From: tld@moon.base.bellcore.com (Terry Davidson)
Subject: Re: More on MODEDIT/crippleware
Reply-To: tld@cosmos.bellcore.com
Organization: Bellcore
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 17:36:17 GMT

In article <BxJBG1.2tr@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>, rjm@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Ryan Mitchell) writes:
|> First of all, let me apologize to Norman for the "negative postings" 
    ...good so far...
|> that my article generated.  The term "crippleware" may have been a 
|> little strong for ModEdit 3.0 but I stand by my original premise that
|> it does not follow the shareware concept because the author did not 
|> "share" the entire program for evaluation.  Let me also remind everyone
|> that I hold nothing against Mr. Lin and in fact admire him because he 
|> appears to be a fine, intelligent, personable man, but I feel that this
|> popular practice of disabling features should be stopped or not 
|> classified as shareware.

FLAME ON!!!!

    ... this is complete, utter *HOGWASH*.  By your standards, then,
    ANY software that offers `enhanced functionality' for a few bucks
    more is crippleware, whether or not it is *shareware* or commercial.
    This is utter, complete BS, period.  By your def, Windows is cripple
    ware since it doesn't come with the SDK, basic OS/2 is crippleware
    since it doesn't offer the enhanced capabilities of OS/2 Extended
    Edition; all DTP packages are crippleware since you pay $$ for 
    additional features...

    The point is:  What Norm is offering as `extended' or `enhanced'
    features is *exactly* that:  Enhancements.  Enhancements that MOST
    people will *never* use or need to use.

    Realtime keyboard recording?  Come on, fella, get a life!  99% of
    the people out there are more comfortable using Norm's piano roll
    method - my wife plays piano/organ/guitar, and absolutely *hates*
    mapping piano/organ keys to a typewriter layout, and absolutely
    *loves* the roll interface.  BTW - she's a *professional* musician
    who also teaches music...  Norm includes this capability as a
    *service*:  It *IS NOT* needed to compose...

    And you imply Modedit is a *DEMO*???  WAKE UP!  Demo's *DO NOT* let
    you play, modify, edit, and *SAVE* your work... and MODEDIT does all
    this, and more...

    Example 1:  Practically every sound board comes with *some* software
    that enables basic use (and I've noticed that some of the bundled
    software is *shareware*); to obtain extra capability, i.e. `extra
    features', one sends in more $$ to get the upgrade.  Most people *DO
    NOT* want the extra functions, nor would they ever use them; so why
    force them to pay extra $$ for services/functions they'll never use
    or care to use? 

    Example 2:  Using MODEDIT 3.0/3.1 - I *easily* created, saved, reloaded,
    and played a mod last night.  This involved loading some mods I got
    from an ftp site, *EXTRACTING* samples *FROM* those mods using
    Modedit 3.0/3.1, then using the extracted mods to build/edit/sequence
    mine; and I had a ball doing it!  

          HOW MUCH MORE BLOODY FUNCTIONAL DO YOU WANT IT TO BE!?!!!?!

    This level is sufficient for nearly 99% of the people who will use
    it (and hopefully register it).  As far as I am concerned, you are
    being extremely critical and very much a skinflint:  Norm wants a
    paltry $15 for Modedit!  I strongly suggest you go to your local
    software stores and take a look at programs that provide a comparable
    level of functionality...  They all cost MUCH more!
    
    Norman has done an *EXCELLENT* job of providing a *very* useful
    product; and I personally am going to register the `deluxe' version
    this following week when I get paid ...darned monthly paychecks 8*( 

|> 
|> I hope that "shareware" authors will understand the point that
|> I'm trying to make and do one of two things:  make their 
    ...more BS deleted..
    
   Ryan - I think you need to get the point... Go back and *READ* Norm's
   documentation, then follow the instructions!

FLAME OFF.

-- 
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* # include disclaimer.lib   //* All standard disclaimers apply *//
* My wife let's me think my opinions are my own.  Bellcore doesn't care
* either way, and doesn't claim them anyway...
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* Terry Davidson - tld@cosmos.bellcore.com / tld@cosmos.bae.bellcore.com      *
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard