Talk: Freeware
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There seems to be a similiar page called Free software. Those two should be merged.
This page has enough detail that it should probably be renamed "Software Licenses." All subcategories should be given their own pages. The page for freeware should have less detailed descriptions of each type of non-freeware software. Aguydude 06:40 Nov 4, 2002 (UTC)
May I suggest adding the term "demo" under shareware/crippleware or as a separate category since that may be a more familiar term? - Brettz9 20:18 Apr 8, 2003 (UTC)
Also, how about starting pages to provide links by operating system to the various categories of freeware/shareware/etc. to either a Wikipedia site discussing the specific software or to the company/programmer? Although sites such as Versiontracker.com may already perform this function by designating items as freeware or shareware, I think it may be nice to subcategorize freeware further (e.g., some so-called "freeware" turns out to be really "crippleware") Having pages for specific software would also provide a forum for providing information on software not available at the company site or elsewhere. - Brettz9 20:18 Apr 8, 2003 (UTC)
Is there a term for software (such as bribeware?) for software which was made freeware by someone paying the programmer to make it free for everyone? Brettz9 (talk) 19:02, 27 Aug 2004 (UTC)
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Splitting of the Free Software article into Free software and Freeware
I split Free software into two parts, Free software and Freeware and put any leftovers here, they should be merged into either one. -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 15:12, 2004 Oct 19 (UTC)
Should we have a Freeware Archives section?
It seems like the Freeware Archives section is just a perfect source of people putting their fav freeware site on there. Wikipedia:Wikipedia_is_not_a_web_directory, eh? JesseW 09:31, 8 Nov 2004 (UTC)
Definition of Freeware?
In my experience, in common usage today among the masses (and, as I understand it, as it was used on BBS networks of old) freeware tends to only refer to freely redistributable software (that is also gratis) as opposed to any software that is free of charge. (Indeed it is questionable whether gratis software can be a category of software at all as not only is its price not part of the nature of the software, but because `software', by definition, refers to the intangible idea itself which is usually avaiable in multiple physical forms at different prices.)
Although, I am also aware that people have probably tried to use the word freeware to mean just about everything (from free software to any software that is in the (non-copyright) public domain); maybe its ambiguity should be made clear on the page.
-- Joe Llywelyn Griffith Blakesley 18:05, 2004 Nov 11 (UTC)
Removal of disambiguation notice
At the top of this article, there was the following disambiguation notice:
- This article refers to software available free of charge. For "free software" as defined by the Free Software Foundation, see Free software.
I removed it. I think few people will be looking for free as in speech software here, and someone who is needs only look down to the list of categories of software distinct from freeware.
- Jrn 07:53, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)
