[MineralMan]

Interesting. For several years, I was in the shareware business. I had six applications that were very popular among users, each doing something that commercial software wasn't doing well

Tens of thousands of downloads for each of the programs and, based on the email I got, thousands of regular users.

Unlike some shareware programmers, I released full versions of the programs, not crippled in any way. I asked those who used the programs to pay a small registration fee if they continued to use them.

Some did. Most did not. Each of the programs went through six versions, each improving on the program and incorporating user requests.

But...I finally had to give it up. It was not a viable business in the long run. The programs were excellent, and relatively bug-free. They served an important function for users.

But...I was naive. People wouldn't pay for the programs, even though registration entitled the user to unlimited downloads and notifications of updates at no further charge.

The most expensive registration fee for any of the programs was just $25.

I learned an important lesson. Get your money up front. That's how I run my current business, which has nothing to do with computers.

[danneskjold]

The value of a service is greatly reduced once the service has been rendered...

[chance33_98]

That's how I run my current business, which has nothing to do with computers.

Are you a crack dealer?