The Portable Freeware Collection Forums

This is commercial trialware but I really wanted to point out an example of commercial program I can really get behind. If I was running an independent development shop, this would be my model.

https://gingko.io/ - (Note that this is for Windows, Mac, Linux, and there's even a web client, but the desktop programs are 64-bit-only.)

Reasons it's ideal:

1. A 30 day trial that only counts the days you actually use it. This is ideal because the reason you might test out a program might be day one, but you might not need it for another month or so and then it's already gone. I wish more programs would do this.
2. A suggested price but with the ability to pay more or less. Once you open your wallet, it's easier to shell out more, especially if the program is saving you time, and improves the chances they'll keep up with the program.
3. One-time and subscription options available.

A full license, for all your machines, costs $45.

i like this part - should be able to have licenses for 5+ machines and for lifetime also, then if you find the program useful after say 5 years maybe donate another $25-$50 or so

too many software companies want to nickel and dime you

Just want to state that a subscription model for software is a deal breaker for me -- as it propels rapid feature creep and, soon enough, the user is left with something very far away from his original needs.

I live by the Linux mantra of "do one thing and do it [exceedingly] well".

Midas wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2019 5:58 am Just want to state that a subscription model for software is a deal breaker for me

Why? More often then not software is now a service that needs constant updating to make work with the constant changing OS, Sandboxie comes to mind here, and PDF-XChange is also constantly evolving for the better, if the price is right then whats the problem?

Might be just my stance but I have always been disappointed sooner or later by software that is constantly updating.

You need to ask yourself, from a lay user perspective has the functionality and usefulness of PDF-Xchange changed all that much through the years? It's a negative, IMHO.

Plus I am getting quite fed up with devs that presume to know what I really need better than I do... not to mention the bloat usually associated.

Midas wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2019 4:27 am Might be just my stance but I have always been disappointed sooner or later by software that is constantly updating.

Yeah that's a good point. That trend has only maintained my interest in portable software over time.

Midas wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2019 4:27 am I am getting quite fed up with devs that presume to know what I really need better than I do... not to mention the bloat usually associated.

I've followed many software projects over the years and it's certainly interesting what they do. If they add loads of features and keep adding, that oddly sometimes creates it's own additional problems (such as bloat and poor quality). If they cut tools, they alienate users. If they don't do much beyond simple OS or security updates, they get ignored.

webfork wrote: ↑If they add loads of features and keep adding, that oddly sometimes creates it's own additional problems (such as bloat and poor quality). If they cut tools, they alienate users. If they don't do much beyond simple OS or security updates, they get ignored.

There ain't no rest for the wicked...


Possible solution...

Interesting. I heard that donkey story in narrative form when I was a kid and it really stuck with me. Interesting to see it written into a comic.

Anyway, I maintain that devs who don't consider their users are doomed, but I acknowledge the rapid development cycles that quickly respond to customer feedback are arguably just as bad in the long run (I smell a broad code rewrite effort.) I always see the Confluence collaboration platform as a great example of this, but I can definitely see a number of mobile tools falling onto this low shelf.

webfork wrote: ↑I heard that donkey story in narrative form when I was a kid and it really stuck with me. Interesting to see it written into a comic.

Same here -- saw it first on 9gag...

Midas wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2019 2:25 pm Same here -- saw it first on 9gag...

lol ... that will probably be my only encounter with wisdom from that site.