Is linux shareware?

Linux is not shareware; shareware is copyrighted software sold on a "use it now, pay later" basis. Users can use or apply the shareware first and then pay if they are willing to continue using it. Linux is a A UNIX-like operating system that is free to use and freely disseminated, so Linux is not shareware.

#The operating environment of this tutorial: linux7.3 system, Dell G3 computer.

Linux is not shareware

Shareware is copyrighted software sold on a "use now, pay later" basis. According to the authorization of the author of the shareware, users can obtain a copy of it for free from various channels and can also spread it freely. Users can always use or try shared software first, and then pay the author if they are satisfied; if you think it is not worth your money, you can stop using it

Linux is an open source and free Unix-like operating system It belongs to system software. The main function of system software is to schedule, monitor and maintain the computer system, and manage independent hardware in the system so that the system can work in a coordinated manner. Application software refers to the application software installed in the operating system, so Linux It's not an application software.

Extended Knowledge

The proverb “Nothing in life is truly free” has been around for many years. However, the Internet has a surprise for you called "shareware". It's free (or close to free), which is on a different level than the store-bought kind.

Shareware can be downloaded directly from the Internet to your desktop; it is developed by people who develop programs to share with people who are interested in using it or abusing it. And, like commercial software, shareware is protected by copyright law.

The most obvious advantage of shareware is the free trial period. Usually, when you use a shareware for 30 days (different shareware has different trial periods), you should pay the author a certain fee before you can continue to use the software. Software that does not cost anything is called free software.

There is no current law forcing you to pay for shareware. So why pay? In addition to karma, there is also something called "support". When you ask a company (like Microsoft) for technical support, you give them your credit card number through their voice system, so you pay for it. Because many small companies make shareware, paying users can talk to the actual developers of the software when seeking support, or at least talk to someone who knows the product well. At the same time, these companies have a short cycle of fixing bugs and adding new features. You won't find a more direct feedback and reaction mechanism than a small shareware company.

Some common questions about shareware are, "What if you don't like the shareware you choose?", "Will downloading shareware bring viruses?"

First The problem is simple: just delete the program. No need to pay a penny.

Considering the possibility of some deadly virus invading your hard drive, the shareware industry has a remarkable record of delivering products that are carefully scanned for bugs. The key is to download shareware only from those reputable sites. Shareware sites run by large companies and respectable universities like MIT and Stanford are the most famous. Some sites named may be based in a home garage and should be avoided.

One more thing: when you download shareware, it's usually a compressed file. You may want to use WinZip (for Windows) or StuffIt Lite (for Macintosh) to unzip it.

Shareware not only saves you money, but it also fits your needs - Mac or PC, business or entertainment, it's all yours.

The most obvious advantage of shareware is the free trial period. However, free trials usually have some restrictions. Different types of shareware and different authors may adopt different restriction strategies:

1. Time limit. The trial period is not uniform, such as 30 days, starting from the time you install it. If you have not purchased the registration code after 30 days of use, you will no longer be able to use the software.

2. Function restrictions. During the trial period, some functions cannot be used. For example, a financial software can limit the report printing and export functions of the trial version.

3. Add watermark (link). Add the trial version watermark to the generated or exported file. This is more suitable for image processing software, video processing and production software, Flash software, etc. There are also links to the software developer's website.

4. Batch processing limit, you can experience all functions without time limit, but you can only use the software to process (save) limited content at a time. For example, the trial version of a video format conversion software can only save and convert The length of the post video is 3 minutes.

5. Some shareware software has different characteristics. Users will find many shareware software unsatisfactory during the free trial period, but after paying, they will find that the functions of the software are becoming more and more powerful and useful. The easier it is to use, but this type of sharing software exists only in part, not all. There are also some sharing software that users will feel are not good during the free trial period, and will not feel good after paying, or even feel that the software is not good after paying. There are also cases where it is not as easy to use as it was during the free trial period.

All shared software has a free trial period, but it is not free to use. In fact, shareware is more of a marketing model. It is often called TryBeforeYouBuy in foreign countries, which means "try first, then buy", which allows users to experience the software before spending money. It can be as small as a CD to MP3 conversion software, or as large as Microsoft Office and Vista operating systems. You can download and try it out first, and then buy it if you think it is good. Because of the above trial restrictions, in order for users to use the software for a long time, or to obtain all the functions of the software, and do not want to have a watermark or a link to the software author's website, they need to purchase a registration code (user name and serial number) from the software author. ), various restrictions of the trial version can be lifted after registration. The price of small software is generally less than 100 US dollars, usually 20-40 US dollars; the price of professional and powerful software varies greatly, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

There is no current law forcing you to pay for shareware.

Free software is a software that allows you to use all functions of the software without any time limit without any fees.

Recommended learning: Linux video tutorial

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