Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sdcsvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!qantel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!jww From: jww@sdcsvax.UUCP (Joel West) Newsgroups: net.news,net.micro.mac Subject: Cleaning up net.sources.mac Message-ID: <1134@sdcsvax.UUCP> Date: Mon, 7-Oct-85 18:17:38 EDT Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.1134 Posted: Mon Oct 7 18:17:38 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 15-Oct-85 10:58:07 EDT Organization: CACI, Inc - Federal, La Jolla Lines: 100 Keywords: net.shareware.mac Xref: watmath net.news:4053 net.micro.mac:2957 Previously there'd been some concern that net.sources.mac had become net.binhex.mac. This is certainly the case, but I would argue that it still performing a useful function. Recently, however, I've noticed that the net is becoming a distribution channel for profit-making software enterprises. That's right, I'm talking about SHAREWARE (aka freeware, though the software is neither shared nor free) I think it is commendable that some people will spend their time developing software that they have no intention of profitting from (macput, kermit, vt52.da). This spirit of cooperation -- particularly when source is included or available -- typifies the net at its best. In other cases (e.g., uw), the author may wish to reserve the right to a future version for profit, but has decided to make an early copy available for unlimited free use as long as no one tries to steal it. I think this benefits everyone, as well. However, it appears that net.sources.mac is now being filled with "shareware". Since I don't see Microsoft or Lotus using it for distribution, I must conclude that the software there is: * Not worth enough to support conventional distribution channels -- either in testing, documentation, or support; or * The author thinks he can get others to do his work for him for free. (lest someone think I exaggerate the magnitude of this, I've enclosed a typescript at the end that I encourage you to try) Shareware is useful, but I don't think various sites should pay their TelCo for someone else's marketting. I propose we either 1. Ban shareware from the net or 2. Confine it to specific newsgroups (mod.shareware) that sites may or may not carry. I would define shareware as anything that includes a statement "You {must, should, will be a slimeball unless you} send $X to someone...." This station welcomes replies by (un)qualified invididuals with opposing viewpoints.......... Joel West CACI, Inc. - Federal (c/o UC San Diego) {ucbvax,decvax,ihnp4}!sdcsvax!jww jww@SDCSVAX.ARPA ---------------------TRY THIS ON YOUR LOCAL MACHINE--------------------- Script started on Mon Oct 7 14:35:40 1985 sdcsvax.% cd /usr/spool/news/net/sources/mac sdcsvax.% fgrep areware * 585:earlier. This is one of the best Shareware packages I have seen to date! 589:Subject: Space Flight Simulator, first version, shareware 589: The program is a "shareware" program - please send me the $15.00 591:# This software is shareware. Share it with others but do not sell it. 593:"Whitman's Desk Accessory sampler", by Kevin Hardman. It's shareware; the 599:is distibuted as shareware, see makedoc.hqx for details. Please post the 615:documents with success. It is written by John P. Powers and is Shareware 622:This is shareware, akin to Red Ryder. sdcsvax.% fgrep reeware * 616:demo version available for free, unlimited distribution. This freeware 623:Subject: Brickles--A Freeware Game 623:This is a freeware version of the breakout game. I got it from sdcsvax.% fgrep ' $' * 589: The program is a "shareware" program - please send me the $15.00 (noise omitted) 593:authur requests a $10 donation if you like & use it. (program fragment omitted) 598:good price, you should definitely check out Red Ryder 6.2; at $40 it's a sdcsvax.% cd /usr/spool/news/mod/newslists sdcsvax.% fgrep net.sources.mac * (noise deleted) 197: 5 385.9 34 12.06 4.2% 25.2% net.sources.mac (2.8) 200: net.sources.mac Software for the Apple MacIntosh sdcsvax.% cat 197 (header trimmed) Newsgroups: mod.newslists Subject: Top 25 News Groups for the last 2 weeks Date: 22 Sep 85 12:15:22 GMT No. of $ Cost % of Cumulative Rank Kbytes Articles per Site Total % of Total Group (Articles/contributor) 1 583.7 93 18.24 6.3% 6.3% net.sources (1.8) 2 496.2 285 15.51 5.4% 11.7% net.sf-lovers (3.2) 3 455.9 267 14.25 4.9% 16.6% net.politics (2.6) 4 401.1 175 12.54 4.3% 21.0% net.religion (4.2) 5 385.9 34 12.06 4.2% 25.2% net.sources.mac (2.8) (17 lines deleted) 23 146.2 116 4.57 1.6% 67.1% net.micro.mac (1.6) $ Cost is the cost of sending it over a 1200 baud, long distance, phone link presuming $0.15 per minute and 800 baud effective throughput. sdcsvax.% exit script done on Mon Oct 7 14:45:06 1985