Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!qucdn!boydj Organization: Queen's University at Kingston Date: Friday, 3 May 1991 14:51:34 EDT From: Jeff Boyd Message-ID: <91123.145134BOYDJ@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d Subject: Re: A better reminder/cripple? I'm fond of the crippleware idea, but only one category thereof: the program has ALL functions fully enabled, so that the user can test and evaluate them. I become visibly angry when I test a "sample" program and find that I can't completely test it because not all features have been enabled !! The "crippled" aspect becomes size. Limit the size of the database, the size of file which can be edited, etc.. This is a common practice among commercial vendors of mathematical software (the samples are often called "education" versions, they have all features working, and are intended for distribution at educational institutions). You set the 'size' in such a way that the user doesn't get a tryout item which solves their problems, yet gets a clear idea of how the product works and its level of compatibility with their system. As for source code ... my superficial opinion is that you should probably give source (after registration, of course!) if you anticipate not being able to provide long-term post-sale technical support. But this is an ethics consideration.