Shareware is a method of distribution in which the author of a program distributes his work directly to you, the user, rather then through commercial means. This allows you to try the software before you buy it. Software distributed this way is usually distributed user to user through user groups, BBS systems, information systems, and commercial vendors. This method of distribution place the author of the program in a very venerable position; the author depends on the honesty of you, the user, in order to get compensated for his work. If you use a shareware program and don't pay the requested fee you are encouraging the author to distribute his work through more traditional means. On the other hand if you pay the requested fee you help to ensure that more of his future work will be distributed this novel way. In this sense you literally hold the future of Shareware in your hand.
WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY I PAID FOR THIS DISC:
There is usually a cost of some type associated with acquiring Shareware programs. This cost may be phone charges, the cost of download time from an information service, or the cost of data preparation and duplication of a disk (this is the case with CD FunHouse). The important thing to remember is that the money you pay for any of these methods of obtaining the software is not passed on to the authors of the software. In all cases the software is provided free of charge and you are only paying for the production cost of the distribution media. Because of this it is important remember that is still have obligation of paying the author of the program his requested fee if you find the program useful. Please support the Shareware concept by paying the fees promptly for any programs you use regularly.
