From: glratt@is.rice.edu (Glenn Forbes Larratt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.os.msdos.apps,comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Why do people want PD software?
Date: 22 Aug 1992 04:44:01 GMT
Organization: CRC OCIS, William Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas

In article <1992Aug19.180643.24274@PA.dec.com> reisert@sttng.mlo.dec.com (Jim Reisert) writes:
>
>Several times a week, someone posts an article to a newsgroup asking
>something like, "What's the best PD/shareware program to do XYZZY?"
>Why don't they just ask, "What's the best program to do XYZZY?"  Why
>is PD/shareware specifically requested?  Is it:
>
>1.  People want to "try before they buy".

	A valid reason.

>2.  People want the (usually) better prices and support of shareware
>    vs. commercial software.
>3.  Shareware is perceived as more readily available (FTP, etc.).
>4.  People are opposed to supporting Microsoft or any of the other
>    software giants, and would rather do business with "the little guy".

	See below.

>5.  People want software, but can get away with not paying for
>    shareware.

	Anyone who's familiar with the shareware concept knows of people
	who use but don't pay; it's a calculated risk.


	I personally am much more influenced by trying before I buy (#1).
	The ability to do so allows me a better approach when I install:
	instead of "OK, I paid $500 for this #$@%, why doesn't it work
	like I want it to?" I tend to have the attitude "let's see what
	this thing can do," and get more accomplished.

	#'s 2, 3, and 4 are symptoms of what I think is a larger difference
	between share/freeware and commercial software:
 
		Commercial software is intended to make a profit first and
		foremost; shareware and freeware is produced and distributed
		for its utility and the good it can do.

	This explains a lot of differences pointed out by other posters in
	this thread. 

		-  Commercial software updates cost money over and above
		the initial purchase price, as does technical support 
		(sometimes; there are some commercial companies with 
		outstanding free technical support, but more often you 
		either get to play "hold tag" or you have to pay). 
		Shareware authors tend to give free upgrades to registered
		users, and of course freeware can be updated as soon as
		a new version is available.

		- Commercial software support tends to be very hierarchical,
		and not very efficient with true difficulties.  True, mis-
		information queries filter through pretty quickly, but real
		problems have a tendency to get stuck in the system, or
		worse, get blamed on hardware or incompatible other software
		(Oh, that's not a ****** authorized system, we can't help
		you).  Shareware authors tend to be individuals thoroughly
		familiar with their products, so if you have a problem, 
		they can bang on there own code to solve it.  In my experience,
		at least one shareware author gave me patch information
		_before_ I registered his program so that it would run properly
		on my laptop; another, when queried about whether his freeware
		utility had a particular option, went ahead and wrote me a
		new version.

		Commercial products tend to be laborious to install, while
		shareware is often as simple as unzip into a directory in
		your path, set an environmental variable, and go!  Admittedly,
		this is somewhat mercenary: a shareware product that's tough
		to install is not one that will get used.

		Commercial products often try to have everything but the
		kitchen sink included: their own display drivers, keyboard
		drivers, configuration files, memory management, etc., which
		often conflict with other software's drivers for the same
		things.  Shareware products tend to aim towards functionality:
		a nice user interface may be there, but it's secondary in
		importance to making the product _work_.

	To me, it all boils down to a difference in attitude: commercial
	software is marketed for profit, hence much of what goes on with it
	is designed to get your dollars.  Shareware and freeware are created
	with functionality first in mind, and then potential fruits of the
	author's labor.  It's an emphasis on substance rather than form, on
	craftsmanship rather than glitz; in a way, it's kind of old-fashioned.

	Long may it continue.





-- 
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc