Software on the "honor system." The concept is that users try a product, and if they like it, they voluntarily pay a set registration fee or make a donation to the program's creator. There are tens of thousands of shareware programs; some fantastic, some awful.
Typically written part time by individuals, shareware had its heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s. Although some products were extremely successful, the bulk were not, which is why a lot of shareware evolved into trial versions and light versions (see trialware and light version).
Shareware Vendors and Sites
Prior to the Web, "shareware vendors" copied hundreds of shareware programs onto floppy disks and sold them by mail order or at computer flea markets. They collected a small fee for the distribution service, although many novices thought it was the software registration fee. After the Web, shareware sites sprang up to provide venues for distribution. See crippleware, freeware, public domain software, ASP and ad-supported software.
Typically written part time by individuals, shareware had its heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s. Although some products were extremely successful, the bulk were not, which is why a lot of shareware evolved into trial versions and light versions (see trialware and light version).
Shareware Vendors and Sites
Prior to the Web, "shareware vendors" copied hundreds of shareware programs onto floppy disks and sold them by mail order or at computer flea markets. They collected a small fee for the distribution service, although many novices thought it was the software registration fee. After the Web, shareware sites sprang up to provide venues for distribution. See crippleware, freeware, public domain software, ASP and ad-supported software.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- I'm sticking with Windows XP
- I'm sticking with Windows XPWhat happened to the cries for increased security?Not saying they originated with you Jason but prior to Vistas release everyone was labelling XP a leaking sieve wrt to security. Full of holes which could not be patched but required a complete redesign. With the release of...
- Discussion threads 2008-06-25
- A-1 Image Screen Saver (exe)
- A-1 Image Screen Saver allows you to display images, photos, or graphics as a screensaver. You can even group your images into different screensaver themes, retrieving desired themes whenever you want Features include the option to play multimedia files as background music, thumbnail previewing, password protection, and a countdown clock;...
- Software downloads 2008-06-18
- 10 top Vista tweaks, part 2
- 10 top Vista tweaks, part 2There's a registry fixIt's an architectural problem, unfortunately. XP sees the new restore points, but can't read them and assumes they're damaged.There's a workaround here:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926185I prefer to run XP in a VM on a Vista machine rather than dual boot.RE: 10 top Vista tweaks, part...
- Discussion threads 2008-06-17
- How to recover GPcode encrypted files?
- Got backups? In response to the security community's comments on the futile attempt to directly attack the 1024 bit RSA keys using distributed computing, Kaspersky Labs are now reasonably recommending that affected end users lacking backups of their encrypted data, take advantage of data recovery tools : Currently, it's...
- Blog posts 2008-06-16
- VcSmith (rar)
- VcSmith Visual Code Smith is shareware version of VcTester which is a white-box test tool for C source codes to facilitate the use of Visual Studio C/C++ (VC6, VC7 or VC8). VcSmith is shareware without any functional limitation, You can obtain, using and spread it freely. It offers three major...
- Software downloads 2008-06-10
- Antegram (jar)
- Dump your text editor: use your eyes - Unmatched productivity and a powerful workspace for project development, all wrapped in eye candy. Antegram reveals the structure of your software architecture, keeping implementations just one click away. Shareware sales are bundled with Ozoa, OOgtech's smart task management solution. Commercial license bundled...
- Software downloads 2008-05-27
- Don't expect a flood of Mac open source
- Matt Asay links to a blog post saying open source developers love the Mac. Will this lead to a flood of open source software for OS X? Don't hold your breath. Open source is big on Linux because Linux has significant...
- Blog posts 2008-05-25
- SMTPSEND (zip)
- SMTPSEND is an application used to send mail messages without an email client required, such as Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes. An SMTP mail server must reside on your local network to process the email message sent out by SMTPSEND. Use fully qualified SMTP email addresses such as johndoe@email.com, not...
- Software downloads 2008-05-21
- TreasureUP XPS to Image Converter (zip)
- TreasureUP XPS to Image Converter is an easy-to-use application that converts Microsoft XML Paper Specification XPS pages to image files with excellent quality. Image Supported image formats: Jpeg, Png and Gif . Supported image Qualities: Low, Normal, Good and Super. Support batch files conversion, and automatically converting files in specified...
- Software downloads 2008-05-19
- SoftyBackup (exe)
- Softy Backup is automated backup program to backup you files/folder in to another hard drive or network or FTP server or zip drive. Softy Backup is ZIP driven methods, this means you can restore your files using any freeware unzip program or shareware version like WinZip. This version is the...
