Shareware
by Eva Redvall
(10 March 1997)
Shareware is a great idea, I think, and I always strive to play by the rules, (i.e. to pay my shareware dues). Most of my friends find this very amusing. "Why pay for something you can get for free?" they say. "Nobody will ever know you are using the stuff," they say. I argue that if nobody pays, shareware may disappear altogether. Which is when people less naive than myself point out that in many cases even a limited number of license fees are quite enough to pay for the development of the software. "Moreover," they say, "shareware is a very effective and very inexpensive way of marketing the goods." Consequently, it is in the business's own interest to keep the system alive.
I would be very interested in hearing *your* views on this. Which is to say, I would greatly appreciate your answers to the following questions, as well as any other comments you might care to add.
1. What, in your opinion, are the advantages and disadvantages of the shareware system?
2. What percentage of the people using shareware have, in your estimation, actually paid the license fee?
3. Is there a limit, past which you would consider abandoning the shareware system?
Eva Redvall writes for the Swedish newspaper Sydsvenska Dagbladet, and is currently preparing an article on the shareware system. Please feel free to respond to Eva's questions by using the respond button below to send your answer. We will select from your entries many of the most relevant responses and will be posting them with the original text. Thanks!!
Current Responses (updated 3/10/97) jonas lindberg - gives an international perspective Rodney Rollo - appears unimpressed with shareware Jeremy Stoltz - comments on the short duration of a programs use Andrey Yurovsky - answers in order Erin Dalzell - offers some fine thoughts about the benefits of shareware
