OS/2 e-Zine! - February '98 Reader Survey Results

February '98 Reader Survey Results

The concept of shareware was conceived so long ago that most modern computer users can't even remember when they first came across this type of software. Today shareware has become so ubiquitous that it can be found on every continent, on every personal computing platform, and on nearly every computer.

Last month we were wondering if OS/2 users viewed shareware differently than other users. Before we could even begin to speculate, of course, we had to find out exactly how OS/2ers felt about shareware (the attitudes of non-OS/2ers are an even bigger task to gauge!). So in February we asked our readers about their "Support for Shareware".

Answers to our survey were accepted from February 16th until March 13th. We had a total of 1,389 replies to our questionnaire with 93 "spoiled" entries (replies were considered "spoiled" if they did not contain an e-mail address, if all questions were not answered or if they were duplicates). This left 1,296 valid replies. The results were as follows:

Do you use shareware on a regular basis?

Even more fundamental than how you use or abuse shareware is whether you use it at all. So this was our natural starting point. We found that, not surprisingly considering current trends in software distribution, almost everyone surveyed (95.9%) currently uses some shareware, with over half of those responding (50.5%) reporting they use 4 to 10 shareware apps. No big surprises here.

Do you register shareware if you keep it?

After verifying that we were indeed dealing with bona fide shareware users, we asked if you register the packages you "keep". As most people know, shareware comes with a license that stipulates you may use the package for a set period, after which, if you feel you would like to continue using it, you must purchase (aka "register") it.

Do you or don't you? Well, according to your survey replies, most of you are mostly honourable when it comes to shareware. The largest group in this category (34.1%) told us they register everything they continue to use past the trial period (bravo!) and nearly three quarters (74.7%) reported they registered at least 51% of what they keep. Overall, a fairly trustworthy bunch.

Of course, there were the 50 people (3.9% of our respondents) who admitted they never register anything -- whether they keep it or not...

Are you more likely or less likely to register OS/2 shareware (compared to other platforms)?

Probably the question most pondered by OS/2 developers is whether they can count on the honesty of OS/2 consumers any more than usual because of the special conditions in the OS/2 market. We would all like to believe that a group of users as dedicated as we all are would put our money where our mouths are. Yet some developers have complained that this is not the case.

Our survey found that, in fact, OS/2 users are more loyal to OS/2 developers than they are to developers for other platforms. More than half (50.3%) said they were much more likely to register an OS/2 app than a non-OS/2 app, and 70.7% were at least a little more likely to do so. If you add the 14.0% of our readers who reported they don't even use any non-OS/2 shareware, you have 84.7% of our readers who would be more likely to leave their money with an OS/2 developer than a developer for Windows, the Mac, BeOS, Linux, etc.

How do you prefer to register shareware?

But the desire to pay for the software we use is only half the equation. We also need to be able to get our dollars into developers' pockets in the easiest way possible. We all know that sometimes we put off registering (or forget to altogether) because of the inconvenience of writing a cheque or converting currencies. So we wondered exactly what the most convenient payment methods were for our readers.

And, of course, the credit card leads the way. Almost three quarters (71.3%) of us prefer to make our shareware purchases by credit card, either by phone, email, fax or the WWW. What is surprising about this number is that the majority of us (53.5%) actually prefer to use the WWW to make our purchases, beating out email by ten to one (5.4%) and even telephone by more than five to one (9.6%). Obviously we are leaving the days of credit card fraud worries behind us and embracing the idea of secure servers.

That's it for this month. Don't forget to fill out this month's questionnaire and check back in March for complete results. Also, this month we have a special survey on how we can improve OS/2 e-Zine!. Please tell us what you want!

Complete February '98 Survey Results

Do you use shareware on a regular basis?

Category Count Percentage

I have never used shareware 1 0.1%

I have used shareware but not currently 52 4.0%

I use 1 - 3 shareware programs 276 21.3%

I use 4 - 10 shareware programs 654 50.5%

I use 11 - 20 shareware programs 218 16.8%

I use 21 or more shareware programs 95 7.3%

I can't remember 0 0.0%

I don't understand the question 0 0.0%

TOTAL 1296 100.0%

Category	Count	Percentage
I have never used shareware	1	0.1%
I have used shareware but not currently	52	4.0%
I use 1 - 3 shareware programs	276	21.3%
I use 4 - 10 shareware programs	654	50.5%
I use 11 - 20 shareware programs	218	16.8%
I use 21 or more shareware programs	95	7.3%
I can't remember	0	0.0%
I don't understand the question	0	0.0%
TOTAL	1296	100.0%

Do you register shareware if you keep it?

Category Count Percentage

I have never used shareware 5 0.4%

I never register what I keep 50 3.9%

I register 1 to 25 percent of what I keep 146 11.3%

I register 26 to 50 percent of what I keep 123 9.5%

I register 51 to 75 percent of what I keep 200 15.4%

I register 76 to 99 percent of what I keep 326 25.2%

I register all shareware that I keep 442 34.1%

I don't know 4 0.3%

I don't understand the question 0 0.0%

TOTAL 1296 100.1%

Category	Count	Percentage
I have never used shareware	5	0.4%
I never register what I keep	50	3.9%
I register 1 to 25 percent of what I keep	146	11.3%
I register 26 to 50 percent of what I keep	123	9.5%
I register 51 to 75 percent of what I keep	200	15.4%
I register 76 to 99 percent of what I keep	326	25.2%
I register all shareware that I keep	442	34.1%
I don't know	4	0.3%
I don't understand the question	0	0.0%
TOTAL	1296	100.1%

Are you more likely or less likely to register OS/2 shareware (compared to other platforms)?

Category Count Percentage

I never use OS/2 shareware 4 0.3%

I never use non-OS/2 shareware 182 14.0%

I never use any shareware 1 0.1%

A little less likely 4 0.3%

Less likely 7 0.5%

Much less likely 7 0.5%

About the same 164 12.7%

A little more likely 48 3.7%

More likely 217 16.7%

Much more likely 652 50.3%

I'm not sure 6 0.5%

I don't understand the question 4 0.3%

TOTAL 1296 99.9%

Category	Count	Percentage
I never use OS/2 shareware	4	0.3%
I never use non-OS/2 shareware	182	14.0%
I never use any shareware	1	0.1%
A little less likely	4	0.3%
Less likely	7	0.5%
Much less likely	7	0.5%
About the same	164	12.7%
A little more likely	48	3.7%
More likely	217	16.7%
Much more likely	652	50.3%
I'm not sure	6	0.5%
I don't understand the question	4	0.3%
TOTAL	1296	99.9%

How do you prefer to register shareware?

Category Count Percentage

I do not register shareware 13 1.0%

Using a credit card (by WWW) 694 53.5%

Using a credit card (by email) 70 5.4%

Using a credit card (by telephone) 124 9.6%

Using a credit card (by fax) 36 2.8%

Using cheque or money order 185 14.3%

Using cash 28 2.2%

Other 40 3.1%

I have no preference 105 8.1%

I don't understand the question 1 0.1%

TOTAL 1296 100.1%

Category	Count	Percentage
I do not register shareware	13	1.0%
Using a credit card (by WWW)	694	53.5%
Using a credit card (by email)	70	5.4%
Using a credit card (by telephone)	124	9.6%
Using a credit card (by fax)	36	2.8%
Using cheque or money order	185	14.3%
Using cash	28	2.2%
Other	40	3.1%
I have no preference	105	8.1%
I don't understand the question	1	0.1%
TOTAL	1296	100.1%

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