Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!dali.cs.montana.edu!caen!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!uunet!osh3!chip From: chip@osh3.OSHA.GOV (Chip Yamasaki) Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d Subject: Re: Shareware is junk Message-ID: <1991May01.022439.16596@osh3.OSHA.GOV> Date: 1 May 91 02:24:39 GMT References: <1991Apr30.174659.9082@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> Organization: U.S. D.O.L - Occupational Safety & Health Admin. Lines: 61 In <1991Apr30.174659.9082@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> rubin@visual1.jhuapl.edu (Don Rubin) writes: >FLAME ON >I just downloaded a handfull of shareware programs >from CICA. They fell into two catagories; those that >had little or no functionallity -and- those whose >registration was so obnoxious that I couldn't even >run them to see if they were worth the fee. >I have no problem with the first type. When someone >has a good idea it takes time and feedback to come up >with a good implementation. However, I am pretty >disgusted with so called commercial quality programs >that annoy you to death BEFORE you even get to use them. I have used many shareware programs and have NEVER run into one that annoys me to death. I have seen some that remind you to register and or display a copyright screen while loading. Some programs even ask that you press a key to continue, HORRORS! How awful of them. Would you be serious. That is certainly not too much to ask. even running you through several screens is not THAT big a deal. >My suggestion to budding shareware programmers is give >us a MOSTLY fully functional program with no stupid >order forms, warning boxes, etc. To insure registration >just reduce the functionallity on a few functions >(eg. allow it to print only a few pages, limit the >size of the image, etc.). If I like what the program >does, I'll pay the registration fee to get the full >functionallity, manual, support, updates, etc. Don't you DARE listen to this absurd advice! The Association of ShareWare Professionals states that ShareWare programmers should distribute completely working, fully functional programs with no feature disabled. This is a wonderful concept. For making such a bad suggestion I sure hope that someday you run into a shareware programmer that takes your advice and maybe you'll get bit by that bug that occurs on that 11th page you couldn't print with the unregistered version. When I get a shareware program I know what I'm getting when I register. I can test everything! I can work with the full program. I can see all of the features. And, the only difference between what I got and what I get when I register is support, updates, and maybe a new disk and printed manual. Oh, and yes, I get to use the program without being reminded to register. >Try to act like a professional programmer before you >act like a bean counter and you will end up with a better >product and more people will want to pay for it. They are not only acting like professional programmers, but many of them are doing quite well. They are also producing some of the best software I've ever seen! >FLAME OFF -- -- Charles "Chip" Yamasaki chip@oshcomm.osha.gov