by John Jung
Let me start off talking about what Shareware is not. Shareware is not
Freeware. That is, Shareware is not free. Once you install it on your computer
and evaluate it for a certain period (usually around 30 days) you must pay
for the product. There are Softwares out that are free. For example, Pegasus
Mail is a Freeware. You can use Pegasus Mail freely without registering
it.
One thing to remember though, whenever you obtain a software, free, share,
or purchased, you do not own the software. You only own the license or permission
to use the software. The programmer/author still owns the software . It's
a simple application of the copyrights law.
A Shareware is a program. It is a software. It can be a game, word processor, screen saver, disk utility, anti-virus program, and so forth. A Shareware is any computer program that can be "shared" among computer users. And of course, there are restrictrictions on how a Shareware may be "shared".
You can obtain a Shareware from an Internet site, Shareware collection diskette/CD, or from a friend. A Shareware was meant to be available to the mass public, and it was meant to be "shared" among friends.
Once you obtain a shareware software, you can install it on to your computer. Then, you can evaluate the program. If you do not like the program, you must delete the software from your computer. If you like the software and want to continue using it, you must register the software with the author. The author could be a freelance programmer who created the software with his home computer, or the author could be a company.
Some of the older Sharewares operated on strict honor system. The only motivation for the end user to register the Shareware is his or her desire to be honest. There was no difference between the registered version or non-registered version. Today, there are couple of ways the programmers entice you to register. The non-registered/Shareware version of the software would sometimes come with annoying reminder messages that tell you to register the product. For these products, usually, you will get a registration key or a license number when you register the product. After you type in this number, the annoying messages will not appear anymore. Another popular method is to release a non-registered version that only has partial functions. To enjoy the full capabilities of the software, you have to register and get the full version.
The main advantage of Sharewares is the price. Sharewares are cheaper than their compatible products you would purchase from a store. The reason is obvious. With a Shareware, there is no cost for packaging, shipping, or advertising. There is no distribution cost. There is no middle man. There is no fancy box. You just get the software and nothing else. Most Sharewares are accessible through Internet in web sites that collect Sharewares. Some of the Sharewares developed by companies are available through their own web sites.
The second advantage of using Shareware is that you can evaluate the software before you decide to purchase the product. Most stores that carry softwares will not let you return a program if the box has been opened. This is mainly because it is so easy to "steal" a software. A person who decides to steal a software can purchase a program, copy the program, and then return the program and get a refund. Thus, most stores adhere to a strict policy that if you open the box, you cannot return the software. So, if you buy a program, install it on to your computer, and realize that it was not what you were looking for, you are stuck with it. This is not true with Sharewares. The whole idea behind Sharewares is you try it first, then if you like it, you buy it.
Of course you should register a Shareware for honesty sake. You wouldn't want to steal, would you?
There are other reasons to register a shareware. Mainly, the process works. By registering, you encourage the programmers and developers to come up with better products. Most computer gamers know of a company called ID. ID is now a big software company. It is most famous for Doom and Quake. But, before it produced Doom and became overnight success, it was a small company. It created a Shareware called Wolfenstein 3D. After the success of this product, it proceeded to produce Doom. And after that, as they say, was history.
There are other examples like this. Many programmers start out small and put out their products as Sharewares. Through the process of sharing the product with others and registering the them, the small companies can grow and produce better products at cheaper prices.
Another reason to register is that, most Shareware programmers are excellent about offering upgrades at a discounted price or at no cost.
Shareware is a great way to get the program you want or need. The prices are cheaper. You can get them right from your home/office. And, there is no messy boxes to keep (thus safer for the environment too!).
Here is a couple of web sites that have extensive collectections of Sharewares:
Jumbo: http://www.jumbo.com
Winsite: http://www.winsite.com
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