call it software (was Re: Thinking about shareware prices...)
call it software (was Re: Thinking about shareware prices...)
- Subject: call it software (was Re: Thinking about shareware prices...)
- From: Alex Rice <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 23:24:25 -0700
On Jan 8, 2004, at 5:13 PM, DJH wrote:
This is how these names originated. Make sure you are classifying and
advertising your software correctly.
Shareware vs commercial is a historical relic. See "Shareware Is Dead"
<
http://www.unsanity.org/archives/000116.php>. I agree with that
article :let's just call it "software". But I do think it's worth
looking into the category structures- from a linguistic point of view.
:-)
Personally "shareware" does imply that buying is based on an honor
system, at least a little. But there are many other concepts hiding in
there, such as free distribution rights. Even the honor system is a
continuum up to and including various carrot+stick incentives like the
ones dexterity talks about.
open source / closed source
free / donation / payable
hobbyist / commercial
indy / corporate
honor system / carrot+stick system
download / shrink wrap
subscription / perpetual
This is a really fantastic cluster of evolving categories. Thesis
material even! If anyone enjoys this kind of stuff- I recommend reading
George Lakoff
<
http://www.linguistics.berkeley.edu/lingdept/Current/people/facpages/
lakoffg.html>
Also just noticed that <
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html>
says don't use "freeware", it's too confused with "Free Software".
And the GNU definition for "shareware" focuses not on the honor system
but rather the distribution rights- maybe relating to the old shareware
floppies via mail- simtel and all that. So their definition of
shareware : commercial software with free distribution rights.
Alex Rice <email@hidden> | Mindlube Software |
<
http://mindlube.com>
what a waste of thumbs that are opposable
to make machines that are disposable -Ani DiFranco
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