Reply to: Software costs

[dx4100]

You're not being paid to build a wall. Pushing your analogies.

Suppose not

[ITContractorUK]

As for PCG, I'd recommend one of those new-fangled search engines.

To clarify, I did find Home | PCG but could not find any information about insurances. But will look again.

[d000hg]

Get the standard edition of VS2010, if you require Ultimate for TFS and so on then that's the client's issue since they want you to integrate with their processes.

As for PCG, I'd recommend one of those new-fangled search engines.

[ITContractorUK]

Well, some of the things I have seen and which I work with at the moment requires you to have VS2010 Ultimate edition which is really expensive and not included WebsiteSparks (that I know of).

Anyway, what is that PCG you mentioned? Insurances?

[DotNetDeveloper]

Personally I use my own laptop and software as I am uber paranoid about IR35, but also just like to have my own equipment. This wont always be possible though, depends on the gig.

Do what I did and signup for WebsiteSparks - you get Visual Studio 2010 for free in this package, as well as a license for SQL Server Web Edition & Windows Server 2007. You just need to set a website live in 6 months time. I'd recommend buying the developer version of SQL Server, its only something like £40.

Sign up for PCG as well, it'll cover pretty much all the insurances you need to worry about.

HTH & Good Luck

[SueEllen]

Really ?

If someone turns up to build me a wall I don't expect to be providing them with the equipment to do the job

I would always expect to be using my own laptop and software. Only if the client had some real security issues with that approach would I be expecting to use their stuff.

One contractor I previously worked with had never in his contracting career of 15 years has been required to use his own laptop or software.

There as I have but have always been given the versions or the appropriate licenses for the software required.

Hence every client and situation is different.

[kaiser78]

Originally Posted by oversteer
The company will generally provide PC / software for you to use. It would be very unusual if they didn't.


I'm sorry, but this simply isn't true.

One of the main distinctions between a contractor and an employee is the provision of equipment. Read this:

HM Revenue & Customs: Employment status


Now, some companies may choose to provision contractors with computers for security reasons, but many don't. And it's perfectly normal for companies to expect contractors to bring their own software. It very much depends on the role, company, and job. This isn't simply a small/large company divide either - I bring and use my own equipment for development to a big FTSE100 client on a regular basis.

On paper, correct, the distinctions between contrator and employee you refer to are true. In reality however, what Oversteer states is more common.

[d000hg]

You're not being paid to build a wall. Pushing your analogies.

[dx4100]

The company will generally provide PC / software for you to use. It would be very unusual if they didn't.

If you have any personal software / IDE etc you prefer using, then you should bring it on a USB etc, and be prepared to get into battles with the IT department on getting the permission to install it..

Really ?

If someone turns up to build me a wall I don't expect to be providing them with the equipment to do the job

I would always expect to be using my own laptop and software. Only if the client had some real security issues with that approach would I be expecting to use their stuff.

[ITContractorUK]

Ok, thanks for all your replies. I will factor in my own hardware/software in my calculations, its nice to have anyway anyway in order to be able to do other dev work as well.

I am now more worried about this though: "Don't bet on there being that many real jobs tho my recent search shows the same few jobs appearing multiple times. "

I assumed that it would be fairly easy to find contract jobs around London and Cambridge but I might have to re-think that?

[Spacecadet]

Interesting SpaceCadet, I'm quite impressed you managed to get that approach working so often with IT departments who presumably aren't used to such things. How do you go about this - inform them in advance or turn up with your own laptop and just ignore the PC they put on your desktop? Do you even tell the IT people, or do you let them supply you a nework login and use it on your own PC?

All my contracts have been project work and most of them required travelling between different sites as and when.
When they offer a laptop I just tell them to keep it spare, most PMs are happy not to have to spend extra money and simply reallocate it to one of the permies.

[northernladuk]

If you are given an email address at client co then just set it to forward to your business email address and use that.

Oddly enough.. again a lot of companies won't allow this, particularly if you are using web based mail lol...

If the client insists on his hardware, take your own in as well and connect via whatever wireless option they have for consultants so you have all bases covered.

As Sue said every situation is different.

[FarmerPalmer]

Only thing which is a pain in the arse is when you end up having to use their web mail system

If you are given an email address at client co then just set it to forward to your business email address and use that.

[d000hg]

Interesting SpaceCadet, I'm quite impressed you managed to get that approach working so often with IT departments who presumably aren't used to such things. How do you go about this - inform them in advance or turn up with your own laptop and just ignore the PC they put on your desktop? Do you even tell the IT people, or do you let them supply you a nework login and use it on your own PC?

To the original poster... I get the impression most 'proper' contracting roles involve being given a workstation like everyone else has. If you are freelancing rather than contracting though, that's different. And if the work you're doing is on a new system requiring software they don't already use (like Expression for example) then having your own copy might be sensible.

[Spacecadet]

These days I usually insist on using my own laptop and software unless they have certain special arrangements which would preclude that i.e. data sensitivity

out of 7 contracts in the past 4 and half years I've used my own laptop on 4 of them..
I've bought and paid for all the dev software I use/need and can get a full test rig running on my laptop independantly of their systems. It's great for working from home without VPN.

Only thing which is a pain in the arse is when you end up having to use their web mail system

It depends on what you do but it's not about playing "the game", unless the game is being a decent consultant who can turn up on day 1 with all the tools required to do the job!