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From: toma@tekgvs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Another View on Shareware
Message-ID: <2265@tekgvs.TEK.COM>
Date: Thu, 7-May-87 10:41:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekgvs.2265
Posted: Thu May  7 10:41:44 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 9-May-87 07:55:25 EDT
References: <18006@sun.uucp> <1474@uwmacc.UUCP>
Reply-To: toma@tekgvs.UUCP (Thomas Almy)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR.
Lines: 37
Keywords: Shareware, free advertising, many versions
Xref: utgpu comp.sys.amiga:4356 comp.sys.ibm.pc:3409

In article <1474@uwmacc.UUCP> edwards@uwwircs.UUCP (Mark Edwards) writes:
>... 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? ...

Well, when you register for PC-WRITE (which costs a whopping $89 -- I'm
glad the term "shareware" is winning out over "freeware") you can get a
copy of the sources and then can eliminate that screen.

Having cut my micro-computer teeth with CP/M, I have seen a lot of PD programs
(no shareware back then) and most of it has been trash.  But I have been
a registered user of PC-Write for 2 years, and have just registered for
Don Kneller's NDMAKE program.  I am also a dedicated user of the PD CED
program, but am guilty of not contributing (yet) for the wonderful PKARC.

In general, the PD/Shareware utility programs have been excellent; as good as
or better than the commercially available versions (I use dozens of the PD
programs, and have written several of my own).  But these individuals, 
typically writing in their spare time, just cannot turn out large programs.
I used several PD compilers back in CP/M, but all the compilers I use now
are commercial.  My experiences with shareware communication, database,
spreadsheet, and outlining programs has been universally bad.  But I do use
the PD Kermit and MEX (CP/M).

Too many recent shareware programs are just broken versions (either missing
functions or vital documentation) of commercial products.  (I am afraid that
PC-WRITE is now in that category since it costs $45 to buy documentation which
used to be on the disk.)  As such, the should be considered as preview copies
which allow examining the software before buying it.  But low cost commercial
products should be considered as well.  I ended up paying $70 for VP-Planner
getting a genuinely useful spreadsheed program for little more than the
registration costs of the awkward shareware program.  Likewise the easy
to use, well documented KAMAS (for MS-DOS) outline program sells for $75.

Tom Almy
Tektronix