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)
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