The Campus Store vs. The Internet Store - the one advantage that the campus store has over Internet stores is convenience. All you have to do is pull out your student ID and credit card and a few minutes later you are walking out the door with your software, provided the lines aren't too long of course.

Shopping at an Internet store is slightly more difficult. Internet stores still have to check your student ID. Unfortunately, technology still hasn't advanced far enough where you can just wave your ID at the monitor (shouldn't we have had that technology since 1984?). Instead, you have to fax or email a copy of your student ID to the Internet store. Therefore, get friendly with someone with a scanner (or go shipping for one on my Computer page).

However, Internet stores have a big advantage – selection. While your campus store is lucky to have even a hundred titles, most Internet stores have thousands of titles. Prices are competitive even when factoring in shipping, so shop around!

New vs. Used Software - You buy used textbooks, why not buy used software? A quick scan of eBay will reveal that used software will sell at a fraction of the original price, even beating academic prices. However, buying used software is not without risks. Sometimes new versions just add bloat (unnecessary features) but just as often critical features, like new OS support, is added. Plus, one man's bloat is another man's must have feature. Therefore, I recommend you always consider new software first, but if you are short on cash, are feeling adventurous, or best yet, know what you are doing, go with used software.

Free vs. Commercial Software - And by free, I mean software given away by the creators for no cost, not warez downloaded off Kazaa. Anyway, the old adage, "you get what you pay for" doesn't apply when it comes to software. There is some free software out there that I won't live without. Having said that, usually there is a reason why companies can ask for and get money for their software – it is simply better than the free alternatives.

Most commercial software companies will have a trail version. I recommend you download it and compare it with the free alternatives. If the free software works well enough for you, by all means use it. But don't be surprised if you "have to" buy some software.

Website	Comments
Academic Superstore
CampusTech
CCV Software
Creation Engine
JourneyEd
Studica
Technology Resource Center

DISCLAIMER: I have not used all of these companies' services personally so I cannot vouch for their quality. In addition, I am an affiliate and/or I accept advertising from the companies listed below (after all, I need help paying my textbooks bills as well). However, I listed these companies due to their market position or their good reputation and not for any other reason. If you have a bad experience with any of these companies, please email me and I will remove the link of the company if I receive many complaints about it. Thanks.