For years, people have closed WinRAR’s purchase reminder with the approach of “I’ll deal with that tomorrow”…30 years later. Apparently, the way to finally open their wallets, wait for it, was to sell them a purse.
This week on LagginOut, the crew discussed a WinRAR merchandise collaboration featuring a bag shaped like the software’s familiar stack of books. According to sources, the $150 bag as well as a $300 varsity jacket sold out. The software license people spent decades avoiding? Suddenly it looks reasonably priced, compartively.
There’s something beautifully and ironically ridiculous about refusing to pay for a “useful” program, then spending considerably more to wear its logo. Somewhere, a purchase reminder is taking this very personally.
The discussion also cleared up an all too familiar misconception. WinRAR continuing to work after its trial expires doesn’t make it freeware. As Great Gazoo pointed out so well in the chat, it has a 40-day trial followed by a paid license. It was the program’s willingness to treat that as a suggestion and keep functioning on why so many users just kept hitting the snooze button.
Meanwhile, Chieftain briefly renamed 7-Zip “Seven Up.” God love ya, Chieftain.
Hiro’s made the broader point that merchandise gives people another reason to support something they use. That same principle applies to creators, games, and entertainment. Someone might ignore a donation button but happily buy a shirt. Give them something they actually want, and suddenly supporting the product becomes part of the purchase. Yay, consumerism.
Whether that explains the appeal of a software-themed handbag or simply confirms that nostalgia can sell almost anything is open for debate.
Either way, WinRAR finally found something people couldn’t just close and ignore.
Other Topics Covered This Live:
- A $118,000 Minecraft promotion bill
- Infamous’s Slasher Movie
- Kitsune’s AI Zone, Kingdom Hearts edition: The staff received Keyblades and Disney-inspired transformations, including Chieftain as Sora, Curvy with Mulan-inspired styling, and Little Red wielding the distinctive χ-blade.
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