The Computer Corner
By Charles Miller, Dec 22, 2006

Hawking their wares

When we talk about computers and computing, a lot of the vocabulary we use traces its entomology back only a few years. The word “hardware” has been around for a long time, and it was pretty obviously the inspiration for the word “software,” first used in 1957 or ’58 by the noted statistician John W. Tukey. Since then, the “wares” have proliferated.

Shareware, also called demoware or try-it-before-you-buy-it-ware, is commercial or proprietary software delivered without payment so that the user can evaluate its usability before committing to purchasing it. Shareware is frequently time-limited to function for a certain number of days before payment is required and it stops functioning.

A cousin of shareware is crippleware, or software that is distributed on the shareware marketing method but with some of its vital features disabled so that it will not be fully functional until the user pays for it.

Another cousin of shareware is nagware. These are fully functional shareware programs distributed with annoying splash screens or pop-up messages that urge the user to buy the program to remove the incessant messages.

Best of all, freeware, as its name implies, is free software. Freeware is copyrighted computer software owned by the copyright holder but made available for use for an unlimited time at no cost. The owner may impose restrictions on the type of use, including personal or academic use, or noncommercial use. Restrictions may be placed on the user’s right to redistribute freeware. Freeware almost always includes a prohibition against modifying it in any way without the prior consent of the copyright owner.

Freeware should not be confused with “free software,” which permits the software source code to be modified or improved by the users.

Abandonware is computer software that is, well, abandoned. This term does not have defined legal meaning but is used to describe several different situations.

Abandonware can be software that is no longer being sold or supported by its copyright holder. Sometimes owners place it in the public domain, but more often they do not because they want everyone to buy their new version. Some abandonware results from companies that go out of business. Even then, unless the author puts the software in the public domain, it remains covered under copyright law until its copyright term expires.

Ransomware, in the nonpejorative sense, is proprietary software the copyright owner offers to make freeware when someone, or some group of users, pay the development cost. Until the ransom is paid, it is not free. Afterwards, it is.

The term “ransomware,” in the pejorative sense, is also called extortionware and is a term applied to software used to illegally extort a bribe or ransom. It is rare, but some crooks have tried to encrypt a user’s files and demand a ransom for the key to unencrypt them. This is a crime.

Otherware requests the user to do something other than pay for the software. Some of these whimsical otherwares include donationware, which requests the user make a donation to a charity. Emailware means the author just wants to get an email from you, and postcardware requires you send a postcard. Prayerware means you offer a prayer.

And last, but not least, beerware means that in lieu of cash payment to the software author you buy a round at the bar to pay for the software!

Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant, a frequent visitor to San Miguel since 1981 and now practically a full-time resident. He may be contacted at 044-415-101-8528 or email FAQ@SMAguru.com