How does freeware and shareware help computer operation?
By: Julia Aidan
Submitted: 2009-11-04 19:07:26 | Word Count: 430
Freeware is copyright software which is given free by the author. The copyright continues with the author, that limits you to do anything, which is not set by him. These are usually permitted to be used free and not for sale or resale. It can be downloaded from the net and are usually intended to be applied for personal use and not for commercial purpose. The software notifies its restrictions. There is also many risk involved as the code of the reference is available in the internet, it can be modified, altered and updated by other programmers than the author.
The author may not update the software. There may not be any updates and changes as will be required from time to time. So you are stuck up with the same old version. What Is More the author may not provide you the technical backup.
[ advertisement ]
On the other hand shareware is software, which is available in the internet and is offered to the users on a trial basis for a specific period. The period may deviate from 15 days to two months. After which as per the condition you may retain the software by paying the requisite amount. These downloads are normally available from the authors website and also from software download sites. The author gives you the technical support and updates, once you are registered with him.
The trial edition can be copied and distributed, but the trial period is stipulated. He has to pay and register to get the service. Many authors condition period for the use of the software and some permit only number of usage. Different conditions are put by diferent authors. Most of the authors allow you to use the complete version of the software, and many authors hand you only a part of the software for your rating.
The trial software and the shareware have no such specific difference but the term shareware is an old version and the term trial software has overtaken the use of the earlier term. In the trial software the biggest advantage is you can try the software for a specified period and appraise its operation before buying it. This method can be used in many other software; to analyze and conclude which software best suits your requirement. The major benefit which you get from shareware is that it costs less than the software obtainable in stores. This method of marketing is being adopted by many vendors.
