This is sort of an aside, but I will <i>never</i> describe my software as shareware within earshot of a customer.  (I sometimes use the word as a shortcut for "I sell B2C software over the Internet" around other developers.)<p>I think shareware is an outmoded name, an outmoded distribution model, and has connotations that I do not want for my business.  <i>Everyone</i> selling software as a product has a "try before you buy" option these days.  You can download an evaluation version of <i>Microsoft Office</i>.  In that respect, shareware has conquered its rude conquerors.<p>But do I really want my customers sharing my software?  No.  I have a website, it is the authoritative place for it.  I don't depend on viral distribution of my software, like classical shareware distributors did many many years ago when passing copies of executables to your friends was likely to result in a good user experience.<p>My customers (largely non-technical folks) may not understand what shareware means and, to the extent they have any impression of the word, it is probably negative.  For example, they might think it is "software I don't have to pay for" or "cruddy software which is going to give my Google a virus."  I don't want my customers thinking they don't have to pay for my cruddy software which is going to give their Google a virus.  I want them thinking "I have a problem and paying Patrick is the fastest way to solve it."  Branding myself as shareware does not get me any closer to that objective.