Share and Share Alike

Contributed by Jay Schroyer

How many times have you been interested in purchasing software for a specific application and been bowled over by the seemingly limitless selection ranging in power and price? Which program would be best suited for your needs? If you buy it and try it, most places have a very strict return policy on software which leaves you stuck with an expensive program that you can’t use. That’s the beauty of shareware. Shareware is free online software that allows users to download and use a program that is either on sale or still in development.

The goal of shareware is two-part: marketing and feedback. By allowing users to sample their product, software firms ordinarily end up with more sales and more satisfied consumers. If the software is still in development, then the comments that a firm could possibly receive back from shareware users would be invaluable in tailoring the finished product to consumer’s needs. It also allows firms to track how many people are using their software through registration.

Taking advantage of what shareware has to offer can be a very useful tool for personal and business applications alike. Whether you’re looking for an easy-to-use photo editing program or a file compression utility, shareware has plenty to offer and at the best possible price: free.

Shareware vs. Freeware
Shareware is readily available on the Internet. Simply pop the term shareware along with the type of program you’re looking for into a search engine like Google® and you’ll find hundreds of sites. Generally, the files are zipped and fairly easy to download. Most have an installation wizard that will walk you right through installing. Most also feature an uninstall option in case it’s not the program for you. You can always check computer software help if you have any installation problems. You’ll find that shareware programs are limited in scope and do not offer all of the features that you may see listed in its capabilities. To access all the options, you have to purchase the full version.

The difference between shareware and freeware appears in the only catch that is to be found in shareware. Most shareware programs are simply demos of larger programs that companies would like you to buy. As a result, the demos are usually designed to only work for a certain period of time (perhaps a month or “x” amount of uses). You can keep the program by registering (see below) or purchasing the full version of the program. Freeware, on the other hand, is completely and utterly, no strings attached free. You can download and use it for as long as you keep the program on your computer. Freeware is often presented for download by blossoming programmers who are testing their programming skills or attempting to draw interest and attention to other programs that they have created and make available through shareware.

Registering
Most shareware programs will ask you to register your copy. There is nothing malicious (usually) about this. The providers of the shareware are curious to see who is downloading their program and often are looking for feedback both good and bad. This is also their chance to upgrade you to the full version for a small fee. Some programmers also offer incentives or rewards for registering your product like additional downloads or expanded capabilities within the shareware.

Upgrading
You may like the shareware program you downloaded so much that you are ready to purchase the full version and take advantage of all the features that aren’t included in the shareware version. Some programmers will offer a discount on the full version if you have already downloaded the shareware version. It all depends on the company’s desire to sell some software.

Limited vs. Unlimited Use
As I mentioned earlier, most shareware is not forever. There will be a limit to the number of times or the period of time during which you can use the program. When the limit has been met, a window will usually pop up prompting you to return to the programmer’s web site to register or purchase the full version. If you ignore this window, the program will become useless, simply taking up space on your hard drive. There is software that will stay indefinitely if you register it, but generally programmers would rather sell their full version to you.

As you can see, shareware is really a win-win for all parties involved. Users get to sample programs that they don’t want to gamble hundreds of dollars on and programmers get their name and product out to the general public for a very low cost. Programs like WinZip® and Adobe®’s Acrobat® Reader have been on my computer for years and have proven themselves useful year after year. Give shareware and freeware a try the next time you’re in the market for a program. There’s no harm in trying before you buy.

Google is a registered trademark of Google, Inc. WinZip is a registered trademark of WinZip International LLC. Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.

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