Editing Crippleware (section)

{{Short description|Product with intentionally limited features in favor of a more expensive version}}
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'''Crippleware''' is computer [[software]] or hardware that has been intentionally designed to have some of its features disabled or not working to its full capability until payment of some kind is rendered.

In software, crippleware means that "vital features of the program such as printing or the ability to save files are disabled until the user purchases a [[registration key]]". While crippleware allows consumers to see the software before they buy, they are unable to test its complete functionality because of the disabled functions.

Hardware crippleware is "a hardware device that has not been designed to its full capability". The functionality of the hardware device is limited to encourage consumers to pay for a more expensive [[upgrade]]d version. Usually the hardware device considered to be crippleware can be upgraded to better or its full potential by way of a trivial change, such as removing a [[jumper wire]]. The manufacturer would most likely release the crippleware as a low-end or [[freemium|economy version]] of their product.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/crippleware.html|title=What is crippleware? - A Word Definition From the Webopedia Computer Dictionary|work=webopedia.com|date=30 November 2004|access-date=10 May 2007|archive-date=15 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615050733/http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/crippleware.html|url-status=live}}</ref>