Xref: utzoo comp.windows.ms:3749 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:285
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!sei!bwb
From: bwb@sei.cmu.edu (Bruce Benson)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: 4DOS and Windows 3.0 problem.
Message-ID: <8005@fy.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 26 Jul 90 15:49:46 GMT
References: <1990Jul24.061834.758@amd.com> <1990Jul24.181724.12354@world.std.com>
Reply-To: bwb@sei.cmu.edu (Bruce Benson)
Organization: Software Engineering Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Lines: 37

In article <1990Jul24.181724.12354@world.std.com> goodearl@world.std.com (Robert D Goodearl) writes:

>P.S.  Are you planning to pay for 4dos?
>#define SOAPBOX_ON
>#ifdef SOAPBOX_ON
>If you use shareware and like it, please pay for it.  If the folks who develop
>shareware don't get anything for their (considerable) time, they won't continue
>to make shareware available.  The version of GCP that is due out on cbip
>within the week will no longer be available as shareware (ie: no new versions)
>because there have not been enough registration fees.
>#endif //SOAPBOX_ON

I didn't register GCP because it didn't do what I needed it to do.  In fact,
it had purposely been crippled to not allow what I needed it for (GIF->BMP).
Sure, I would have gotten that capability if I registered, but shareware was
intended to try-before-you-buy.  Crippled shareware or maybe better called
guessware is no longer try-before-you-buy, instead it is a somewhat 
functioning demo.

Some shareware get enough support that they prosper (e.g., 4dos) and it is
interesting that these are full functioning programs (counter examples would
be interesting).   

Windows Navigate is my current example of a program that I would probably buy
if I used it regularly, which I would (I think) if not for the built in
annoyances.  Great idea, but trust (hope?) should be added to the program.
(Copy protection went away and the industry seem healthy and prosperous.)

At least for me, I buy what I use.  I recommend GCP be cured of its ailments
and released as true shareware. (Regular upgrades and enhancements also
encourage me to register my shareware - especially those utilities that
I don't use often). 

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