> So, is there any reason at all why I can't buy LabVIEW in the US and use > it in the UK? I'm sure the marketeers at NI have some reasons they trot > out in response to such enquiries, but seriously - why not? Anyone in > the UK (or anywhere else in the world with a favourable exchange rate) > done this? Any problems? >
There is no technical reason you can't run US SW on a UK computer. NI doesn't have the same pull as DVD makers after all. But you may be violating some licences by doing so. In fact, this is generally referred to as a gray-market purchase. Not black-market as in it is illegal, but gray in that it isn't totally above-board either. This is often done by photo and video companies buying in Asia or someplace and selling in the US before it is available here, and sometimes at a good discount. The cost differences in the products are largely due to the cost of running the sales and support offices in the UK or country where the product is being sold. You purchased not only the SW, but also the phone support in your time zone and language. If you need to speak with an engineer before sales or have someone visit your site you do have a number to contact. If you were to order from a US-only company, these resources would disappear, but then the price difference should as well. As markets open up and sales in Europe consolidate a bit, you should see the sales prices equalize a bit. I believe they are much closer than they used to be. If you want a better explanation, you might call one of those numbers that came with the product or is in the catalog, as I'm more involved in making stuff than selling it. Greg McKaskle
