Why Shareware is so important

The past few weeks have turned me on to new shareware that I never would have found through normal web searching. Everyone uses some sort of shareware for tasks and that�s about as far as it goes. I happen across a new application while browsing Macupdate�s weekly popular section but there is so much software out there and I�m happy that a few websites have began to showcase the treasure chest of apps that are all under twenty bucks that make my life a lot easier.

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The shareware frenzy began with MacZot. This site has daily updates that feature a piece of shareware that is new or has been out for a while at a discounted rate. From 25 � 90% off its retail price, you can get some awesome applications for such a great price, there�s no reason not to buy a copy. A great example, is when Gallery Designer was featured a few weeks ago I purchased it because it was 50% off making the price only $9.95 and this was an application I never envisioned purchasing because I would never use it enough to justify a 20 dollar price tag. MacZot occasionally features bundle deals as well that make me want to visit this site every day to get my fill.

Another site was created called Macappaday. This website features great shareware applications and they�re completely free! I don�t know what to say. You click �Download� and you�re sent to a page to enter your registration info and then you can download the application you just registered. I sometimes trash the applications I get from the site but if I truly like something, I tell friends about it and hopefully help the developer get some extra sales.

The final website for cool shareware things is MacHeist. MacHeist is such an original concept ith great rewards. The idea is that a user has to complete tasks that sometimes take about 2 hours of your day and when you complete this task, you receive a code to unlock the safe and you get a bundle of shareware apps registered in your name. Their six week heists just ended and they�re celebrating by selling the most popular shareware apps on the net for a mere $49 dollars and donating 25% of those earnings to the charity of your choice.

Once again, my love of shareware has returned and I�ve found some amazing new tools that help me every day. The next step is a developer will come to my house and ask what I want to do with my Mac and they�ll code, debug and compile and application right in front of me for free! Let me know what that site goes live and I�ll be the first to sign up even if it requires the click through of a few ads.

Ah of course! Sourceforge is pretty awesome. I agree regarding their navigation but sourforce is owned by the same place that owns thinkgeeks and slashdot so w00t to them!