Many of your 'giveaways' turn out to be readily available trial versions of programs; this is misleading- if not deceptive. To qualify as true giveaways more complete versions should be offered, or otherwise promoted as what they are.
What makes a "Giveaway"?
(12 posts) (11 voices)-
Posted 16 years ago #
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Lockett
Member>PeteRowney
"Many of your 'giveaways' turn out to be readily available trial versions of programs; this is misleading- if not deceptive. To qualify as true giveaways more complete versions should be offered, or otherwise promoted as what they are."
Did you try running "Activate"? Well, now you can't help doing that, since it's bundled into the setup. If you use the setup without activating it, you get a trial program. You have to activate it first.
Posted 16 years ago # -
2-SHEDS
MemberLockett wrote:
If you use the setup without activating it, you get a trial program. You have to activate it first.Not true. I never activate first. Irregardless of what the readme.txt says, I've always activated after the installation. The key is to run the activation before you run the program.
Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
Memberjinkazama has a good idea - maybe appending a small notation upfront (maybe in the box above the comments section with the Download Here button) to clarify whether a download/registration gives unlimited or "6 months" free use would be nice.
I've championed README file revision so it more clearly presents the steps/hoop-jumping required to register. Since it's a simple text file, that doesn't mean bold or colorized type, but using a 1) 2) 3) outline format might help reduce the number of people messing up their registrations.
Hmmm, perhaps yet another forum thread is in the offing to take suggestions on how to categorize offers, if the README should be revised, and maybe what standard things a developer ought do (or not do), such as not slipping in a nag screen that suggests an update is available when accepting that update will kill your free program. Just a thought.
Posted 16 years ago # -
garyvdh
MemberI have not come across any Trial Versions yet. They all seem to be the real deal for me. Maybe you are doing something wrong? Or better yet, can you post here specifically which programs have turned out to be trial versions for you? It would be good to get some real examples. Thanks.
Posted 16 years ago # -
VampireRat
MemberThere's another possibility for installs opening as trials, and I just want to mention it here.
I run Win XP, SP2. I log on as Administrator in order to install the giveaways. I noticed that, especially with games, they appeared to be registered when I later ran them as Adimin, but opened as trials when I ran them as any non-admin user. I partially solved this problem by opening these programs using (right-click) RunAs (administrator).
There was some related discussions here:
Bubby gave me another solution that works in some cases. (Run activate as the other user)
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2062?replies=5Also look over:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2163?replies=10Posted 16 years ago # -
Many of your 'giveaways' turn out to be readily available trial versions of programs; this is misleading- if not deceptive. To qualify as true giveaways more complete versions should be offered, or otherwise promoted as what they are.
I think what PeteRowney is saying that GOTD should distinguish which giveaways are registered for a limited period of time only, e.g. Advanced Windows Care, Returnil Virtual System and the lifetime registered softwares, e.g. GlaryUtilities, ConceptDraw, Flashspring, Equation Editor. Which is a good idea.
Posted 16 years ago # -
goodgotd
MemberI note yet another reason for 'won't activate' complaints to add to my list of 'no, really?'- read the instructions, then ignore 'em. and another reason to resist XP. Win2k seems more reasonable. <shakes head>
looking at the software's home page (I thought that's what the link was for) can often reveal time-limited subscription-based vs reg-n-run programs before download.
assuming the worst of the former seems reasonable, no?
Since the 'lifetime' of the latter is limited by the life of your backups, has anyone considered keeping a copy of the setup program available on the author's site at giveaway time handy, then backing up the registry (well, msbackup in win2k calls it 'system state'- the simplest option, but what's a dll or three between friendly OS's?) before clicking 'yes' on 'upgrade me'?
Rocket science is overrated, really.
uninstall new trial, restore registry, reinstall original program.
should bring most back to life. and if the upgrade works, so much the better.
Posted 16 years ago # -
Firstly I think some people have confused "6 month trials" with the additional support provided with some of the past giveaways.
Instead of saying - "take this - you can use it until you grow old and your teeth fall out", the developer/vendor says - "take this - you can use it until you grow old and your teeth fall out - **PLUS** as a bonus we will provide you with 6 months or 12 months of free updates and definitions".
People see the "additional bonus offer" and think - this sucks it is only a 12 month trial.... then it expires. Actually at the end of the 12 months of free definitions and updates - you can continue to use these programs long after your final visit from the tooth fairy. Nothing expires - just some vendors offer some additional free support.
Of course for these products that have subscriptions for virus or malware definitions for example - even the paying customers don't get unlimited updates - they have to pay every 12 months - so clearly it makes no sense at all that some might expect the developers to provide unlimited updates to the free giveaway customers. By rights they don't HAVE to offer us even 10 seconds of free support - yet they kindly extend it to 3, 6, 12 months or even more.
Posted 16 years ago #
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