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ShareWare OnLine 2
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ShareWare OnLine Volume 2 (CMS Software)(1993).iso
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FREEWARE.TXT
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1993-01-04
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121 lines
FREEWARE
George Spragins, Palmetto PC Club
There is a misconception in the minds of many users that "FREEWARE" is
free. This is NOT true. The author has chosen this method of distribution to
keep the cost down. The author does not have to raise his price to cover the
costs of advertising, printing, marketing, wholesale or retail distribution.
The price of the program, the contribution the author asks, is close to his
cost. The rapid changes in the microcomputers have a price -- the programs
must keep up with that change. I perfer to have the author update his work
and offer it for that small fee, rather than a new commercial package.
The terms freeware, shareware, user supported, etc. are descriptive
names of the type of distribution methods used by the authors to disseminate
their works. The methods work and may prove to be the best bargain for the PC
user. The programs distributed in this fashion are for the most part high
quality and rival their commercial counterparts costing many times more.
This distribution method is used by local user groups to support their
activities. The local group obtains the program, either directly from the
author or by downloading from a bulletin board, makes copies of the program and
offers the diskette to their membership for a small fee. The user group fee
is in no way payment for the program, rather it is a charge to cover the cost
of supplies, expenses of obtaining the program, and preparation of the disks.
Any excess fee collected fund the other activities of the not for profit
organization.
The programs may be complete applications, enhancements to commercial
packages or utilities to increase the usefulness of the PC. Regardless of the
type of program the author has put many hours into the program and should be
compensated for his efforts.
The support of the author is in the best interest of the user group
because if there were none of this type of software the local user group would
be hard pressed to continue their activities. Annual dues would have to be
raised, activities reduced, and other income generating methods devised if it
were not for the libraries of user supported software. User groups should
periodically remind their members to send the requested contribution to the
author.
There are several profit making companies, with names that sound like
clubs, that collect programs distributed in this manner and advertise to sell
"public domain" software at so much per diskette. Some of these firms have
many employees and advertise in national magazines each issue. These firms
are making a profit at the expense of the author, PC user group, and in the
long run the user. The author because the person thinks he has "bought" the
program from the firm, and therefore is not obligated to the creator. The PC
club because this is some of the source of funds to pay for the activities
they perform for the community. The user because if the author is not getting
the compensation for his work, he will no longer be motivated to produce the
software for this style of distribution. He will, as a defense, turn to the
higher priced commercial distribution method and we users pay the price.
One of the larger PC user groups does not have a library of their own,
rather they condone a software library run by individuals for a profit. This
is kind of a moot point, but there is an ethical question here. If the
library were run on a non-profit basis by the club, would the majority of the
membership be better served? As a business, do they truly support the
shareware concept, and are they furthering the PC community or just making a
profit? Perhaps there are extenuating circumstances of which I am unaware.
If the user does not support the creator of the program he is the
eventual loser. I would ask that you support the author, local PC club and
bulletin boards that do support the distribution of "FREEWARE, Shareware, User
Supported, etc." software. All will benefit from this continued distribution
method, the alternative is higher priced commercial packages that are shrink
wrapped, with long lead times, and premium priced up grades.
One of the sad events lately is Headlands Press, the firm of the
originator of "FREEWARE", has announced a new version of the PC-TALK program
as a commercial product. The program is the only one the firm produces.
As I was finishing this article the mail came with a letter, with a
complete address (including my middle initial), inviting me to join the Value
Club. The "Club" is in Canada and their annual membership fee is only $15.00.
The program "rental" fee is $10.00 per disk, not to inconvenience the member
the disks do not have to be returned. They do not have manuals but in many
cases "are not required". The letter also reminds you that the most popular
programs are represented in books at the local book stores, and "generally
explain the operation of the program better than the original documentation".
The toll free telephone number along with copies of commercial and
"FREEWARE" diskettes sound like a good deal (if you want to RIP OFF the
authors). Some of the better known commercial names are AutoCad, MicroSoft,
IBM, Lotus, and dBASE. In "FREEWARE" there are PCWrite, PCTalk, Diskcat,
Fansi Console, and Procomm. A special bulk discount is available, if you
order 15 or more disk at $10.00 each you get 20 more "ABSOLUTELY FREE".
In the fine print of the agreement it is stated that "the member's sole
purpose is for preview prior to purchasing". The "club" does not support the
author nor does it encourage him to spend many hours to perfect his product,
and appears to be more of a commercial retort to the "FREEWARE" distribution
concept.
What can you do? First pay the author for the "FREEWARE" program you
use, and encourage others to do likewise. Second don't support the "profit at
the expense of others" businesses. Third consider the expense of creating the
program yourself, the savings to be derived from its use, and then speak out
at your club meeting to let others know the advantages (or disadvantages) of
the package. Let's all be FAIR. If you were the author, what would you want?
George Spragins, SYSOP
The Clearing House
(803) 738-2966
The Clearing House is run for clubs to download newsletter articles,
reviews of programs and hardware, and "FREEWARE" for club libraries. There is
an annual fee for support of the board of $30.00 for each service. (Far from
profit making!, but does pay the monthly phone charge; however, would not come
close to covering an 800 number). I thought I had better disclose this since
I took such a stand. I will say that in correspondence with authors, only one
objection has been stated and that was from an editor of a club newsletter not
an author.
This file is from The Clearing House Bulletin Board. Please call the
board at the number shown to see what it may offer to your group. The board
operates at 1200/2400 8 N 1, with NO color, messages, or on-line games. The
Clearing House, P.O. Box 339, Elgin, SC 29045.
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