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From: ressler@CS.Cornell.EDU (Gene Ressler)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: A better reminder/cripple? (Was Re: Shareware is junk)
Message-ID: <1991May8.044523.14275@cs.cornell.edu>
Date: 8 May 91 04:45:23 GMT
References: <1991May3.161211.2382@dsd.es.com> <1680@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> <3954@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP>
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Shareware is junk rings like bigotry.  Let's recall 4DOS and DeSmet C;
the former is what MS should send with DOS.  The latter is a very
usable small model compiler/debugger/editor that folks shelled
out $180 for until TC.  Yes there's a lot of junk, but the best 
10% is worth sorting it out.

I have no qualm at all with a good shareware program doing something
to ensure I pay.  I've always thought a good way for interactive progs
is to warn on entry, then have no way of quitting back to DOS in the
non-registered version; you have to reboot.  Otherwise, you have
full capabilities and no persistent annoyances.  Of course 
multitasking environments limit the effectiveness of this idea, unless
non-registered versions overtly don't support them.

It could be worse.  I've run Unix packages on NFS setups where
a special daemon had to be running before the package; it's purpose was
to count the number of people using at any instant and refuse
access if the number hit the license ceiling.  Talk about annoying...

Gene