1. [common] Software that has some important functionality
deliberately removed, so as to entice potential users to pay for a
working version.
2. [Cambridge] Variety of {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., cutting a jumper).
An excellent example of crippleware (sense 3) is Intel's 486SX chip,
which is a standard 486DX chip with the co-processor diked out (in
some early versions it was present but disabled). To upgrade, you buy
a complete 486DX chip with working co-processor (its identity thinly
veiled by a different pinout) and plug it into the board's expansion
socket. It then disables the SX, which becomes a fancy power sink.
Don't you love Intel?
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {annoyware}{brain-damaged}{careware}{Commonwealth Hackish}{nagware}{shareware}{-ware}]