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Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer,comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Summary of ShareWare experiences.
Message-ID: <1CE00001.s1x5ye@tbomb.ice.com>
Date: 15 Feb 91 01:25:50 GMT
Reply-To: time@ice.com
Organization: ICE Engineering, Inc.
Lines: 40
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In article <990@faatcrl.UUCP>, jprad@faatcrl.UUCP (Jack Radigan) writes:
>   That whole post smacked of a confidence scam.  He comes off as trying to
> help enlighten those considering to market their work via shareware to the
> unviability of it and then "offers" to publish it for them, jeez...

I agree. I have had a single shareware product for several years before
I decided to give it away for free. Rolodesk remains a useful desk
accessory that has been used for over 5 years! I created the DA for
my own needs.

During the first two years of a $5 shareware request, I had approximately
100 payments! I thought this was reasonable, although probably only
about 10% of the persons using it. That was fine, and about what I
expected. I did not offer anything in return for the $5 and letters
followed me through 4 moves. I received approximately $500 for a four
week (evenings) effort (initially) and several updates.

After getting tired of cashing $5 checks and certainly having no need
to, I decided to give the DA away for free. Still many people offered
to pay me money, but I always convinced them to simply send me a letter
with a suggestion or magazine from their city or country. This was
fun!

Each approach has advantages and disadvanatges. To name a couple -
shareware is easy to do as an individual and will return some value for
your work, and gives users a very flexible trial plan. Commercial
software is a *lot* of work, with somewhat greater potential for
revenues. How hard do you want to work?

As for the original posting, I was disappointed with the bait and
switch. It would have been more tolerable if the article had been
a little more objective and thorough.

tim.

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