abandonware

Part of the TechTarget Network of Enterprise IT Web Sites

Search our IT-specific encyclopedia for:
 
Browse alphabetically:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
All Categories Computing Fundamentals

abandonware

Abandonware is computer software (such as an operating system , word processor, interactive game, or audio file) that is no longer marketed or distributed by the company that created it, but is obtainable from some other source. Some popular products that have been at least temporarily abandoned include NeXTStep, the operating system for the NEXT computer; OpenStep, its successor; and many interactive games that were replaced by more sophisticated products. In some cases, a company or Web site gets permission from the creator to distribute the abandoned program; but sometimes they don't. To use abandonware that you download, you often need a license string that the software recognizes as entitling the user to install it. In this case, the downloading site provides a license string that is known to work.

Abandonware is often provided as freeware or as priced shareware .



Last updated on: Sep 21, 2005

>  Enterprise Software related Research & News
>  White Papers for the Retail Industry

Are you a Know-IT-All?
What do you call the empty margin on either side of a bar code?
a. blank zone
b. quiet zone
Answer

word of the day Get the Word of the Day
twitter Follow us on Twitter

WORD OF THE DAY...
symbology
LEARN MORE ABOUT...
Understanding barcode scanners
Our 60+ tech-specific sites
Awards and Recognition
WhatIs.com RSS Feeds
About Us   |   Contact Us   |   For Advertisers   |   For Business Partners   |   Reprints   |   RSS   |   Awards
TechTarget provides enterprise IT professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective IT purchase decisions and managing their organizations' IT projects - with its network of technology-specific Web sites, events and magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Reprints




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2008, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts