I have to admit that I'm new to Internet Downloading.
What exactly does Shareware mean for instance.
Steve,
Shareware is "Try-before-you-buy" software that's not normally available through the retail channel. It is supplied on the understanding that after the specified trial period (30 days in the case of Panorama Factory), you will either uninstall the program and discard the download; or pay the registration fee.
Sometimes the program is supplied "on trust" and relies on your honesty to pay up; but more usually the program will have one or more snags:
a. it will actually stop functioning after 30 days.
b. its functionality is curtailed (e.g. no save, or only so many saves allowed, or no printing, etc. etc.)
c. it contains some form of branding which will be incorporated in the program's output (e.g. "PixAround" appears in the panoramas created by the latest version of PixMaker while on trial).
d. and so on
If you're unhappy with the sofware, that's it.
But if decide that it does what you want it to do and the price represents good value for money, then you will have to register.
Another benefit of shareware is that you may wish to try several different programs of the same type (say Panorama Factory and PixAround), and decide which you prefer.
To register you would normally go to the publisher's site, pay your registration fee by credit card, and receive a username and/or registration code, serial number, or whatever, by e-mail.
Then the next time you start the program you would enter the code(s) into a disignated box, as detailed in the instructions normally included in the e-mail.
I strongly recommend that you maintain a notebook with ALL your registration codes, together with the date and amount you paid for the software, and the web site and/or e-mail address of the supplier. Then should your hard disk crash and you have to reinstall, assuming you've kept a copy of the download on some other media, you will be able to re-validate the program.
BTW "Freeware" is software that is really free, such as PixMaker Lite.
live in the Uk and would like to download this software, creat
panoramas, save to disk (hardrive and CD), print. Will this
downloaded version allow me to do that.
As I recall it will; I've registered my version of Panorama Factory so I cannot tell you the exact problems, but I'm certain that it too brands the panoramas it creates.
Would you say it's superior to Photosuite, my other option.
I'm afraid that I don't know PhotoSuite so I cannot respond here. However I suggest you visit the PanoGuide web site since they have reviewed several current programs dedicated to or with functionality for panoramas:
http://www.panoguide.com/
I know so many questions, but I would appreciate any advice on the
matter.
No problem, Steve, that's the advantage of friendly forums such as this one. I have benefitted greatly from this and some of the other forums here at DP Review, and am always happy to contribute where I can.
If you don't have free or unmetered internet access, and since you live in the UK, I would be happy to copy both Panorama Factory and PixMaker Lite (which is Freeware) on to a CD and post it to you. This will save you the cost of several megabytes worth of download telephone line time. The CDs cost pennies and the postage likewise, so I won't really be out of pocket. If so, just send me an e-mail with your address; click on my "handle" above (provided you are a registered forum member at DP Review).
(BTW The same offer is extended to anyone else in the UK who's reading this).
Regards,
Robin [Redbreast]
