For just about every commercial software program on the market
today, there is also a freeware or shareware version that does
a similar task. Before the popularity of the Internet, computer
users could buy CD-ROMs or floppy disks chock full of freeware/shareware
programs and documents of all kinds, from games to clocks to simple
word-processing to fonts. With the advent of the Internet, finding
freeware/shareware programs is even easier.
Freeware refers to programs that authors have released in the public
domain, meaning that anyone may download and use the programs
for free as long as it is not sold for profit. Some programs may
just be GUI-enhancers or whiz-bang gimmicks, but many essential
programs are kindly released as shareware or freeware. For example,
Disinfectant is a Mac virus detector which has not only always
been free, but is debatably the best anti-virus program for the
Mac. Some applications, such as the Internet applications Eudora
and Netscape, have both free and commercial versions. Users from
universities or other institutions of education, or those in non-profit
organizations may use freeware under these circumstances, while
the average citizen would use the commercial versions.
Shareware is software that a user is able to download and try
out on their computer before purchasing to see if they want to
keep it. Most shareware uses an "honor system" assuming
the user will be honest and send their money in if they decide
to keep the program. Some authors are more cynical, however, and
may upload their programs with disabled features that one may
only use once they have paid their license fee and are sent a
registration code or the fully-working program on disk. Many users
dislike "crippleware," but its existence is understandable.
Shareware costs from $5 to about $30 in most cases, much much
lower in price than commercial software. There are also variations
on the freeware/software theme, such as Emailware or Postcardware,
in which the author simply asks for an email acknowledgement of
one's use of the program or a postcard sent from the user's hometown.
The most interesting concept of *ware I have seen is for a Mac
program that came out a few years ago called Bungalow Bob. The
author did not want money or postcards, but rather a visual representation
sent from the user of what he/she thought Bob looked like. The
introductory documents stated that the next version of Bungalow
Bob would include a photograph of all the submissions tacked to
a wall. :)
Pronounced 'guh-noo' (one and a half syllables), the GNU Project was undertaken to provide an operating system and compatible application software that are completely *free.* Yes, you read me correctly. FREE. The authors of the GNU software seek to eliminate costly, incompatible software and operating systems with software that can be modified by anyone who has the urge to do so. If a programmer finds a better way to code a program, under the GNU Project he or she would be able to singularly modify the code and redistribute the new, improved version quickly and easily. This GNU idea has the capacity to revolutionize the software industry if it can overcome the software industry's reliance on proprietary software.