On Mon, 06 Feb 2006 15:50:29 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Then I stumbled across Unlocker. It's freeware, not shareware. Costs
nothing.

What is their business model that allows them to develop and
distribute free software without going bankrupt?

I've gotten very cynical about some of this stuff. When you install
software on your computer, you have basically given the author the
keys to your computer if he chooses to exercise that option.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 06 Feb 2006 15:50:29 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Then I stumbled across Unlocker. It's freeware, not shareware. Costs
nothing.

What is their business model that allows them to develop and
distribute free software without going bankrupt?

I've gotten very cynical about some of this stuff. When you install
software on your computer, you have basically given the author the
keys to your computer if he chooses to exercise that option.


The model has been around quite a while. There are a number
of ways they make it work. One is, it's a part time thing. For a
programmer to make & support a couple utilities it can be a
part time thing, depending on the complexity. And it might be
something that person wanted anyway, for him/herself. So making
an extra $100, $200, $1000 per month on all the guys sending
$5 because they are generous enough to is great. ~ Others will
sell a premium version while the basic version is free.


And yes, you have to be careful what you install, and it's source. But
usually with good virus,anti-spyware, and firewall protectors (you do have
those, right?) it's safe. The other two things to remember:

#2 - Check around (google) to see if others that have used what you
are going to download like and trust it and it doesn't cause them problems.

#1 - If you have anything REALLY sensative on your computer, don't
install ANY software of unknown security risk. Example: If you trade
stocks on your PC maybe having a second computer that you only
do that one thing on is best. Then on your "B" comptuer you can play
all you want with the fun utilities. ~ A buddy of mine lost money this
way, though eventually got it back.


Oh, and what makes you think for-pay software is any better. A guy
could charge you $29.99 for a utility and still be using it as a way
into your system to rob you.


Anyway.

On Mon, 6 Feb 2006 20:27:39 -0500, "jabadoodle"
wrote:

A guy
could charge you $29.99 for a utility and still be using it as a way
into your system to rob you.

Absolutely. I'm not too favorably disposed towards that sort of
software either unless as you say, the package has been around for
awhile, has been well tested, and is being sold by a person or
corporation with a reputation to uphold.

Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 06 Feb 2006 15:50:29 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Then I stumbled across Unlocker. It's freeware, not shareware. Costs
nothing.

What is their business model that allows them to develop and
distribute free software without going bankrupt?


Never seen the concept before? There's several ways to do it. One, when
it gets popular, you then start charging for it, either straight sale,
or subscription. Two, you give away a stripped down version (lost
leader), but sell a "professional" version, similar to pkzip. There's
other ways to make it work, too. Do you remember when Peter Norton came
out with Norton Utilities? It was at first freeware, available through
PC Magazine. This was in the DOS days, and the program's total use was
to retrieve data that you had accidently erased from a DOS disk. As you
can see, it's grown into a very lucrative business!

wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 06 Feb 2006 15:50:29 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Then I stumbled across Unlocker. It's freeware, not shareware. Costs
nothing.
What is their business model that allows them to develop and
distribute free software without going bankrupt?


Never seen the concept before? There's several ways to do it. One, when
it gets popular, you then start charging for it, either straight sale,
or subscription. Two, you give away a stripped down version (lost
leader), but sell a "professional" version, similar to pkzip. There's
other ways to make it work, too. Do you remember when Peter Norton came
out with Norton Utilities? It was at first freeware, available through
PC Magazine. This was in the DOS days, and the program's total use was
to retrieve data that you had accidently erased from a DOS disk. As you
can see, it's grown into a very lucrative business!

The other option is to require you to log onto their web site and see
their other software for sale, before you can download the freeware.
Most freeware request a donation, and $5 or $10 donations do add up.

--
Reggie
************************************************** *************
That's my story and I am sticking to it.

************************************************** *************

wrote in message
ups.com...

Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 06 Feb 2006 15:50:29 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Then I stumbled across Unlocker. It's freeware, not shareware. Costs
nothing.

What is their business model that allows them to develop and
distribute free software without going bankrupt?


Never seen the concept before? There's several ways to do it. One, when
it gets popular, you then start charging for it, either straight sale,
or subscription. Two, you give away a stripped down version (lost
leader), but sell a "professional" version, similar to pkzip. There's
other ways to make it work, too. Do you remember when Peter Norton came
out with Norton Utilities? It was at first freeware, available through
PC Magazine. This was in the DOS days, and the program's total use was
to retrieve data that you had accidently erased from a DOS disk. As you
can see, it's grown into a very lucrative business!


And then, there's the other business model: Charge an amount of money that
actually reflects the value of the product, and make damned sure the product
is perfect and will make the customer so unbelievably happy that they'll
tell complete strangers who didn't even ask. Spinrite, for instance:

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

Written in assembly language. Great program.

By the way, at the main page, www.grc.com/default.htm, there are some very
interesting little freeware utilities, which work and are safe.

wrote in message
ups.com...

Two, you give away a stripped down version (lost
leader).....................

Lost leader- right up there with "cow down". Thanks for the laugh.