Hamburg - Most computer programs are usually bought in a store stored on a CD or DVD-ROM and packed in a box.

But the ways of shopping are changing and computer users are finding more offers to download software directly from the internet. Experts see many pros to the switch, but also a few cons.

Commercial software downloads were fairly rare until a few years ago, says Daniel Rasch, an editor at the Hamburg-based Computer Bild magazine. Many people did not have fast-enough internet connections to make downloading new applications practical.

"But the variety is definitely picking up now."

"We've started offering all our security solutions as downloads," says Thorsten Urbanski of G Data in Bochum. Munich's United Soft Media (USM) says it is also catching onto the trend, if not as enthusiastically as G Data.

About 20 per cent of USM's catalogue, including children's titles and digital dictionaries, are available for commercial download.

Software is usually available via a company website or in special shops. USM spokeswoman Nora Hieronymus says her company's software is for sale on www. schlausoft. de or www. softwareload. de, a Deutsche Telekom venture.

Softwareload's selection includes tax software, defragmentation programs and software to help burng discs. Deutsche Telekom also offers software at www. gamesload. de www. gamesload. de.

Predictably, computer games account for a large market segment, notes Olaf Wolters of Germany's BIU Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment. Broadcasting company ProSiebenSat. 1 has entered the market with www. sevengames. de

Nonetheless, the industry has yet to have a hit.

What benefits are there to the customer other than shopping from home? First, downloads are often cheaper than hardware. "Programs costing 50 euros (72 dollars), usually see 5 or 10 euros knocked off," says Peter Knaak, a computer expert with Berlin's Stiftung Warentest, a consumer reports organization.

But customers should not expect to receive a discount for downloading, says Rasch. "The price is usually the same."

And this applies especially to game downloads, Wolters added.

Legal downloads have other not so obvious problems. "The biggest problem is that I have to invest time to backup the software," says Rasch. Burning a copy of downloaded software onto a CD or a DVD is a must, he says, meaning shoppers who had hoped to clear out a little shelf-space are out of luck.

Computer users also need to keep their personal license key or serial number on hand so they can restart downloaded software in the event of a crash. Corel stores this data in user profiles saved at their online store, says Rasch.

But when the downloaded software does not come with that service, users are advised to burn a copy of the e-mail with the license key and serial number data on a CD along with the software backup.

Rasch says some companies allow customers to perform secondary downloads for a certain period after purchase, but for a fee. "You might also get a backup copy sent in the mail," he notes, adding that the service saves customers time, effort and worry.

But a few measures are still needed before commercial downloads become popular.

"We're seeing growing acceptance of downloads," says Urbanski of G Data. "But people still like boxed software from their store or online shop." Until that trend changes, do not expect many exclusively downloadable delivery businesses. (dpa)