will be dead.
nuclearcat wrote
Flakk wroteAnd that is why Rapidshare and Megaupload were created :P
They are giving IP's of downloading/uploading people to RIAA/etc by request... as soon as they will refuse to do that - they will be dead.
proof please ?
Kareem wrote
arithma wroteWhat's bad with paying $1 for Microsoft Office again?
Don't be a freaking benevolent ***.

Give me one reason it's wrong and why should I pay any more if I can get it for less.
people spending effort developing that application will risk losing their jobs because of their products being cracked and released for free...

target annual cash revenue will drop dramatically > head count reduction> people jobless > lack of competition between developers > crap softwares
We are not counted in for the target estimates. The software is sold based on foreign standards of living. Forget ethics, forget morals. We are supposed to be pragmatists. They are too (even when dealing with your piracy).

If you want to support the development of software, then go ahead.. Nothing's wrong with that. But preaching is frowned upon.
Oh please! could you stop making us feel guilty about buying "pirated" software?! If MS, Apple, Adobe, AutoDesk...etc weren't so damn greedy they wouldn't charge all that money for a freaking software! Ok it's high quality software but we still have rights to use it! How in the hell am I supposed to pay all that money for software if the average wage in Lebanon is definitely not more than 600$ - 800$ at best?

Copyrights and all these crapy laws cannot be applied to Lebanon. Once we get a decent government that learns how to invest and increase our net income then we'll start buying stuff "legally".
Kassem wroteOh please! could you stop making us feel guilty about buying "pirated" software?! If MS, Apple, Adobe, AutoDesk...etc weren't so damn greedy they wouldn't charge all that money for a freaking software! Ok it's high quality software but we still have rights to use it! How in the hell am I supposed to pay all that money for software if the average wage in Lebanon is definitely not more than 600$ - 800$ at best?

Copyrights and all these crapy laws cannot be applied to Lebanon. Once we get a decent government that learns how to invest and increase our net income then we'll start buying stuff "legally".
+1
lol, then there's no point of debating here :-)
Cracked MS softwares MAY help decrease their prices...this is the only thing I found positive about cracking!

But no one actually has an excuse cuz...for example you are buying your OS for how much? 150$ a year?...well this is about .5$ a day...I bet you PAY much more for your cigarette!!

Ya3ni 3amleen metel sawa2een el service...bedallo ysobo w yeshteko...w howi m2adeeha drinking & smooking!
badi shoof eza sar 7a2 el tobacco metel barra sho r7 ta3mlo....r7 twa2fo teshtro b 5-7$?! r7 tseero teshtero el m2allad wel watani be 1$?! I doubt it!

Bottom line..
A LOT of softwares are overpriced(except Anti-Viruses..etc cuz of the competition) But MOST of the softwares have FREE/OPEN SOURCE alternatives....so don't be a *****; try open office, I doesn't FEEL like M$ Office but it has the SAME functionality!

P.S. Admin please move all the Piracy debates' posts (including this one) to a new thread..

So back to the original point, Any Sodetel users? :-)
Yep, back to sodetel.. I am considering moving to sodetel or wise actually, based on the replies from another thread.. keeping a watch here.
arithma wroteYep, back to sodetel.. I am considering moving to sodetel or wise actually, based on the replies from another thread.. keeping a watch here.
cool...anyone?
Kassem wroteOh please! could you stop making us feel guilty about buying "pirated" software?! If MS, Apple, Adobe, AutoDesk...etc weren't so damn greedy they wouldn't charge all that money for a freaking software! Ok it's high quality software but we still have rights to use it! How in the hell am I supposed to pay all that money for software if the average wage in Lebanon is definitely not more than 600$ - 800$ at best?

Copyrights and all these crapy laws cannot be applied to Lebanon. Once we get a decent government that learns how to invest and increase our net income then we'll start buying stuff "legally".
Microsoft is indeed greedy.

But Adobe and Autodesk are definitely not greedy. Their software is targeted towards professionals, companies and firms that make more that what they spend on software. Autocad and photoshop are not meant to be used by the home user. That is why things are expensive. You are not supposed to be using that software at home.
Students should use autocad and photoshop at the university. If a university can't provide enough computers for the students to work on their projects in the computer labs, then that's really sad news. I wouldn't want my kids in that university. Any university that expects a student to have autocad or photoshop at home should really be closed whether it is AUB, LAU or lebanese university. In no way should an educational institution be supporting piracy.
$159.00 is cheap
but I can assure you that companies pay a lot more than 159$
hussam wrote$159.00 is cheap
but I can assure you that companies pay a lot more than 159$
I know, I'm only talking about individuals....and also I can assure you that companies using AutoCad(with 100,000$ licenses' price?) are making HUGE profit using it, right? :-)
I don't smoke and I believe that smoking and drinking are stupid and pointless (no offense to anyone who does) :)

So anyway, I would actually recommend the unlimited plan from Sodetel to any heavy downloader looking for an ISP. They should include a 512K plan as well if they can afford giving it to the users, then I might be interested!