Does "freemium" strike anyone else as "shareware"? Limited functionality until paid for? Is it just an attempt to shrug off the bad image shareware has acquired?
edit: no, really. I'm asking. Is there a conceptual difference, or is it just using a new buzz-word to boost perceptions?
Shareware doesn't have a bad image because developers ask for money. Shareware has a bad image for numerous other reasons: perceived lack of professionalism on part of developers, low quality, (largely inaccurate) association with viral infections, a mindset determinedly stuck in 1996, and the fact that shareware has no meaning to most of the people on the Internet.
I would never, ever say "shareware" within earshot of a customer. (Though "freemium" doesn't sound to me like a customer-friendly word either.)
Shareware doesn't have a bad image because developers ask for money.
Wasn't aware I was implying it did. But it certainly does have that malware'd crapware image (however incorrect it may be for each individual app. There's plenty of good shareware out there).
It's pretty similar, I have another comment on this thread talking about this so I'm going to try not to repeat myself but a basic difference is that 'shareware' is a much broader term. Shareware can be anything from fully functional 'nagware' to a useful product with extra features in the pay version to a product with limited features with the limits removed in the pay version. And there are probably another 30 variations.
Freemium is a web service where ideally the free version is useful and you pay for certain additional features or a reduction in the limits of existing features. This makes the model like that of some shareware. You're generally buying a service so the something-ware name becomes even less sensible.
That's not to say that 'freemium' is not one ugly gargoyle of a word that I hope drops into the same oblivion pit where we left 'folksonomy' and other monsters.
edit: no, really. I'm asking. Is there a conceptual difference, or is it just using a new buzz-word to boost perceptions?