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From: dsims@uceng.UC.EDU (david l sims)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Love's Labours Lost (was Re: Shareware is junk)
Message-ID: <8263@uceng.UC.EDU>
Date: 2 May 91 14:04:57 GMT
References: <1991Apr30.174659.9082@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> <GARYM.91May1145841@cognos.uucp@uunet.uu.net>
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati, College of Engg.
Lines: 45

garym@cognos.uucp@uunet.uu.net (Gary Murphy) writes:

>I think the same rule applies here as applies to going to a jazz
>concert (or any other concert for that matter):  If you don't like
>what the author has so painstakingly produced, don't use it.

[confessions of a shareware junkie deleted]

>Now if the product is crippled, how am I to know it will do the job?

It's my turn to throw in my two cents. I must admit that I am tired of people
saying how much they hate "crippleware" or "beggarware" or "guiltware".
Have you heard of the phrase "beggars can't be choosers?" Where else do you
get _essentially_ free software? Why aren't you slamming Microsoft
because one of thier "working models" isn't the full-blown program.
Why, it's XXX-WARE! I think I'll call it TEMPT-WARE. Why that darned
Bill Gates! He sent me TEMPT-WARE!

When I recently bought Borland C++, how was I to know it did the job? I
depended on Borland's reputation and reviewers' comments. After purchasing it,
I have mixed feelings. I wish the BC++ IDE was actually a Windows app. Anyway,
the point is, I took a chance. I'd rather not have to take a chance, but I
did since Borland hasn't yet become enlightened to the advantages
of shareware :-).

>Rather than bitch on about whether Miles should stay away from keyboards
>or whether Madonna can still sing anything from her first albumn, I
>think it would be more productive if we accept new software for what it
>is, take-it-or-leave-it, and if we want a discussion ... why not try to
>come up with an ALTERNATIVE scheme?

I'm for the discussion of an ALTERNATIVE scheme. I actually tried it once. I
wrote a BBS that allowed DOS programs to be run over the modem. The caller
could try out the program, but he couldn't get his hands on it. It was a bit
slow in that the ANSI escape sequences I used would be too slow if there were
windows (scrolling regions) involved. For programs that made heavy use of
windows, it was too impractical. After running a demo and obtaining some
literature on a piece of software, the caller could order it online. BTW, I
still have all the C/8086 assembler code. I think I'll release it as
...TEMPT-WARE!!!

Any comments on this scheme or other ALTERNATIVE schemes?

David Sims
dsims@uceng.uc.edu