From my old F.A.Q., here is the arrangement that this group long ago
came up with, regarding what is and what's not okay to recommend in this
group. However, I can see that backsliding is now occurring and that the
definition of freeware is turning into shit when nagware is allowed in
the Pricelessware list.
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Adware - Has advertising for other products and/or services built into
it. The "price" you pay for the software is having to give up some of
your screen real estate (and your attention) for the advertising. Adware
is often, in reality, spyware (see below.)
Adware should not be recommended as a solution to a software need
in alt.comp.freeware. It should only be discussed in the context of
whether or not a supposed freeware program is in fact adware. Otherwise,
adware should be discussed in the alt.comp.adware newsgroup.
Betaware - A "rough draft" version of what will be the final version.
You run the risk of having problems with your system when you use such
software. You pay for its use by pointing out bugs to the author and by
otherwise evaluating the program. Sometimes this evaluation is not
optional and when that is the case, the program should not be
recommended as a software solution. Betaware is sometimes recommended
when it is from a reputable and well know author (an example would be
Zone Labs and their program Zone Alarm) and the evaluation is not mandatory.
Careware - The author wants you to send a sum of money to one or more of
their favorite charities/causes. The honor system applies here: you must
live with your guilt if you don't make a donation. Careware is
infrequently discussed in alt.comp.freeware. You just don't see a lot of it.
CDWare - Software that is included on CDs that come with magazines. If
the software is freeware that is freely downloadable from the internet,
then it is okay to recommend it as a solution to a software need. A link
to the download site should be provided when recommending it as a
software solution. If there is no download site available, then it
should not be recommended as a solution to a software need in
alt.comp.freeware for two reasons: first, you MUST purchase the magazine
to obtain the CD. Secondly, such software on most "free" CDs usually may
not be freely distributed according to the EULA (end user licensing
agreement.)
Commercial Software - Costs money. The recommendation of commercial
software is not appropriate in alt.comp.freeware. However, sometimes a
commercial program is mentioned in ACF as an example of a type of
freeware being sought.
Demoware - Software that is intended to allow the user to see what the
full version of a program looks like so they will then purchase the
unlimited commercial version. Crippleware, time-limited software and
trialware are all various types of demoware. The recommendation of
demoware is not appropriate in alt.comp.freeware because it is
considered to be either shareware (in the case of crippleware or
time-limited software) or trialware.
Donationware - Payment to the author for the software is completely
optional. Donationware is frequently discussed in alt.comp.freeware.
Liteware - A free, reduced feature version of program that normally
costs money. The missing features are not "grayed out" (disabled) in the
menu and you are not constantly reminded with popups that the missing
feature is only available in the full version. No critical features like
"Save" or "Print" are missing. In other words, the missing features
might be nice to have but are not critical.
The missing features are simply listed where the "pro" or
full-featured version is promoted. If you don't read the promotion, you
will not be aware that any features are missing. Promotion of the
full-featured version in liteware can be done via:
* a "nag" type screen at startup or program closing
* an inclusion in the help file or the "About..." screen
* a link/ad on the main program screen.
If the latter is done, then the program borders on being adware
(see above.) If the ad is too obnoxious, then the program shouldn't be
recommended as anything other than a temporary solution until something
better comes along.
This is as opposed to crippleware, where removed features are
grayed out and you are reminded every time you try to use one that the
feature is only available in the full version.
Liteware is often discussed in alt.comp.freeware. It should not be
confused with demoware (see above) or crippleware (see below, under
"shareware".)
Orphanware - Software that is no longer supported or offered to the
public by the original author or company. Some people have saved the
original compressed download somewhere and occasionally will make it
available if asked.
Sometimes offering it to others is okay to do and sometimes it
isn't. The main instance where offering orphanware is not okay is when
the product has been improved and changed from freeware to shareware. In
this case the freeware version has been made unavailable by the author
because it would compete with the newer non-freeware version.
With the author's permission, orphanware can become freeware.
Orphanware is infrequently discussed in alt.comp.freeware. Be
careful about copyright infringement when using orphanware.
Postcardware - The author wants you to send them a postcard as the price
of using the software. The cost is the postcard. It's not to much to ask
for their effort and usually, it's optional anyway. Thus, this category
is very close to being freeware and discussing it is not frowned upon in
alt.comp.freeware.
Registerware - The cost is that you must provide personal information
via registration. Some people falsify the information which is
requested. However, since the author has asked the price, falsifying
what they are asking for is not ethical. Registerware is often discussed
in alt.comp.freeware.
Shareware - AKA "try before you buy". Obviously not freeware since
ultimately you are supposed to pay for the software. The recommendation
and discussion of shareware is not appropriate in alt.comp.freeware.
There are several kinds of shareware:
* Crippleware - limited in the amount of features available.
Purchasing the software removes these limitations and renders the
software fully functional. Not the same as trialware, since you can save
and print.
* Nagware - there is a popup (nag) screen at program startup,
exhorting you to purchase the software.
* Time limited - also considered by some to be trialware (see
below)- some of the features or the entire program become unusable after
a period of time.
Spyware - Any software that installs components on your computer which
allow companies and/or individuals to access your hard drive or spy on
your surfing habits. The cost you pay is your privacy and/or security.
You can learn more about spyware at
http://www.spychecker.com/spyware.html or
http://www.tom-cat.com/spybase/spylist.html.
Often, after you remove the software, the files that do the spying
remain on your hard drive. An excellent freeware utility for removing
such garbage is AdAware, available at:
www.lavasoft.de/aaw/index.html.
Spyware is almost always Adware and is often discussed in
alt.comp.freeware, always in a negative context and NEVER should be
recommended as a software solution. To see whether or not a suspected
program is spyware, go to:
www.spychecker.com.
Trialware - Usually commercial software that is limited in the ability
to save and/or print. The intention of the author is that you learn what
the program can do and how to use it so that you will then purchase the
unlimited commercial version. The discussion of trialware is not
appropriate in alt.comp.freeware.
Viruses or virus authoring software - Either is or makes malicious
programming. It is highly inappropriate to discuss viruses or virus
authoring software in alt.comp.freeware.
Warez - Stolen software and software for stealing other software. Stolen
software is also known as having been pirated, cracked, etc. Use of
warez is usually a felony, (at least in the U.S.) where you can be
punishable by a large fine and prison time if you are caught. It is
highly inappropriate to discuss warez in alt.comp.freeware. Warez is:
* Commercial software or shareware which has had the registration
codes bypassed (cracked), or other security features breached (time
limits, feature limits, etc.)
* Software designed to be used for cracking.
* Serial numbers for unpurchased shareware or commercial software.
While I was writing you sent your post
