Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!utoday!greenber From: greenber@utoday.UUCP (Ross M. Greenberg) Newsgroups: comp.sources.d Subject: Re: Paying for Shareware Keywords: shareware freeware morals ethics knowledge Message-ID: <1157@utoday.UUCP> Date: 13 Jan 90 18:09:42 GMT References: <137@sneezy.tcom.stc.co.uk> <15398@well.UUCP> <1134@utoday.UUCP> <2719@netxcom.DHL.COM> <633@foster.avid.oz> Reply-To: greenber@utoday.UUCP (Ross M. Greenberg) Organization: UNIX Today!, Manhasset, NY Lines: 59 In article <633@foster.avid.oz> mjm@foster.avid.oz (Mike McBain) writes: > >.... It makes good sense >to pay registration fees if there is a material benefit. The most >obvious one is a good, instructive manual. Perhaps it is the fact that so few >shareware authors seem to bother looking for that `added value' option >which results in the angst we're currently seeing. I have seen some good >shareware, but almost never with decent documentation. I've seen some >god-awful stuff too, also without manuals. Perhaps it is just >that shareware authors don't see documentation as important. But they will >continue to pay the price for those beliefs. On the other hand, most shareware products that are making it in the market place have exceptionally good manuals, and they're included in the distribution package that goes across the BBS circuit. Registering often will bring a *printed* manual - a printed version of the one already being distributed. One of the things you might want to contiue looking for in a search for decent shareware is shareware that meets certain standards. A good place to start looking would be for the Association of Shareware Professionals "stamp of approval". The ASP makes sure that the package provides a benefit, it not just a demo but is a fully functional product (not crippled in anyway), that registration brings some benefits to the person sending in the bucks, and that it is, specifically, not beggarware ("your karma will haunt you forever...."). There is a lot of crud out there labeling itself as shareware without really doing what is required to become a success. The ASP has about 200 members right now, from the multi-millioniarres like Jim Button to the fledging author who opted to start off the right way and is still trying to make ends meet in a part time business. Shareware is slowly turning into a viable alternative source for very high quality products. The only way it will work is if people are honest and ethical in their dealings with the shareware author and with themself. My own major shareware product is an anti-virus product, for example: if you use the product, then you believe yourself at risk for "catching" a computer virus. Using my product gives some peace of mind or people would not use it. Is the value of "peace of mind" worth the asking price of $10? To some, yes. To others, it might be, but they can't be bothered to send a check in for $10. To others, they believe that I programmed the code for their benefit as a freee service and that they don;t have to pay. They're wrong, obviously, and people like that caused me to stick code in the product that causes a little trigger screen to advice them when they're using the code for more than 30 days without paying for it. It does not cause the code to cease working, but, instead, reminds them of their obligations. The second week of each month brings with it very high registration rates. -- Ross M. Greenberg, Technology Editor, UNIX Today! greenber@utoday.UUCP 594 Third Avenue, New York, New York, 10016 Voice:(212)-889-6431 BIX: greenber MCI: greenber CIS: 72461,3212 To subscribe, send mail to circ@utoday.UUCP with "Subject: Request"