What is a Shareware ?

[Urban Legend]

The shareware distributing method gives to users (you) the possibility to try a program before buying it. If you try a shareware program and want to continue using it (because you like it and it matches your need) you have to register it.
Each program differs in the details: some of them "suggest" to register, others propose a 30 days trial period, etc... Registering allows you, depending of cases, to continue using the program, to get all functions available, or to get regular updates, etc...

Copyright rules apply on shareware as well as on commercial programs, and owners of the copyright have all rights reserved without any exceptions. Authors of shareware are generally as good as commercial application programmers, and shareware are often of an equivalent quality than commercial products! (Of course, there is good and bad programs everywhere!). The main difference consists in the distributing method. The author of a shareware authorizes one by one the right to copy, duplicate and distribute his/her programs. Shareware programs are not freeware! This is important to pay a great attention to files enclosed with these programs. They generally describe the way these programs can be diffused.

Shareware is a concept not a type of software. This is the best system and most adapted to users needs : you have the opportunity to use a program before buying it!

Do not forget to remunerate shareware authors. This encourage and motivate them and the benefit will be for you because you'll get better and better programs!