- Software downloads 2008-05-16
- GalleryRipper (msi)
- GalleryRipper is a Shareware Program to download images from a Web site. It is thus not needed to click and save every image separately right click in the middle of the image and save image as. Whoever would like to download entire image galleries, is by this method definitely frustrated....
- Software downloads 2008-05-14
- Warblade (zip)
- Warblade is a Mac arcade shoot'em up game with focus on very good playability. An alien race is invading the earth and you must try to save humanity. The game is a remake for the Mac of my Amiga game Deluxe Galaga. Was one of Adrenaline Vaults top shareware games....
- Software downloads 2008-04-23
- SQL Object Decrypter (exe)
- SQL Object Decrypter is a unencrypt software for SQL Server 7, SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, and SQL Server 2005. Express with examining stored procedures, triggers, views and user-defined functions. If you encrypt your own source code of Stored Procedure, View, Trigger, or Function with with encryption option, but...
- Software downloads 2008-04-22
- Something killed my MacBook Pro
- Something killed my MacBook ProMacBook Pro ProblemsI'm running a MacBook Pro and have a 500GB Lacie external HD on FireWire for Time Machine and on occasion plug in a WD 500GB HD on USB 2.0 and have'nt had any problems to speak of, except spotlight indexing it everytime.So I think...
- Discussion threads 2008-04-21
- Total Commander Ultima Prime (exe)
- Total Commander Ultima Prime is a collection of the software and customized settings sets gathered in one installation package for enhancing Total Commander file manager possibilities. Our project differs from official distribution provided by Christian Ghisler on www.totalcmd.com site. If you’d like to see and try our solution, you can...
- Software downloads 2008-04-16
- Can Apple stop Pystar from selling Mac clone?
- Can Apple stop Pystar from selling Mac clone?Assumptions"Assuming they pay Apple for every copy they sell..."D'ya think this may be the little hitch in your argument? By what mechanism exactly do you see Apple accepting money from a company that is aggressively violating their license? This improbability can only occur...
- Discussion threads 2008-04-15
- Free is not always open, open need not be free
- Before most of us had heard of FOSS there was shareware. (Image close up from Appistry.) Shareware was distributed free, often on floppy disks ask your dad what they were. You could use it but you were expected to pay for it if you liked it. ...
- Blog posts 2008-03-28
- SOS - PDA Estimating (exe)
- Create quick, accurate estimates on your Pocket PC. This is a companion program to Simplified Office Software's Estimating/Invoicing/Payroll. The Shareware version of SOS PDA Estimating is fully functional so that you may evaluate it and see if it will suit your needs. Estimates created on SOS - Estimating/Invoicing/Payroll can also...
- Software downloads 2008-03-21
- Pacifist (dmg)
- Pacifist is a shareware application that opens Mac OS X .pkg package files and allows you to extract individual files and folders out of them. This is useful, for instance, if an application which is installed by the operating system becomes damaged and needs to be reinstalled without the hassle...
- Software downloads 2008-03-10
- Can Steve Jobs convince jailbreakers to walk the straight and narrow?
- Can Steve Jobs convince jailbreakers to walk the straight and narrow?Hardware Blog?Quote: [i]"The iPod, the iPhone and Apple TV are fine examples of products where Steve Jobs expects the consumer to regularly put their hand into their pocket."[/i]Well, Aido, stop promoting these over-priced, over-hyped, under-spec'd and unrealiable iApple products... not...
- Discussion threads 2008-03-06
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Hardware Assisted Virtualization to Mitigate Security Risks
-
In this podcast Intel's Malcolm Harkins and HP's Manny Novoa chat about the latest issues in security technologies, notably the emergence of hardware assisted virtualization.
- Watch the Podcast on the Intel Open Port General Blog >>
- ZDNet News Videos
-
Tech news covering the latest in products, conferences and blog commentary, from ZDNet video.
- Watch the latest video >>
- Learn how collaboration fuels success with this FREE Economist report
-
According to a new study from the Economist, future success belongs to those who collaborate effectively. Learn how successful collaboration can improve profits, problem-solving, and competitive differentiation.
- Visit Cisco's Collaboration Resource Center today!
-
-
Tasty Baking’s new LEED factory
0:57
Tasty Baking CIO: Brendan O’Malley
-
Balancing act: innovation vs. reliability
1:28
Facebook VP of technical operations: Jonathan Heiliger
-
Securing data at E-Loan
1:47
E-Loan CIO: Jay Shah
-
When crops are scarce
1:47
Del Monte Foods CIO: Marc Brown
- View all CIO Vision Series Videos »
