We Hired a New Guy [rant]

[brauhaus]

So we hired a new guy. He's based in IL (we're in PA) and he is going to be another draftsman for our company... There is another whole can of worms to open about that, but for this thread I'll leave that out... Anyway, I spoke with him yesterday and the guy is a total balloon-knot. He asked what version of AutoCAD we use and what version of MS Office we use (2000? it's not the latest release). I told him that I'm using AutoCAD 2006, but the rest of the office is using 2002. I explained to him that the only reason that I'm running AutoCAD 2006 is because I shelled out the $4000 for it (and I'm not going to illegally share it).

So after our conversation he sent an email to me "demanding" that we send him the latest version of MS Office and AutoCAD... CC'ing the owner of our company who thinks we can just burn a "copy" of my AutoCAD and send it to him...

I told him to "get in line"

 

[EdWort]

Sounds like a tool. I'm surprised the does not already have his own copies of the software if that is his trade.

 

[beergears]

Contractor or full-time employee (was that reviewed at hire time?)...?

 

[schneemann]

I never understood people like that. I buy most of my own software for work and take the deduction on my taxes. Of course I ask work to buy it first, but if they won't and I need it, then I buy it. Simple as that.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Why are you ******* over $4k for software that you need to do your job?

This guy you hired sounds like a real winner, BTW.

edit - why the hell is the word f-o-r-k-i-n-g filtered? lol

 

[The Pol]

Yeah, why would you ever buy anything that is required for your job? Heck, my company buys my shoes, and they are stingy, squeaky airline!

 

[monty73741]

Yeah same thing in my office. they THINK i have MS site license & can just give them a copy. I have a solution. tell him you going to mail it. poop in a box & send it over. He get the message

 

[brauhaus]

Why are you ******* over $4k for software that you need to do your job?

This guy you hired sounds like a real winner, BTW.

edit - why the hell is the word f-o-r-k-i-n-g filtered? lol

well, I bought the software before I cam to work for this company, I purchased a license of AutoCAD to use for freelance drafting... I wanted my work to be as legit as possible. Some of my previous clients requested that I provide them with license information b/c they didn't want to give the work to some hack with bootleg software...

 

[ohiobrewtus]

well, I bought the software before I cam to work for this company, I purchased a license of AutoCAD to use for freelance drafting... I wanted my work to be as legit as possible. Some of my previous clients requested that I provide them with license information b/c they didn't want to give the work to some hack with bootleg software...

Ahhhhhh, that makes sense.

As for MS Office, doesn't your company have Software Assurance? If not, you may want to mention it to someone. You pay annual software assurance on your licenses, but you get all new versions, service packs, rollups, SDK's, etc. sent to you automatically at no additional charge.

 

[menschmaschine]

IIRC, you are allowed to have single licenses for AutoCAD on multiple computers in the same company... you just can't have more than one "running" at the same time.

 

[Yunus]

If your boss thinks you can just burn a copy of it. Point him to Business Software Alliance
There are huge fines and penalties for violating licensing agreements. Also they offer rewards for turning companies in so its really dangerous to pirate software for a business.

 

[UnaBonger]

I'm not sure how I feel about this.. As an IT admin, I would NEVER allow a user to bring in software from home and install on company computers. It's just asking for problems... Unless of course your a contractor with your own equipment then it's up to you to be responsible for and maintain/license your own stuff...

 

[The Pol]

IIRC, you are allowed to have single licenses for AutoCAD on multiple computers in the same company... you just can't have more than one "running" at the same time.

That is true... I used AutoCad for drafting in my previous 7 year career (where all my hair went). I remember the IT troll mentioning this. I am sure we were still illegal as hell, but, I was just a tool and die designer, I was not culpable

 

[Austin_]

I don't know, if you hire the guy as a full-time employee I kind of see it as the company's responsibility for providing the software. If you're just hiring him as say a contract worker, then he should have his own copy. If my bosses told me I had to buy Autocad, ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite, etc, then I wouldn;t be working where I am now.

BTW, our office just upgraded to AutoCAD 2009. I'm loving it (well, as much as you can love cad).

 

[TXCrash]

Thing is... if you read the OP - the necessary software IS provided... just not the "latest and greatest".

Not sure how much difference there is between the old version and the new version of autocad - but lets face it, most of the functionality needed to do the job is there on even the ancient versions... Same thing with office...

Hmm... Hoping the company I intern with this summer has the old version of office - hate the new one ;-) I've forgotten most of Autocad anyways, so who cares what version that is!

 

[brauhaus]

The license for 2006 that I have is mine. The software is registered under my name, I will not share my installation information/seat with anyone else...

