Do online apps count as freeware?

An increasing number of free programs are being offered in tandem with online services. A couple that came in as suggestions are Dropbox and Evernote. While it’s true you get a free app in the bargain, you also have to sign up for an account in order to take advantage of their file-sharing capabilities. (Although Evernote can be used independently on the desktop.) And the accounts themselves are free.

Bearing this in mind, we’re thinking of creating a Online category for the thriftmac collection, or possibly just mixing the online apps in with the others based on their functionality. One thing I’m leery about is their business model. Can they possibly make money by providing free services? Or are they hoping to get people hooked, and then offer a “pro” version that you have to pay for. This is the route that Google took with its online apps, and it appears people are happy with it.

Let us know what you think in the comments.

Posted Wednesday, November 12, 2008 in

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  1. if anyone watches the tutorial video, the narrator explains how you can drop url’s in chat windows and people can see your files, blah blah blah. but the person he sent that to chatted back with

    “why do you keep sending me this crap”

    quite a nice touch for a promotional video
    very funny

    daniel Sutton

  2. Yes, this is freeware – and the way things are evolving right now , you should write more about webapps – if not you’re eventually not important on the web anymore :)

    Webapps are the future!

    Teknologi og data





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