Your intentions matter little.
I think "intentions" is what it's all about. The company intends to make me try the software in hopes that I will like it and buy it. I intend to try it and buy it if I like it and intend to use it.
... anything else illegal
Again, you assume it's illegal without justifying it..
It probably is a violation of the EULA. In the section where it talks about only installing the program on one computer, it probably has a stipulation on resetting the 30 day period.
I don't remember if it says that. I would seriously doubt it can have a stipulation preventing you from deleting or uninstalling some (or any) files from your computer. And what if your computer crashes on the 29th day and you reinstall the OS. Are you then allowed to reinstall the software and just use 1 of the 30 days allowed?
Either that, or it usually says "after 30 days, if you continue to use the software, you must purchase it".
It may have said that and I agree. If I plan to USE the software after 30 days, then I must buy it. The point is, I want to keep on TRYING it until I finish my evaluation. .. A counter arguement to that is the contract is such that that the software could run on your system for a maximum of 30 days whether or not you use it or try it.
What pisses me off (and I find intrusive and unjust) about all these trial software is that they install a hidden time bomb on your system. Yes .. you agree to it but it should be illegal to do it even with the user's permission. It's like the company says, "Trust us, we'll hide some files in your system so that you can try this for some time. After that the files will prevent you from trying or re-installing. But trust us, these files which we are hiding in your system will not affect anything else in you computer. Trust us. No Really. TRUST US! BTW, we are not responsible for any damage our software causes to your system ..."
What I want to say is, "Trust me, I will try out your software and if i find it is as good as you claim it is, and I plan to use it, I will buy it. If I don't like it, I will uninstall it. Trust me."
What pisses me even more is that you guys are all fooled into beleiving that deleting YOUR registries or "fully uninstalling" software on YOUR computer is illegal. WTF?! Also, you trust the software companies to fuck with my registry but you don't trust ME (your sciforum collegue) when I tell you I need to TRY the software a little more before I make up my mind on whether or not to buy it

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