Our company uses AutoCAD 2002 and this guy has 2002 on his personal laptop... I just think he wants 2006 b/c I have it.

Our work provides us all with computers and software, my rant was about how my boss just assumes I can burn him a copy of my AutoCAD seat...

Our IT is ordering him a new laptop and having it delivered here so we can install AutoCAD and MS Office... I made it a point that we shouldn't ship program CDs around... esp MINE.

 

[Austin_]

The license for 2006 that I have is mine. The software is registered under my name, I will not share my installation information/seat with anyone else...

Our company uses AutoCAD 2002 and this guy has 2002 on his personal laptop... I just think he wants 2006 b/c I have it.

Our work provides us all with computers and software, my rant was about how my boss just assumes I can burn him a copy of my AutoCAD seat...

Our IT is ordering him a new laptop and having it delivered here so we can install AutoCAD and MS Office... I made it a point that we shouldn't ship program CDs around... esp MINE.

My bad. Yeah, let him keep 2002. If your boss is anything like bosses I've had in the past then it is impossible to explain how software and licenses work.

 

[stevea1210]

My bad. Yeah, let him keep 2002. If your boss is anything like bosses I've had in the past then it is impossible to explain how software and licenses work.

HellI'm in IT and most of the people in my deparment don't understand licensing. I think the company should provide him with the same software everyone else uses, unless they are in the beginning of a migration plan, then they should just start him with the newer versions.

 

[BigKahuna]

I think that guy has worked for / with me a few times over the years.

 

[monty73741]

plus with that new TOS violation ruling it makes it a federal offense to violate contracts

 

[brauhaus]

i'm waiting for our company to announce that they are going to purchase AutoCAD 2009 for everyone... although I highly doubt that they have any idea of how much it will cost them...

once he sees the bill he'll pass on buying.

 

[Donasay]

I don't know why people view software any different than any other piece of equipment you need to get a job done.

If you were a construction worker and your work gave everyone a 1993 ford ranger in order to haul stuff around. Hypothetically lets say of your own initiative you went out and got a 2009 F-250 with an extended bed, it is your personal car, you use it for work, and you use it on side jobs.

The big truck makes you more efficient at work, as you can haul more stuff around, and your truck is much more flashy than everyone else's, so obviously other people are jealous and want the same thing.

In this situation would it be right for your boss to tell you to send your car over to the guy in IL because he wants it. Because that is what he is essentially doing by telling you to send over your license for this program.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

I got a copy of AutoCad 2009 with my text book for under $200.

 

[Yunus]

I don't know why people view software any different than any other piece of equipment you need to get a job done.

If you were a construction worker and your work gave everyone a 1993 ford ranger in order to haul stuff around. Hypothetically lets say of your own initiative you went out and got a 2009 F-250 with an extended bed, it is your personal car, you use it for work, and you use it on side jobs.

The big truck makes you more efficient at work, as you can haul more stuff around, and your truck is much more flashy than everyone else's, so obviously other people are jealous and want the same thing.

In this situation would it be right for your boss to tell you to send your car over to the guy in IL because he wants it. Because that is what he is essentially doing by telling you to send over your license for this program.

People view it differently because software is not a finite item and tangible things are. If you had a machine that could copy that 2009 F-250 so both people can have an identical copy would you use it?
It boils down to this, software piracy is not stealing although many think it is. Software piracy is copyright infringement.

 

[Naidirem]

With the frequency AutoDeask has beenmaking new releases, why don't more companies start subscriptions? The initial cost is more but the yearly maintenance is significantly less and you constantly get the new software which has been, what, about one per year for the last 4 or 5 years in a row.

Also the guy is a total ****** for asking for an illegal copy, yours or the companies. You would be amazed with how often I run into that personally at work and I work in law enforcement.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

You OWN this software! It belongs to you, not the company!! Send this ****** an email cc it the boss too, demanding that he let you bang his missus.

 

[Naidirem]

What if she is hideous and he agrees? Look, we would all let some dude bang our wives. Sometimes it just is worth more to some than others. He may have a lowered expectation and figure she is worth Autocad 2006. Too risky. Ask for a pic first at least.

 

[MoRoToRiUm]

My job is stingy and expects results without giving you the proper tools to do so; Your company IS giving him the proper tools, just not the new ones. I wouldn't find this bad if he weren't JUST STARTING! Sounds a lil pompous to me...

 

[Freezeblade]

It's not like you even need the newest version. I'm still on 2006 and actually like it far more than that pile of **** that is 2009. In my office I'm still on 02 and am perfectly happy with it, at least it's not R-14, someone take this kid's toolbars away and make him run all off console commands like how the big boys do it.

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