Shareware is a unique method of distributing and marketing quality computer software but, those new to the Internet are often confused by the term. We explain what shareware is and isn't and how to get your hands on it.

By Joe Ebner

Now that you're connected to the Internet, it's possible for you to have an almost unlimited supply of computer programs for your PC. The nice thing about using these programs is that you have the permission of the developers of the programs to try them out before you actually buy them.

You can test them to be sure they work with your system - or that they do the job you want them to do - and, that you like the program - all without costing you a penny.

The programs are fully functional - not made with functions and options disabled. They are not cheap substitutes or pirated knock-offs of expensive commercial products. It is copyrighted and well written. The only apparent difference is in the way in which it is marketed.

The software we're talking about is known in computer circles as Shareware. And, a lot of new computer and Internet users are confused about what shareware is and how it works.

Shareware has been around since the early days of personal computing. Back then if you wanted a program for your computer, you pretty much had to know how to write your own because there weren't many available commercially. Those that you could buy were mostly written for business applications. They were highly specialized and, they cost a small fortune. Most proved to be of little use for the home computer user or hobbyist.

Normally, a company or individual who writes a computer program markets it by advertising in computer publications. He then must create and have printed a thick manual so users can learn how to use the program. He then must contract with a company to package and distribute the program.

All this costs a ton of money of which the cost is passed on to the buyer in the total fee he must pay for the program. And, if the user finds that it either (A) won't complete the task he wanted it to do, (B) won't work in his machine, or (C) the user just doesn't like the way it works - he was stuck with it.

Enter a novel idea where a small software company, or even an individual, develops a terrific program. Then, instead of distributing the program in the traditional commercial method, the program is made available for users to try out. The program's writer knows that one of the best ways to sell users on his product is to let them use it for a while. This way they get to see for themselves just how good the program is and whether or not it will do the job they intend it to do. If the potential buyer liked the program and it met all his requirements, he would then pay for it by sending the writer a registration fee.

And, because the writer of the program saved all the costs associated with traditional marketing, he could sell his product at a much lower cost than the commercial programs on the market.

That's exactly how shareware works. It's software you can try at little or no cost before you buy!

You'll find shareware that will accomplish just about any computer application you can think of - and some that you can't. Some shareware is written to do very specific and specialized jobs. You can find these and general applications programs on the Web.

How to Get Shareware

Shareware is available for computer users in a number of ways these days. You can order it from a shareware vendor who is usually offering a selection of titles for you to purchase through mail order. The vendor publishes a catalog with hundreds of shareware titles that you can order from. The catalogs include short descriptions of the programs to give you an idea of the tasks the program will do. Some of the fancier catalogs include a screen shot of the programs.

Disk vendors charge by the disk - usually around $2 to $4 per disk. Some programs require more than one disk to hold it. Even though the programs themselves are free for you to try out, the vendor charges a fee for the disks because he needs to maintain an inventory of possibly thousands of program disks and he must operate an ordering and shipping facility. The vendor and his employees make an income from these operations.

You select the titles you want from the catalog, add up the number of disks the programs are on, and send a check for the total amount plus a small shipping and handling fee. You receive your programs by return mail. Most vendors also have a toll-free order line you can call to place your order and pay for it with a credit card.

Another way to purchase shareware that's becoming more popular is on CD-ROM. By buying your shareware this way you get a complete library of hundreds of programs on 1 or 2 CDs for a reasonable price, usually around $20 or $30. Again, the CD-ROM vendors offer disks on catalogs for different computer platforms (IBM, Mac, Unix, etc.) and operating systems (DOS, Windows, Mac OS etc.). The fee charged covers the production of the CD plus the business of maintaining stock and performing ordering and shipping duties.

Shareware on the Internet

Getting shareware via mail order is fast and inexpensive but, you're online and you can get shareware even easier and faster. You can download it directly to your home computer. Both the popular online services like America Online and Compuserve have libraries set up on their services containing shareware for you to download. You'll find them in the various subject forums. For complete instructions on how to proceed, check with the service for details on how to proceed.

The Internet, particularly the World Wide Web, offers sites that will allow you to download programs right from your browser. A recent Webcrawler search revealed 4,250 Web sites that offer shareware for downloading. (See the short list at the end of this article.)

Shareware on the Web is easy now that Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer contain an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client built into them. To get the programs onto your computer all you need to do is select the program(s) you want, click the "Download" button on your screen, and the process starts transferring the program to your PC.

The FTP client will ask you if you want to save the program to your disk or if you want to open the file. Click "Save to disk". You'll then be asked where you want to save it. The best place is in a newly created folder or sub-directory named download. (This way you keep all your downloaded files in one area.) Next, click on "Okay" and the download proceeds. When the program has been transferred, the FTP process stops and returns you to your browser where you can either log off, continue surfing, or download another program.

