Choosing software can sometimes be a daunting task if you don’t know how. There are many key factors to remember when choosing software, and all of them depend solely on what you are looking for.
1. Consider Everything, not just price
Though a factor, price should not be the only thing you base your software decision on. Quite frankly, there are lots of high-priced “crap” titles, inexpensive software “god-sends”, and even a few freebies in-between. When choosing your software, you must keep a few particulars in mind
Your Needs
Keep in mind exactly what you were looking for when you started your search in the first place. If you are looking for something to keep track of your business contacts, and you can not live without built-in voice recognition, don’t get that incredibly feature-filled software, without built-in voice recognition, it’s pointless. Though the other features may be terrific, you won’t be satisfied because it is missing the one feature you needed.
Features
This is the tricky part. You may find one title that has a ton of features, and another with only three. Which one do you choose? Again, choose the one with the features you need and want. There may be an application with 200 features, but 197 of them may be POINTLESS to you. These may be features you typically wouldn’t use or features you know you are not going need. Having a boatload of features isn’t always best, sometimes the application can be bloated or hard to use because of all the features and can stall the performance of your device or computer. The same is the case when an application has too little features, if it doesn’t do exactly what you need it to do, it’s not for you. Look at the features, determine what you need, compare it with others, and choose.
Support
I can not emphasize the importance of support enough. There are so many ways companies can provide software support, how many do they use? Is it only an abbreviated F.A.Q., do they have a phone number? If they have a phone number, is the support available only at awkward hours? Is help built into the software? Is the support free or paid, how long do you get support, how soon do they guarantee a response? All of these factors and more are huge when looking into a company’s support. Again, this is another case where it is all about what you want. I personally could care less about a company’s phone support because I prefer to beam an email off with my questions from my Blackberry, but what I AM concerned about is the speed of their reply.
Speed and Ease of Use
It’s simple. You want the application to do what you want it to do, when you want it to. You don’t want to stumble through menu after menu hoping to find the option you were looking for, and then when you finally find it, it takes two minutes to perform the function. That’s just wrong. Make sure software runs smoothly and is reactive to your interaction.
The Extras
And then, there are the extras. Are there any additional costs with this software? Do I need special equipment to use this software? What are the connection requirements, do I always need an internet connection, or is the internet connection just for activation? All of this and more should be factored into deciding on your software.
2. Do your homework.
Find out everything.
If the vendor has little to no documentation on their product, find it somewhere else or find something else. Look for numerous F.A.Q. and help guides, feature lists, screenshots, even video if they have it. When looking at video and screenshots, don’t just look at how pretty the software is, look at the menu options, notice the placement of buttons on the screen, keep in mind how easy it will be to learn and utilize.
3. Look for External Reviews
Testimonials on the vendor’s site are ok, but reviews from other parties are priceless. I mean honestly, how many software companies you think feature customer complaints for you to see? Before investing in your software, make sure to read reviews from varied sources. Visit a handful of sites that provide varied perspectives of the software’s functionality and possibilities.
For instance, if you are looking for software that can help you study, look to only three or four different types of sources. One should be what is considered an enthusiast site/blog, often a website dedicated to software on a particular operating system, technology, segment of a particular technology, or device. Another should be an industry website, which in the case of the business contact manager, should be something focused on business software, or technology in business, something possibly written by a IT administrator or business owner. The last should be from a forum. Forums are a great resource because there are so many users’ opinions in one place, but beware, the knack for reading between the lines is essential when reading forum reviews. Sometimes, users forget everything they should consider when reviewing software, so it is important to read reviews from trusted members of the forum, those with tons of posts, those who have actually tried the software, not heard of it, those respected in that particular forum community, or moderators.
4. Read the Terms
“OMG, READ THE TERMS!” everyone replies, I can hear it through your monitor, but the truth is this is a “must-do” when choosing software. What is in the terms of service or end user agreement license spells out exactly what a company can, can’t, or will and will not do with YOUR software. Among many other things, software license agreements typically spell out:
Exactly what information they need from you, what they will do with it, and who they will share it with. With this information you can determine if this company simply requires too much information from you?
The privacy of your data. Does the company have the right to see data you may consider private? Will they sell it? Is the access to your data just for backup or your security?
Just keep these things in mind when choosing software. You may not be concerned if they can see your data, so that software may still be an option for you.
5. If you can, just try it.
As the cliché goes, “What may not work for you, may work for someone else”, just try the software people, others have, why not you? Most software companies provide a free trial, take full advantage of them. Test the software using real life scenarios and find any excuse to use the trial. Remember, you only have a limited time, don’t just find these trials expired on your computer or device.
Of course there are other factors to be considered when choosing software , but these seem to most often determine the satisfaction of the end user. Now go and get software!
