home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
World of Education
/
World of Education.iso
/
world_c
/
clubsv10.zip
/
SHRWARE
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-06-01
|
6KB
|
113 lines
A Little Shareware History...
Shareware, freeware, and user-supported software are
all terms used to describe a relatively new phenomena in
the PC world. It all began in March 1982 when the late
Andrew Fluegelman introduced PC-TALK (a communication
program). For several years before this, computer
user-groups and Bulletin Board Systems had created a
network of communicating personal computers allowing users
of compatible systems to take advantage of each others
knowledge & Public Domain programs. These systems were in
place when Mr. Fluegelman came to realize that there was
no software available that would allow incompatible
systems to communicate. After trying to modify available
programs he decided to write his own. He did.
The program allowed any computer to communicate with
any other computer via the telephone. It worked so well
some friends suggested he do something public with it.
Rather than follow the traditional publishing route, Mr.
Fluegelman decided to send his program out for free,
encouraging people to copy and distribute it and asking
people to make donations if they liked it. In return, he
would supply them with up'grades. Within a week of making
the program available he received his first order. Very
quickly he had to replace his post office box with a
large one and buy a few more disk drives. Shareware was
born!
Around the time of Mr. Fluegelman's success, a
former IBM employee, Jim Button, had successfully ported
an AppleSoft BASIC program called EASY-FILE, that he had
written as a hobby, to the then new IBM PC. Out of a
simple desire to share a good thing, he distributed the
program among friends and colleagues. Friends shared with
friends, associates with associates and soon hundreds were
using the program.
Problems soon developed trying to notify users when
fixes or improvements became available, such as how to
identify serious users who needed or desired the
up'grades? Mr. Button decided to place a message in the
program encouraging people to use and distribute the
program and to send a donation of $10 if they wanted to be
included on his mailing list. The first person respond
telephoned almost immediately mentioning another program,
PC-TALK, that had a similar message.
The two original Shareware authors got together and
decided to refer to each other in their disk documents.
EASY-FILE became PC-FILE and the requested donation became
25$. In may 1983 PC World Magazine gave PC-FILE a rave
review. Shareware had begun and life for the
Buttons's changed forever!
Three months later, Bob Wallace introduced PC-WRITE and
with it, Commission Shareware. To encourage people to
distribute and register his program, Mr. Wallace's company
(Quicksoft Inc.) sends each registered user a copy of the
program with it's own unique registration number. The newly
registered user can then distribute his personalized copy so
that each time someone else registers his copy, Quicksoft Inc.
will pay him a commission. PC-WRITE is without question a
super program, but there can be no doubt that "Commission
Shareware" has played a significant part in it's success.
Since its introduction by these pioneers, shareware
has evolved into a competitive marketing alternative.
Million dollar companies (like Buttonware and Quicksoft
Inc.) and literally hundred's of entrepreneural authors
have been offering commercial quality software and
support, at an unbeatable price. Shareware has a lot to
offer. Tie this with the virtually free, "Try Before You
Buy" marketing concept and you, the Software Consumer, are
the winner!
Shareware is not just a novel idea. It is a real solution
to the Program Author's distribution problems and the Software
consumer's high prices. It's simply great for everyone, but
will work only if Author's keep their promises and consumer's
pay for the products they use. So if you like the shareware
concept, support it and register programs you use!
SHAREWARE SOFTWARE SUMMARY
About 90% of the software listed in this catalog is
considered "Shareware" the rest is public domain software.
Shareware is software marketed on a "Try before you buy"
basis.
The price per disk that Shareware distributers charge is a
distribution fee and not the price of the software. Shareware
authors have agreed to allow vendors like us to recover
expenses for copying, packaging, and maintaining a shareware
library. This allows you to obtain software programs at
incredibly low prices to try, then pay the registration
price for them only if they suit your needs. The idea is
that after a reasonable trial period, if you find the
programs to be of use, you are expected to send the author
the registration fee.
Registration entitles you to various rights and
benefits. These range from the legal (and moral) right to
continue using the software. In addition many shareware
authors offer printed documentation and/or higher levels
of service and support. Unlike Public Domain software,
which is free to everyone with no fees asked for or
expected, shareware programs exist because the authors
expect and deserve the registration support from people
who use their programs.
So that's Shareware. If you like it, support it !