🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Aug21.201734.20379@PA.dec.com>, reisert@sttng.mlo.dec.com (Jim R
eisert) writes:
>
>I understand the differences between Shareware, Freeware and true
>public-domain software.  My main concern is this:
>
>People ask for recommendations of shareware to do a job.  It seems to
>me that some piece of commercial software might do the job also.  For
>example, "Please point me at a PD Fortran compiler".  Now I don't know
>of too many PD Fortran compilers, certainly no free ones, but I'm sure
>there are at least several in the commercial market.  So why ask only
>about PD Fortran compilers?  Either the person has another source of
>information about commercial software (strange, since I'm sure a lot
>of us have experience in that area, and could offer good opinions), or
>is unwilling to consider commercial software for some reason.  I was
>just trying to understand the reasons that PD software (including
>Freewrae and Shareware) is sought after, above and beyond commercial
>software.  To me, given equal functionality and comparable prices, the
>only difference I can see is that one doesn't necessarily have to pay
>for shareware in order to use it, but one does have to pay for
>commerical software.
>
Another reason why someone might wish to locate PD or shareware stuff is that
some companies are reluctant to pay for a program to do a particular task, and
trying to sell them on the benefits of the program can be a bear. With a PD or
shareware program, you can put the program to use and show the direct
benefits, and then ONCE it HAS shown its benefits, it becomes an easier sale
to superiors to get the BEST version of this terrific package that you can
demonstrate the advantages of.  This has happened to me, as has the flip side
of the coin. I have recommended a package based on ads and recommendations in
the industry only to find out it bore a striking resemblance to male bovine
fecal matter. This could make my judgement on such things subject to
cross-checking and verification, making the next recommendation more difficult
as well.( Fortunately for me, this occurred when I was still "new" to
computors, so it did not affect my credibility later. )


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I am not licensed to practice Law or Medicine in any State, so my opinions are
just that!         DAo4@NS1.CC.LEHIGH.EDU      (Don)