At 11:12 PM 4/10/02 -0400, Seth wrote:
>That is weird, but it's true. Any software with a free trial-period is
>essentially using the sharewre model. Shareware also allows people to
>distribute the software on their own (thus the term "share"!), but I
>believe the more important part of the model is (now) the free trial period.
What I find amazing about the shareware concept is that it is so pervasive.
I can't think of a single software program that I've bought in the last 5
years that doesn't have either a free trial period or, as is more common
with computer games given their size, a demo that typically has limitations
on the # of levels included.
The main effect this has had on my buying habits, btw, is that I rarely
read software reviews in magazines or online anymore. It's easier and more
accurate to simply download a copy and see if it meets my needs.
