Shareware and its variants are everywhere, but many people aren't necessarily familiar with the term -- at least according to the results of this week's SNET Internet survey. For the record:
Shareware is software that is distributed free on a trial basis with the understanding that the user may need or want to pay for it later. Some software developers offer a shareware version of their program with a built-in expiration date (after 30 days, the user can no longer get access to the program.) Other shareware (sometimes called liteware) is offered with certain capabilities disabled as an enticement to buy the complete version of the program.
Freeware is programming that is offered at no cost. However, it is copyrighted so that you can't incorporate its programming into anything you may be developing. The least restrictive "no-cost" programs are uncopyrighted programs in the public domain.
Here are the results:
Q: If you like a shareware program, do you register and pay for it?
- What's shareware? - 907 (43.2%)
- No, why should I? - 338 (16.1%)
- I should but I don't - 346 (16.4%)
- Sometimes - 190 (9.0%)
- Usually - 119 (5.7%)
- Of course - 198 (5.4%)
Your comments:
"Of course I register shareware programs that I like. Why? Because sometimes the shareware is only part of or a small demo of the program and by getting the registered copy you get the entire program. In some shareware programs a part is left off to entice the person to register the program to get the entire program." C.Y., Fairfield
"Since I would only select to receive software that I would be interested in or need or will use I would feel compelled to "pay" for my benefit or need." P.F., Enfield
"I find it extremely annoying to buy a CD (such as a collections of card games) and then find out that they are all shareware and it was never stated on the CD cover." P.W., Washington Depot
"Most shareware is not worth paying for because it lacks adequate instructions on getting it up and running, making it impossible to evaluate and causing major frustration. In the event I find it useful and easy to use I am happy to reward the creator for his/her efforts. I generally avoid shareware these days because it can be impossible to delete and I wind up with orphan files cluttering my hard drive." Suni, Torrington
"This last survey really says how honest people are. They share software and have no thought about that they are stealing a service. This is what is known as white collar crime. Each generation is getting better at white collar crime than the last. No one has a conscious anymore. What a shame. No wonder the world is in the shape it is?" E.F., Brooklyn
"When people allow themselves to embrace situational morality, which seems to me the clear message of this poll, the notion that passing any law in hopes of changing racist acts, violent acts, so-called hate crimes is as absurd as thinking that making the purchase of tobacco products illegal for anyone under 16 (is it 18?) has any impact on the number of teen-agers who smoke. What percentage of those who blithely and routinely keep driving even after the light has turned red are included in those who are willing to steal "shareware?" " J.B.H., Norfolk
"I bought a Majong Gold game for $15. Now every time I play the game I am hounded by the person who sells it to buy a 'full' version for another $20 without the advertising in it. This is not right, in my opinion. If I had known it was shareware, I would NOT have bought it and am now very skeptical of buying games at computer shows because of this purchase. Why doesn't this guy just put out his game in a non-shareware version for the $20 and be done with it? I think he likes hounding people or something. Shareware should be labled in very big print so people know what they are getting before buying it, not after." Sandra, Voluntown
Previous survey results are available.
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