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The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (foldoc)

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)