CompuServe Messages

I've received 8 checks for DiskSalv so far, but I didn't really write it with the intention of making all kinds of money on it, but mainly to fix a disk that was at the time my more important program. I think that thre are probably methods available, such as offering an enhanced version, enhanced documentation, or source code in return for payment that can increase the chances of receiving donations. But a shareware author has to probably impress the user more than any other form. First of all, he's got to compete with commercial programs that, while possibly not as creatively inspired :-), may have more man-hours committed to them (I'm the only one doing my programs, and 3 hours a night of time on them is about the amount of time I have available, on the average). And they have to compete with really free and public domain programs that do the same thing. And of course, you don't always get to try out a commercial program before buying it; you pay up front. Any shareware program can sound just as fantastic when described, but when the user really runs it he decides to pay for it. I plan to distribute any software I do in the immediate future as real shareware, employing some method of inticement to encourage contributions. I'd certainly be interested in hearing about how any of the other sharewareauthors out there are doing, and if they consider shareware something they'll continue in the future, despite the bad press (then again, Commodore gets bad press and I still work there and use their computers). -Hazy