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From: nather@utastro.UUCP (Ed Nather)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: New ideas on software piracy... Flames welcome.
Message-ID: <521@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 10-Aug-85 22:05:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.521
Posted: Sat Aug 10 22:05:46 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Aug-85 01:25:51 EDT
References: <419@gumby.UUCP> <3093@nsc.UUCP> <196@ecsvax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 37

> In article 3093@nsc.UUCP Chuq Von Rospach (nsc!chuqui@decwrl) writes:
> > I hate to throw water on the fire, but I've read a couple of reports that
> > many people are re-thinking the shareware/freeware concept in the Macintosh
> > market because of rather flagrant abuses. Apple is reportedly rather upset
> > ...
> > It just goes to show -- when something gets popular, people start abusing
> > it. If you aren't careful, it gets abused into oblivion...
> 
> Duke University's User Services Group has passed out many, many copies
> of PC-Write in our short courses introducing the IBM PC.  We always urge
> people to register their copies, emphasizing the high quality, low cost,
> updates, etc.  To my knowledge only one or two of the hundreds of copies
> have been registered.  It's a wonder Bob Wallace keeps improving it!
> Maybe he makes it selling the manuals (a cheaper option than
> registraction).  How many of you have actually paid for shareware you
> use?
> -- 
> D Gary Grady

My PC-Write registration number is #826, but the total is well over 2000
according to Wallace's last newsletter.  I've received two "commissions"
from him, for people who registered the editor with my number on it, so
I have $50 back on a $75 investment so far, and I use the editor every
day.  I recommend it every day, too.  He's not getting yacht money like
Mitch Kapor is, but he's making good wages and seems happy in his work.

In a recent article about the death of Andrew Flugelman, whose PC-TALK III
is the best-known Freeware product,  the author stated that 2 full-time
people are still needed just to open mail with checks in for the program.

I suggest the rumors of the death of "Shareware" are exaggerated.

-- 
Ed Nather
Astronomy Dept, U of Texas @ Austin
{allegra,ihnp4}!{noao,ut-sally}!utastro!nather
nather%utastro.UTEXAS@ut-sally.ARPA