dsims@uceng.UC.EDU (david l sims) (09/22/90)
I'm conducting a poll (yes, I realize it isn't terribly scientific) of some of you USENET readers to see what you think about Shareware software. Please take a few moments to fill in these questions and mail it back it to me. I will keep all responses completely confidential. I will also summarize to the net in a couple weeks. For those who don't know, the Shareware concept allows a user to try out a piece of software before he buys it. If the user likes the software, he can send a registration fee to the author of the software. You may answer "yes" or "no" to the questions, but a detailed answer will be most appreciated. Question 1: Do you think the Shareware concept is a good idea? Answer 1: Question 2: If you wrote a program that you wanted to sell, would you use Shareware? Answer 2: Question 3: How many Shareware programs do you have? Answer 3: Question 4: How many Shareware programs do you use? Answer 4: Question 5: Have you registered the programs that you do use? Answer 5: Question 6: If yes to question 5, why? Answer 6: (a) I want to be honest. (b) I wanted the extra features that registration can give. (c) I wanted to remove a lock on the software. (d) I wanted a printed manual. (e) I wanted an update to the program. Please list the letters (0 or more) of the response(s) that apply to you. ==> Question 7: If no to question 5, why not? Answer 7: (a) The software is overpriced but I still want it. (b) I haven't gotten around to it yet. (c) Why should I? Out of the goodness of my heart? Please list the letters (0 or more) of the response(s) that apply to you. ==> Thanks for taking the time to fill out the poll. Please reply to this article, fill in your responses, and mail it back to me. All responses will be held in the strictest confidence, and I will publish the results of the poll in a couple weeks.
doug@hparc0.HP.COM (Doug Parsons) (10/01/90)
>Question 1: Do you think the Shareware concept is a good idea? Answer 1:Yes >Question 2: If you wrote a program that you wanted to sell, would you use Shareware? Answer 2:Yes >Question 3: How many Shareware programs do you have? Answer 3:>500 >Question 4: How many Shareware programs do you use? Answer 4:<20 >Question 5: Have you registered the programs that you do use? Answer 5: No Question 7: If no to question 5, why not? Answer 7: (a) The software is overpriced but I still want it. (b) I haven't gotten around to it yet. (c) Why should I? Out of the goodness of my heart? Please list the letters (0 or more) of the response(s) that apply to you. ==>None. It is very tedious outside NAmerica. Most places accept visa/mc, but I only use Amex and will not get a credit card. Sending postal orders or bank cheques in US funds is very expensive, and means having to make a trip to a bank and spend 3/4 of an hour explaining what you are trying to do, to someone that have never heard of this (it's true; I've lived in several countries outside N.America and it is the same everywhere). All this effort for a program that isn't supported well enough to depend on, when used in an office environment. I have tried sending the money for shareware programs before, but I have never received a reply of any kind. I assume it is because the stamp for overseas is too expensive. Besides all of this, there is such a plethora of software out there for PCs, a new, better version or alternate program comes out in a month and I usually switch to it. Of the 1000 .ZIP, .ARC, and .LZH files I have, I regularly use 1 or 2, and these are public domain or the company has a site license for it (eg. Phil Katz' PKZIP).