The software market is filled with many companies, large and small, selling software by ad, reputation, or description. The quality of commercial programs runs the gamut from excellent to "shovelware." Some manufacturers are now distributing time-limited demos, a great improvement in commercial software distribution and selection. But the norm for commercial computer programs is to buy, hoping the program does what you want and was described by the manufacturer.

Shareware is different in that you get to try the program free for a specified period of time. If you continue to use the program, you then are expected to pay the fee. The programs are typically inexpensive, and often function as well or better than much more expensive commercial counterparts. And...sharewares open a vast amount of software to the user to try, buy, or discard. I still remember when I received my first set of AMUG CD's--a set of 3! I was in software nerd's heaven. Many sharewares are full-featured and not time-limited. They are the honor system for software. Speaking from experience, it is now necessary for most shareware authors to cripple or time-limit their demos.

Shareware programs are written and distributed by both individuals and companies. Often, the program (control panel, extension, document, etc.) author is an individual doing it as a sideline--the "guy down the block." Shareware programs frequently do just a single function, usually quite well as compared to large, commercial programs. The authors frequently handle their own customer service. Updates, responding to the frequent changes in the Mac OS, are usually more frequent than in commercial programs. Often, upgrades are free. I paid for Thorsten Lemke's top-rated GraphicConverter years ago and have never had to pay for one of the many excellent upgrades! And...the authors do listen to your suggestions, often incorporating your input into improved features for new releases. Many parts of current Mac OS started as sharewares that were ultimately licensed or purchased by Apple.

Shareware is distributed through a variety of channels. The most used outlet is from the internet. Info-Mac is one of the major shareware clearinghouses for Mac shareware. WinSite and one other archive perform the same function on the Windows side. They neither charge the authors, nor those who download the programs from them or one of their many mirror sites. ZDNet maintains an excellent library of rated and reviewed shareware. Online services such as America Online, Prodigy, and CompuServe maintain extensive shareware libraries. Shareware is also distributed by floppy disk and CD-ROM, often by users groups such as AMUG (Arizona Macintosh Users Group), CWUG (ClarisWorks Users Group) and Washington Apple Pi.

Freeware follows the shareware distribution channels, but is entirely without fee. Some freeware programs, such as Eudora Lite and BBEdit Lite are available to help advertise their commercial counterparts (ie., Eudora Pro & BBEdit). But many freewares are just that. They are free with no advertisement value. The volume of freewares is amazing.

Most of my offerings are shareware or freeware. One is charityware. Charityware is shareware that the total fee goes directly to a worthy cause. My charityware fees go to Kagi Shareware who sends the money directly to Light of the World Ministries for support of missions in Kenya.

As a minor shareware author (I'm not a programmer. I write educational documents.), I encourage you to try the vast offerings in the various shareware libraries. This website is sprinkled throughout with links to various distribution channels other that the primary ones listed above. I believe it will improve your computing experience.

What would computing be like without shareware?

A few years ago a principal for whom I worked decided that shareware was buggy (sometimes it can be), virus-ridden (get real!), and just plain evil. She banned shareware from our school's computers. I just refused and waited to see what would happen. I did run a virus scan and printed out the results, just in case I was asked. But many of the other teachers had to remove programs such as Graphic Converter, Forward Delete, Aaron (the forerunner of Kaleidoscope), Color It!, and a truly uplifting startup screen. The experience made me think. I'm not sure I could work graphics without GraphicConverter. I know I still haven't found its equal on the Windows side. If you've used PopChar or PopCharPro and also work on the Windows side, you know what a hassle it is to find an unusual font character.

Perturbed Pussycat Productions (PPP, get it?) is a label I used for several years for materials I wrote or collected on the net to be distributed at my school. It was, of course, an allusion to Point-to-Point Protocol, which most of us use to connect to the internet. When shareware was a "dirty word" to our then principal :-), Perturbed Pussycat Productions disks were a humorous underground attempt at a bit of rebellion around our school.

Please pay the shareware fee for programs that you keep and use.