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What Is Shareware?


Shareware is becoming more popular nowadays. Some entrepreneurs consider it a great "marketing method", since it is an effective way of promoting products and services on the internet. Some software can be expensive, and most people wish to try it first before they invest their money on it. And shareware gives them the chance to do so.

So what exactly is shareware? Shareware is the distribution of software to another person for evaluation for a limited number of days. After trying it out, you will be given the option to pay the fee to gain full use of the software. The program is often compressed, so that it can be easily downloaded by internet users, even those who do not have broadband.

 

Distributing Software On The Internet

During the 1980s, a person by the name of Bob Wallace invented a word processor program called PC-Write. In his attempt to describe the program, he coined the term "shareware". Some people believe that it was Jim Button, CEO of PC-File, or Andrew Fluegelman, the author of PC-Talk, who invented shareware. The reality is that all three of them contributed greatly to the concept of shareware.

With the existence of so many Internet Providers, such as those that provide cable internet and wireless internet services, access to shareware has become much easier. In fact, almost all big companies such as Microsoft, WinZip, and AOL have their own trial versions to market their software. Offering shareware has become a good way to market software, because it gives consumers a chance to try new software and find out whether it is worth buying. This is a way to give them guaranteed value for their money.

Because shareware is so easily available, it has become an easy target for piracy. Software piracy is done by hacking into software and disabling the copyright protection. Since pirated software is usually much cheaper than the original, many people will choose to buy them instead of paying a high price for the real software. This results in loss of sales for the developers of the software.

 

Comparing Shareware Vs Freeware

One of the main competitors of shareware is freeware. Unlike shareware, freeware can be downloaded for free, which makes it very enticing for those who want to download a variety of things, such as games or videos. However, freeware may end up being shareware, because the developers of the freeware may just be offering free access for a limited period of time to promote their products. When the freeware becomes popular, the company may put a price tag on the products, and those who want to use the software will have to pay.

  • Wise Geek: Basic information about shareware, including definition, copyright, crippled shareware, and others
  • Association of Shareware Professionals: An account of the development of shareware by Jim Knopf a.k.a. Jim Button
  • Practical PC Online: An article on one of the fathers of shareware, Bob Wallace
  • A Free Go: Frequently asked questions about shareware
  • Red Orbit: Article on the benefits of using shareware
  • Shareware: A great website for downloading shareware and freeware
  • Visual Vision: Information about shareware piracy, including the effects and types of piracy
  • Diffen: Comparison between shareware and freeware
  • Shareware Junkies: The oldest shareware review site

Nowadays, many distributors offer shareware on their websites. Some of the more popular distributors are Free Software Download, Hot Lib, Soft Picks, 5 Cup, One Kit, Download 2 You, Top Shareware, and Absolute Freebies.

 
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