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From: doug@hparc0.HP.COM (Doug Parsons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Shareware Poll: Please Read!
Message-ID: <2650001@hparc0.HP.COM>
Date: 1 Oct 90 07:05:00 GMT
References: <6188@uceng.UC.EDU>
Organization: HP Australasian Response Centre (Melbourne)
Lines: 40

>Question 1: Do you think the Shareware concept is a good idea?
Answer 1:Yes

>Question 2: If you wrote a program that you wanted to sell, would you
use Shareware?
Answer 2:Yes

>Question 3: How many Shareware programs do you have?
Answer 3:>500

>Question 4: How many Shareware programs do you use?
Answer 4:<20

>Question 5: Have you registered the programs that you do use?
Answer 5: No


Question 7: If no to question 5, why not?
Answer 7:	(a) The software is overpriced but I still want it.
		(b) I haven't gotten around to it yet.
		(c) Why should I? Out of the goodness of my heart?

Please list the letters (0 or more) of the response(s) that
apply to you. ==>None.  It is very tedious outside NAmerica.
Most places accept visa/mc, but I only use Amex and will not get a
credit card.  Sending postal orders or bank cheques in US funds is
very expensive, and means having to make a trip to a bank and spend
3/4 of an hour explaining what you are trying to do, to someone that
have never heard of this (it's true; I've lived in several countries
outside N.America and it is the same everywhere).
All this effort for a program that isn't supported well enough to 
depend on, when used in an office environment.  I have tried sending
the money for shareware programs before, but I have never received a
reply of any kind.  I assume it is because the stamp for overseas is
too expensive.
Besides all of this, there is such a plethora of software out there for
PCs, a new, better version or alternate program comes out in a month and
I usually switch to it.  Of the 1000 .ZIP, .ARC, and .LZH files I have,
I regularly use 1 or 2, and these are public domain or the company has
a site license for it (eg. Phil Katz' PKZIP).