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- The Shareware Concept:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Most money back guarantees work like this: You pay for the
- product and then have some period of time to try it out and see
- whether or not you like it. If you don't like it or find that it
- doesn't do what you need, you return it (undamaged) and at some
- point - which might take months - you get your money back. Some
- software companies won't even let you try their product! In
- order to qualify for a refund, the diskette envelope must have an
- unbroken seal. With these "licensing" agreements, you only
- qualify for your money back if you haven't tried the product.
- How absurd!
-
- Shareware is very different. With shareware you get to use it
- for a limited time, without spending a penny. You are able to
- use the software on your own system(s), in your own special work
- environment, with no sales people looking over your shoulder. If
- you decide not to continue using it, you throw it away and forget
- all about it. No paperwork, phone calls, or correspondence to
- waste your valuable time. If you do continue using it, then -
- and only then - do you pay for it.
-
- Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software.
- Shareware is produced by accomplished programmers, just like
- retail software. There is good and bad shareware, just as there
- is good and bad retail software. The primary difference between
- shareware and retail software is that with shareware you know if
- it's good or bad BEFORE you pay for it.
-
- As a software user, you benefit because you get to use the
- software to determine whether it meets your needs before you pay
- for it, and authors benefit because they are able to get their
- products into your hands without the hundreds of thousands of
- dollars in expenses it takes to launch a traditional retail
- software product. There are many programs on the market today
- which would never have become available without the shareware
- marketing method.
-
- The shareware system and the continued availability of quality
- shareware products depend on your willingness to register and pay
- for the shareware you use. It's the registration fees you pay
- which allow us to support and continue to develop our products.
-
- Please show your support for shareware by registering those
- programs you actually use and by passing them on to others.
-
- Shareware is kept alive by YOUR support!
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