[treynolds]

Hi -

I'm visitng HK in a couple of weeks and (amongst other things) I'm interested in picking up some computer software bargains. I know these things change quite quickly so can anybody give me a couple of current locations that I can visit?

Many thanks

Tony Reynolds (London, UK)

[shri]

Tony,

If you mean dodgy / copied CDs ... you may have to try the Golden arcade. Not seen pirated CDs in any of the Wanchai shopping malls.

[kumchan]

Well,

I don't think this makes any justice to the already battered image of HK as a pirated goods city.

The bottom line is if you want to buy goods you should pay for them. Buying dodgy copies, doesn't do anyone any favour, and you may get yourself in trouble, (not to mention, you don't really know what's on the CD's

My 2cents worth

[shri]

True... but the image is well justified. I've been in 298 when the pirates have scrambled to close down their shops 10 minutes before customs showed up. Pretty comical

IF the govt made it an offense to buy / own a pirated CD ... there would be a serious problem. People would have to pay for software ... pay to watch bad movies .. oh well, I'm rambling.

[Venice]

I have to admit buying pirates software is a no no.
but oh well, at least we have the choice in hong kong to be tempted in grabbing one of these cheap plastics
oh and think of the poor kids who can't afford legitimate softwares
(but I suppose they will all buy pirate *games* software instead educational-based software)

[HKFella]

Re the "choice" in HK - it has an economic function which is of keeping a check on that other kind of software "piracy" - price gouging (or third rate service) by monopoly supplier. Not confined to s/w - also applies to music, movies, downloads, monopoly-cable in HK, and at a stretch grey market. Suppliers in monopoly position would like to have taxpayer money be used to outlaw the first kind of piracy so that they can have the run of the place practising their kind. By some coincidence, Jake (of van der Kamp fame) shares this view too.

[wanderer]

hear hear.........

....... jake ( yes of the v/d kamp fame ) made me lose 26 cents too....... hmmmm besides all this... greatest place to buy demoware ;-) Tseun Wan.... outside the MTR station thru walkway..... follow the trail of demoware films hot off the camera.... viva democracy.... long live CD burners.......!!!!

[Botox]

Sim City around the corner from Mong Kok MTR is one of the best pirate places I've found, though a friend will be taking me to 118 and some other place in Wanchai shortly.

The DVDs I've got have all been good. Most of the PC discs were too, but a couple didn't work (they had the right data on them, but the discs were shoddy so I couldn't read properly).

Not that I condone piracy... but I'm not paying near £5000 ($60,000) for a piece of 3D modelling software for personal and educational use.

As for the DVDs, I've only really bought things I couldn't find in the legit stores, or things that aren't for sale as DVD yet ("stolen" from the cinema copy). There's no real need to get pirate films, as the legal VCDs are so cheap anyway.

[HKFella]

You mention VCDs. Last fall an ex-Canadian resident asked me to bring back some Barney VCDs (in English) from Vancouver. I looked into all sorts of outlets within transit/walking range of downtown, but VCDs just didn't exist, only DVDs and videos. A salesperson at the big Indigo-Chapters said "Oh VCDs? I think that's only an Asia thing". Three summers ago there were plenty available in a suburban computer-mart in Toronto (that chain's gone out of business). Are VCDs on their last legs in Asia too, or is it a different market out here?

[Botox]

There's millions of VCDs here. They're all dirt cheap, and with all the latest releases. And even better range of VCDs than DVDs, and you can get VCDs in pretty much any store than sells that type of stuff, and some grocery stores too - and when some VCDs cost $12-15, compared to the DVD version costing $150, they're often worth it, if you don't mind the grainier image (not noticeable on a TV screen) and turning over halfway through.

But VCDs have ALWAYS been an Asian thing. They've never taken off in Europe. I guess they're the Asian equivalent of VHS now - but they're still going alive and well at the moment.