Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!ima!mirror!jvc From: jvc@mirror.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Another View on Shareware Message-ID: <206900029@mirror> Date: Wed, 6-May-87 09:44:00 EDT Article-I.D.: mirror.206900029 Posted: Wed May 6 09:44:00 1987 Date-Received: Fri, 8-May-87 05:02:48 EDT References: <18006@sun.uucp> Lines: 121 Nf-ID: #R:sun.uucp:-1800600:mirror:206900029:000:5788 Nf-From: mirror.UUCP!jvc May 6 09:44:00 1987 /* Written 9:28 am May 5, 1987 by edwards@vms.macc.wisc.edu.UUCP */ >... >I have several shareware programs on floppy disk. I do >not use them, one because I didn't want to learn how, and two I have not >found a need to do so. The Big Question is should I pay for them? If I >had to buy them from the store or a mail order company I would not have. >If shareware means to keep a copy you must pay for it, then I'll hit the >BIG rm key, del for you messyDOSers. It is a nice feeling though that >they are there if and when I need them. If I find them that useful I will >pay for them at that time. Thats the whole idea. If you find it useful and you use it, then you pay for it. If you don't use it, then don't pay for it. You are, of course, free to distribute the shareware to others whether you pay for it or not. >If and when that time does come, there probably >will be a newer, more improved version out. So I will send in my money and >find this out. What happens if the version I have is severely out dated >and the asking price is also improved to the authors benefit. Of course I >will want the newest version, so how much is it going to cost me? If the price has changed (you can't expect it to stay the same forever [MS has increased their prices too]) then you pay the new price. If you decide that the new price is too much then you don't buy it. >It probably would have been cheaper if I had gotten a copy of the newest >version and payed for that one instead of what I had. But you didn't pay for the one you had so how can it be cheaper. Also, once you register a copy of shareware (pay for it) you are entitled to free updates if you obtain the updates from normal distribution channels. If you want the author to send you updates, then you must pay for that service just like you have to pay MS for updates. >If I want the latest >version of MSC I look in the magazine, and call the mail order firm with >the lowest, reliable price. I have a better chance at getting the most >recent copy from a mail order place than from ye ole BBS. When you register your shareware, you will be informed of the current version number and what BBSs to call to get the latest version. You can usually get a disk mailed to you with the current version if you send money to cover postage and handling. Don't forget, when you buy that MSC, you not only pay for the program, you pay for that ad in the mag, you pay the mail order firm for the service of selling you the program, you pay the firm that shipped the program to the mail order firm, etc. >Do I have a money back warrantee if after really using the shareware program >I find that its defective. Before you sent in your money, you tried the software and decided that it would do what you wanted. The suggested trial period is 30 days but if you really need more time then take it. I don't know of very many "major firms" that let you have the software on a trial basis (I mean the entire package, not a demo that won't let you do anything constructive). >I realize that the chances are bad with other >software from major firms. From observations on BBS and Usenet I see an >awful lot of new and improve version of programs, shareware and otherwise, >after the umpteenth update my pocket book is complaining and might not I >have been better off, not to use it, or purchased a different product. Since you don't pay for updates of shareware, your pocket book shouldn't complain. "Major firms" make a lot of new and improved versions too but they charge for the upgrades (now your pocket book should complain). >I do realize it is the nature of software to be updated, but somehow it >seems that some of the programs, including shareware, were lacking in the >first place and through the distribution the product was improved. True. >Another problem I have is what happens when the OS is improved so much that >the shareware program no longer functions? Same thing that happens when non-shareware stops working when the OS is improved. >I think one of the ways that >... >My last observation on shareware and its failure is advertising. How can >people buy something they know nothing about. Is the range of the >distribution of shareware as great as the range of MS or other companies? >I think not, what percent is it? I don't know what the percent is. The range of the distribution of shareware is great but not as great as MS because shareware authors don't spend money on ads on TV or in mags. This is how we all save money; neither the author nor the user has to pay other companies for running ads. > My very last observation is about the >shareware message I see when I brought up PC-WRITE, everytime I brought it >up I saw the send X amount of dollars to some place. Does this disappear >when I send in my money? That message does not look professional to me, >it looks cheap and very commericial. Almost like the author should pay me >everytime I call PC-WRITE up, because he is using my screen like a >billboard, or an add in a magazine. Your right, your PERSONAL REGISTERED copy shouldn't have that ad show up every time but it must show up on any shareware you distribute. The person evaluating the software should be made aware that it is not PD and should be informed where to register their copy if they wish to use it. I don't know about PC-WRITE (I don't have it) but PROCOMM and other shareware programs stop displaying that ad after a reasonable amount of time (they keep track of the number of times run in a data file). There have also been patches to eliminate these ads from your personal copy. > > edwards@vms.macc.wisc.edu > {allegra, ihnp4, seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!edwards > UW-Madison, 1210 West Dayton St., Madison WI 53706 jvc@mirror.TMC.COM