Crippleware

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  crippleware n. 1. [common] Software that has some important
     functionality deliberately removed, so as to entice potential users to
     pay for a working version. 2. [Cambridge] Variety of {guiltware} that
     exhorts you to donate to some charity (compare {careware}, {nagware}).
     3. Hardware deliberately crippled, which can be upgraded to a more
     expensive model by a trivial change (e.g., cutting a jumper).


  
     An excellent example of crippleware (sense 3) is Intel's 486SX chip,
     which is a standard 486DX chip with the co-processor diked out (in some
     early versions it was present but disabled). To upgrade, you buy a
     complete 486DX chip with _working_ co-processor (its identity thinly
     veiled by a different pinout) and plug it into the board's expansion
     socket. It then disables the SX, which becomes a fancy power sink. Don't
     you love Intel?
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  crippleware
       
          1. Software that has some important functionality deliberately
          removed, so as to entice potential users to pay for a working
          version.
       
          2. (Cambridge) {Guiltware} that exhorts you to donate to some
          charity.
       
          Compare {careware}, {nagware}.
       
          3. Hardware deliberately crippled, which can be upgraded to a
          more expensive model by a trivial change (e.g. removing a
          jumper).  A correspondant gave the following example:
       
          In 1982-5, a friend had a {Sharp} {scientific calculator}
          which was on the list of those permitted in exams.  No
          programmable calculators were allowed.
       
          A very similar, more expensive, programmable model had two
          extra keys for programming where the cheaper version just had
          blank metal.
       
          My friend took his calculator apart (as you would) and lo and
          behold, the rubber switches of the program keys were there on
          the circuit board.  So all he had to do was cut a hole in the
          face.  For exams he would pre-load the calculator with any
          useful routines, put a sticker with his name on it over the
          hole, and press the buttons through the sticker with a pen.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (2001-05-12)