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From: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: MOST Shareware is junk
Message-ID: <154598@pyramid.pyramid.com>
Date: 7 May 91 00:21:10 GMT
Sender: daemon@pyramid.pyramid.com
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Lines: 42

In article <3111@krafla.rhi.hi.is> frisk@rhi.hi.is (Fridrik Skulason) writes:
>
>Well, I am the author of a fairly successful anti-virus program (which
>was just posted on c.b.i.p.) and it not crippled or has any registration
>reminders other than a few lines in the documentation.  In fact, the only
>difference between this program and the full version which is available in some
>countries is the lack of a printed manual and a lower level of support.
>
>Do I get registrations ?
   
   Hopefully you will get more.   

   
   Why is it MOST shareware writers seem to ENJOY making things
   difficult to install and use?   

   Put any dates in the code, mess with my AUTOEXEC.BAT or
   CONFIG.SYS files and I will swiftly remove your product from
   my machine.

   MOST SHAREWARE IS JUNK!   Too bad so many authors refuse to
   acknowledge this and try to understand WHY users feel this
   way...might improve the breed.

   There ARE, however some real gems in the shareware
   business...enough so that it is IMHO worth wading through the
   garbage that is spewed out.  

   I register any shareware I use....as do most of my
   acquaintances.   


>
>If I get a request for a new feature, I evaluate it regardless of whether
>the person requesting it is registered or not, and even if he is not, I
>will send him an update if I add the feature.
   
   A tip of the hat to you sir....although I haven't seen your
   products, you appear to have the right attitude.  Although I
   think a free copy is overdoing it, most programmers are so 
   antagonistic to suggestions that they deserve the type of
   criticism they get.