Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!pacbell!pacbell.com!ucsd!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a752
From: a752@mindlink.UUCP (Bruce Dunn)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Windows Shareware
Message-ID: <3002@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 30 Aug 90 11:32:08 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 20


    From comments on the net it appears very difficult to get back any money
from registration of shareware.  We need a different system.  I propose that
Microsoft should directly support individual programmers by making cash awards
for the release of useful, bug-free, public domain Windows programs.  Any
programmer would be entitled to submit a program to a jury (which could be from
non-Microsoft people) who would look at the functionality of the program and
whether it is a useful addition to the existing set of public domain programs.
The award made would be in proportion to the size and usefulness of the
program.
     Where would the money come from?  From Microsoft's advertising budget for
Windows.  Why would Microsoft do this?  What better advertising for an
operating environment than repeated announcements of yet another well written
public domain program.
     For $100,000 per year, Microsoft could get a lot of public domain programs
released for Windows (increasing Windows sales) and programmers could get cash
award ranging from a $1000 for a minor utility to $20,000 to $50,000 for a
blockbuster application.
--
Bruce Dunn   Vancouver, Canada    a752@mindlink.UUCP