The Internet may be
the best place to obtain software. After all, what store allows
you to "take the product out for a spin" before you buy it? Where
else can you obtain "free updates" for the software that you already
purchased? How many computer stores are open 24 hours day, 365 day
a year?
Freeware
is software that you can download and use without ever paying a
dime. This software is sometimes developed by kind hearted souls
who create software for the simple joy of creating it. Other times
it's created by large companies who want you to test the
software and find any bugs before they sell it to the general
public (beta versions).
Shareware
is basically "try it before you buy it." You can download it and
try it out. If you decide that you want to keep it you should pay
the developer the "shareware fee." This fee is usually minimal.
Sometimes all the developer asks in return for the software is an
email from you proclaiming how much you've enjoyed using it.
Most
commercial software goes through a series of improvements, or Updates.
Version 4.0 is released and shortly afterwards updated to 4.1, then
4.2, and so forth. Most of these updates are free to download from
the developers home page. It's a good idea to periodically check
and see if your software has been updated.
| Some of My Favorite
Web Sites |
| Download.com
CNET's Download.com offers access to the most popular
picks in the shareware world. |
| JUMBO!
Access to over 250,000 Windows, Mac, Unix, and DOS shareware
applications at FTP sites worldwide. |
| Shareware Junkies
Loads of practical and not-so-practical shareware and
freeware for Windows, Mac, DOS, and OS/2. |
| Shareware.com
CNET's guide to shareware on the Net. |
| TUCOWS
Email, multimedia, HTML, and networking tools along with
connectivity apps, anti-virus, games, and accessories. |
| ZDNet Software
Library
Games, utilities, development tools, and graphics, business,
home, and education software. |
I highly recommend that you have
Virus Protection installed in your computer
before you consider downloading anything.
