And while we're on the subject, how many RISC OS freeware programs are there that people would be happy to pay a few pounds for to encourage development? How many shareware programs are there that are simply not worth the money and should be rebadged as freeware?

Especially when overseas sending of the software is concerned.

With the cost of overseas postage jiffybag floppy disc etc.

And it is easier to registra and you do not have to give your home address

I think that's a crying shame Richard. The platform needs something like the above, selling both shareware and full comercial apps.

No real return for whom, I'd have to ask? With the 'taking a cut' method, surely you'd manage to make a little pocket money at least. The returns for the platform at large, however, would be huge.

If I could find a shortcut - perhaps using Worldpay or some other organisation, use existing shopping cart code (but check it for security holes) - I might still take it.

How many people here have actually registered RISC OS shareware programs?

How many would have registered if registration was easier (i.e. online credit card payment rather than posting cheque)?

Until I discovered that it was possible to register some shareware online, I had never registered any before (although I hadn't really used much, for fear that I might like it)

Since then, I've registered a number of applications online.

And while we're on the subject, how many RISC OS freeware programs are there that people would be happy to pay a few pounds for to encourage development?

I'm not entirely sure on this one; programs such as Zap and StrongEd are very popular, feature-rich items. Whether they would have become so popular if they had been shareware (and crippled in some way to envcourage payment) I'm not so sure. Certainly, I'd be prepared to pay for Zap now, but it's taken me a long time to appreciate how powerful it is. If I'd only had a limited trial period, or the software was restricted in some way, I may not have appreciated it to such an extent.

How many shareware programs are there that are simply not worth the money and should be rebadged as freeware?

I'm sure there are a number of applications that authors release as shareware which are undeserving of the title, but I can't remember any instances off-hand. If a piece of software is any good, and represents a substantial amount of work on the part of the author, then it seems reasonable to me that it be shareware.

Poor quality software is undeserving of shareware status, but is no more likely to be used if released as freeware.

Just my 2p worth...

[Edited by Steve at 15:48, 18/2/2001]

Having said that I'd be loath to give a credit card number over the internet (yes I am paranoid - too many years of X-Files viewing I suspect ). If some scheme was administered that centrally handles sales and payments for independant software producers that might be the way to go. That organisation could also "vet" the applications only listing ones that are functional and realiable, this would re-assure the purchaser.

I am not against open-source or shareware, but where people can afford to pay a nominal fee for the code they should. Quite apart from anything else giving away code for nothing suggests its worthless - when very often it is anything but.

Sell the codes with extras like documentation and support (make the shareware stuff download only and if people want the extras they pay - but always suggest an optional price for the code as well so that everyone knows that the code has value even if a demand for payment is not always made).

There's several referal schemes around, such as the Amazon and Cybercandy things where if someone follows a link from your site and buys stuff, you get a cut. I've often thought that links could either be put on the download site, or in the case of Amazon perhaps links to books with more information on a certain topic from the documentation - e.g. HTML3's docs could have a link to Webmaster in a Nutshell.

Now of course Amazon have a micropayment system so you could also have an honesty/tip method, where people get a suggested price and it's up to them to pay as much as they want. That way you can get some money out of people who can't really afford full price, which is better than nothing, and maybe someone will be generous enough to pay above the going rate to even it out .

Both of these methods have the advantage of a large trusted organisation handling transactions.

Alternatively of course if one RISC OS company was to set up a proper online shopping facility they could act as a broker, taking a small cut as a handling fee. Alas not many RISC OS sites seem to have proper secure CC facilities. I've looked into doing something similar via TIB but it'd be a lot of hassle for no real return.

Alternatively of course if one RISC OS company was to set up a proper online shopping facility they could act as a broker, taking a small cut as a handling fee. Alas not many RISC OS sites seem to have proper secure CC facilities. I've looked into doing something similar via TIB but it'd be a lot of hassle for no real return.

I think that's a crying shame Richard. The platform needs something like the above, selling both shareware and full comercial apps. I for one never paid for any shareware until net credit-card options became available. Now I don't even have to give it a second thought. Sometimes I don't even bother with a demo first. It's too damn easy to buy stuff!

No real return for whom, I'd have to ask? With the 'taking a cut' method, surely you'd manage to make a little pocket money at least. The returns for the platform at large, however, would be huge. All I can do is sit here and beg you to give the endevour further consideration. I'll even offer to do Amazon-style reviewlets for each product on sale, or take on the mainentance of the project in its entirety - I just can't do the initial programming to make it all work.

There are alternatives, although I don't think they're widely used. UK Shareware Registration can handle shareware stuff, and Cybercandy use WorldPay to handle CC transactions.

There's also PayPal, which lets you take CC payments over the web for a cut of 1.9% (which isn't very much, really...). Looks very good.

There's also PayPal, which lets you take CC payments over the web for a cut of 1.9% (which isn't very much, really...). Looks very good.

Sadly international buyers (ie. most people that would use a RISC OS sharware site since the UK is international to paypal) need to do a complex registration with paypal just to send money. I don't think it's a good system for that reason.

Oh, and they also won't take Mastercard registrations (atm?), so they're a bit useless.

[Edited by senduran at 08:53, 21/2/2001]