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From: kds@physics (Kevin Stokes)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: A better reminder/cripple? (Was Re: Shareware is junk)
Message-ID: <22240@duke.cs.duke.edu>
Date: 6 May 91 17:46:13 GMT
References: <1991May1.153211.21245@agate.berkeley.edu> <1991May3.133447.21207@nmt.edu> <1991May3.161211.2382@dsd.es.com> <1991May4.195941.20614@unhd.unh.edu>
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In article <1991May4.195941.20614@unhd.unh.edu> ras671@unhd.unh.edu (Robert A Seace) writes:
>
>	I say simply release a full-function version without a bunch of
>annoying "Register or die!" messages, and if people like the program and
>aren't pirates they'll register the thing.

  I disagree with the above statement, as a shareware author, I can say
from experience, that few people will register unless there is a reason.
How many people use PKZIP everyday, and of those, how many do you think have 
registered it?  
  Most people like me have a very limited computer budget,  and given the
choice between throwing the money away on a product which I already have,
and buying something I really want, it's hard to do the right thing.
  Putting fully functional shareware on the market with no disadvantage to
the unregistered users is like putting $50 cash on every sidewalk corner
with a note saying "You may borrow this $50 if you need it, but please
return it with interest after a couple weeks."  How many bills would be
returned?  One must be realistic.
  Most of the shareware which use and don't register is software which
I would never buy in the store if at that cost.  Who would go out and buy
a keyboard buffer extender for $50, when Power C compiler with 600 page
printed manual costs $20?
  My product notes the date when the user installs it, then allows full
use without reminders for 1 week, and then asks for registration, or
else the user must reinstall it.  The fee is $5.00.  I reply to the 
customer with a hexidecimal code which makes the program they already
have work without interruption.  It's hackable, but who wants to bother
when the program itself is only $5.00?
  I've received over 250 registrations, but if the program had no protection,
I'll bet I would've gotten no more than 10.
  And of course if I'd charged $50, I would've gotten zero.



--
	Kevin Stokes
	Duke University Dept. of Physics	kds@phy.duke.edu
	Durham, N.C.      27706