Serif's PhotoPlus 6

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1864650,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K00' target='_blank'>http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1864650,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K00</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Software company Serif has a novel approach for attracting new customers to its latest applications: Give away the old versions. At <a href="www.serif.com">www.serif.com</a> you can buy 2005's PhotoPlus 10 for $80, and at <a href="www.freeserifsoftware.com">www.freeserifsoftware.com</a> you can download 1999's PhotoPlus 6 for free. So, while PhotoPlus 6 clearly isn't the latest and greatest, it is hands-down the best free basic image editor around."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/0,1425,i=115206,00.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />I'm not so sure about this approach. The idea of giving away trial software should be to encourage the purchase of software. The giveaway is 4 versions and 6 years old. If the idea is that this version is really good, so the new one must be better, I would bet many would just stick with the freebie. If the idea is the old software has problems that are fixed in the newer version, I don't think giving it out as a sample of your product makes much sense either.

[OSUKid7]

I'm not so sure about this approach. The idea of giving away trial software should be to encourage the purchase of software. The giveaway is 4 versions and 6 years old. If the idea is that this version is really good, so the new one must be better, I would bet many would just stick with the freebie. If the idea is the old software has problems that are fixed in the newer version, I don't think giving it out as a sample of your product makes much sense either.
I disagree. This makes all the sense in the world. Just look at Photoshop. Look how many people steal that - because it's a great product.

Adobe has helped some by offering the cheaper Photoshop Elements, but people still want the best, for free. I'm not condoning piracy, but I like when software companies offer this "abandon-ware" for free. Sure they need to make money, and I know that some who would buy the latest edition will now just use the free, abandoned version, but nevertheless, it gets the name out.

Before this new post, I had never heard of Serif or their PhotoPlus software. Am I going to start using PhotoPlus? No, I'm fine with PSE3. But I'm not a lost sale. If someone asks me for a freeware image editing program, I might remember this post and recommend PhotoPlus. I really don't see companies offering old versions for free impacting them much financially. Those who buy the products now will probably continue, because they want the new features. Those who pirate the software now won't have to - they'll get it for free...legally. And those who don't use the software now may start using it, or at least hear about the freeware and consider using it. Sure there's a few who may use it now and never upgrade again, but overall, I don't see this as a problem.

[kiwi]

wow, nice.

Yes, free software is better than no software. I cant afford to purchase a lot of software so these free versions are good for getting the job done or for passing on to people who are not too fussed on software,