Software companies concocting creative strategies to get people to upgrade.(Knight Ridder Newspapers) From: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service | Date: June 9, 2004| Author: Ojeda-Zapata, Julio | COPYRIGHT 2004 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Byline: Julio Ojeda-Zapata

Many home-computer users continue to use outdated versions of their word processors or spreadsheets for years rather than pay for software upgrades.

Now software publishers are concocting creative strategies such as lifetime upgrade offers and Web-based software "services" to separate more customers from their cash _ and the companies' deals often are enticing.

Take tiny Mariner Software. The Minneapolis-based publisher o...