Documentation

You'll notice something else different about shareware. There is no printed manual. This is another cost-saving measure associated with shareware. But how do you find out how to use the program?

Not to worry, the manual is there along with other instructions to guide you through the installation and registration process.

The un-Zipped files you created earlier are expanded into the individual files needed for the program to work. If you use Windows to look into the folder that was set-up during the installation process, you'll find those files. Look down the files listing for any file names with the extension of .doc or .man. You will also notice one or two files named readme.txt, or read.me. We'll get to those in a minute.

The manual that details how to use the program is usually contained in the .doc file. You can use your word processor to view and, if necessary, print the file. In other words, the documentation for using and running the program is right with the program! Neat idea, huh?

Now, about those "readme" files. These are just like the text files you find on commercial software. They contain last minute information concerning the program and installation instructions. Because they are plain ASII text, they can be opened with any text editor, such as Windows Notepad. If you prefer, you can print them from your text editor for later reference.

The ASP

Shareware vendors and developers established an organization that sets standards and guidelines for marketing and creating shareware programs. Membership in the Association of Shareware Professionals assures you that the shareware you purchase from a participating member is of high quality and meets certain standards set up by the association. Members must follow the standards in order to maintain their right to membership. They also have a procedure set up for those who purchase shareware from member vendors or authors that will help you if you need to resolve a problem with a member.

When you are looking for software to download, notice if the author is a member of the ASP. Or, if you are getting your shareware from a disk vendor, check if the vendor is a member. By purchasing software from an ASP member, you get assurance that the program was developed meeting these standards.

What to do if you don't like the program

Not every shareware program you choose to download or purchase from a vendor will fill your needs. That's one of the great things about using shareware. If you get a program you don't like, or it doesn't do the job the way you want it to, you simply delete (or un-install) it from your disk. You owe the author nothing, and you can select another program that may suit your needs better. Unlike commercial software, with shareware you're free to try as many programs as you want until you find just the right one to fit your needs. You don't buy any of them unless you like it and continue to use it.

Because marketing quality software the shareware way is cost effective for both you and the author, you have the opportunity to get some good computer applications on a budget. Just remember that you're on you honor to register the programs you use by sending the registration fee to the author. And, by registering your shareware programs you encourage the author to create more programs and to improve the programs he has already released.

Web Shareware Sites

To get some of the best shareware on the Web start with these sites. This is by no means a complete list of the sites available - nor does a listing here mean that WebNovice recommends one site over another. This is simple a list of places for you to start looking.

• Jumbo - contains an extensive library of shareware, hence the name.
• Center for Innovative Computing Applications (CICA) - this site is often the source for producers of shareware on CD-ROM. Download the file index.txt first as it contains a list of all the available programs.
• The Shareware Link
• Shareware Central
• The Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) - Shareware library containing programs from ASP members only. Also contains complete information about the association as well as a list of participating members.
• ZDNet's Software Library - From the publishers of popular computer magazines.
• Shareware.Com
• The Software Labs

A word about "freeware"

Freeware is another type of computer software you will find on the Internet. Its name depicts exactly what it is and what it costs … it's free for the taking. However, don't expect any product support from freeware products. That's not to say that freeware is bad - it's just that the author won't support something that he's giving away.

You might suspect that these programs are useless and buggy. Far from the truth. Some of the best Internet programs are available as freeware. And, well known corporations such as Microsoft produce and post tons of freeware for their customers and the general public. For example, the popular Web browser created by Microsoft, Internet Explorer, is a freeware product.

One of the more popular sites to download DOS and Windows freeware is The Best Free Software Web site.

About those "ZIP" files

IBM PC and compatible computer users will notice that some of the newly downloaded files will have the extension ZIP. ZIP files are compressed to save space on the file server and to keep all the individual files that make up the downloaded program together in a neat package. Otherwise, you would have to select each file for the program and download it one at a time.

Programs intended for the Apple Macintosh computer have a similar compression scheme for their programs called Stuff-it. Both of these compression systems basically work the same way.

Before you can actually use the program you must un-compress it - it is not operational in its compressed state. ZIP files are un-compressed with a program from PK-Ware called PKZIP, so the first download you should do is to get this program. It runs under DOS or in a DOS window under Microsoft Windows. There are several add-ons you can get that will make handling ZIP files easier under Windows - so download one of these, too. Most allow compression and un-compression as easy as "drag and drop".

After you complete the un-compression, the program is ready to install and use just like any other you buy.