By shareware it should be understood a type of software that is distributed free of charge and that has limitations of use compared to a full version. In this way, the shareware serves as a test of what a user can have; its distribution is nothing more than a mode of promotion that seeks to acquire a product with more characteristics. Due to the above, shareware can be distinguished from so-called freeware: in the first case, freeware is a product with limitations, while in the second case, freeware is a complete product in itself, with full functionality.
A little history
In the early days of computing, when the general public still did not have access to the network of networks, the Internet, shareware served as a way to bring the user closer to different computer products that could satisfy some of their needs.. In this way, there was a physical circulation channel for the software, it was delivered in content to a specific storage medium, such as a floppy disk. The user used to make a test of said software and in the case of being interested in it, he used to proceed to purchase it.
Today, with the presence of the Internet, the practice of circulating limited software is still valid, but there are certainly other forms of promotion that may work better.; Let us think in this sense in the innumerable amount of videos and tutorials that can be found on the net in this regard.
An aspect to consider in the first experiences of shareware is the cost that it implied. In effect, the fact of requiring a physical format for distribution made it necessary to accurately assess who the potential interested parties might be.
In this way, for example, when the software was oriented to the average user, the distribution could be carried out by specialized publications in the matter, publications that were bought by an audience with potential interest; the software was shown as a version cut down on functionalities and the way to acquire it was shown if desired.
Currently
Finally, it should be noted that currently the costs of trial software are very limiteds. Indeed, just offering it on a web page is enough for the user to download them; the promotion would be carried out on pages related to the subject, in a modern simile of what happened in the past.
