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- W H A T I S S H A R E W A R E ?
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- W H A T I S T H E A S P ?
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- Copyright (c) 1990 by Falk Data Systems.
- All rights reserved.
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- TABLE OF CONTENTS
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- The Shareware Concept................................................2
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- The Virus Problem....................................................3
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- The Association of Shareware Professionals...........................6
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- Contacting ASP Members Via CompuServe................................7
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- Author Address Changes...............................................8
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- ASP Ombudsman Statement..............................................8
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- For More Information.................................................9
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 1
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- ======================
- The Shareware Concept:
- ======================
-
- If you are familiar with the idea behind Shareware, then you know that
- Shareware is the ultimate in money back guarantees.
-
- Most money back guarantees work like this: You pay for the product
- and then have some period of time to try it out and see whether or not
- you like it. If you don't like it or find that it doesn't do what you
- need, you return it (undamaged) and at some point - which might take
- months - you get your money back. Some software companies won't even
- let you try their product! In order to qualify for a refund, the
- diskette envelope must have an unbroken seal. With these "licensing"
- agreements, you only qualify for your money back if you haven't tried
- the product. How absurd! Shareware is very different. With Shareware
- you get to try it for a limited time, without spending a penny. If
- you decide not to continue using it, you throw it away and forget all
- about it. No paperwork, phone calls, or correspondence to waste your
- valuable time.
-
- Software authors who use the Shareware method of distribution feel
- that Shareware is the best way to try a product. You are able to try
- it on your own system(s), in your own special work environment, with
- no sales people looking over your shoulder. Have you ever purchased a
- car and realized that if you could have test driven it for 30 days
- your purchase decision might have been different? With Shareware
- these problems can be avoided - you DO have a 30 day test-drive!
-
- After trying a Shareware product and deciding to continue to use it,
- then - and only then - do you pay for it. Not only that, but
- Shareware is traditionally MUCH less expensive simply because you are
- paying for the software, not the advertising and marketing that
- comprises the majority of the cost of most software (a one page ad in
- PC Magazine, one time, can cost upwards of $20,000). If the try-
- before-you-buy concept sounds like an ideal way to make your purchase
- decisions, you're right!
-
- Some companies burden their products with annoying copy protection
- schemes because they don't trust their users. Shareware developers not
- only don't use copy protection, they freely distribute their products
- because they DO trust their users.
-
- Someone once said that you should never trust software which doesn't
- trust you. This makes a lot of sense - no wonder Shareware is
- becoming so popular among users and developers.
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 2
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software. Shareware
- is produced by accomplished programmers, just like retail software.
- There is good and bad Shareware, just as there is good and bad retail
- software. The primary difference between Shareware and retail
- software is that with Shareware you know if it's good or bad BEFORE
- you pay for it. Registration of Shareware products, in addition to
- being required, is also an incentive for programmers to continue to
- produce quality software for the Shareware market.
-
- There is another significant advantage to Shareware - it allows small
- companies (like Bristol Computing Systems, Inc.) to make software
- available without the hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses
- that it takes to launch a traditional retail software product. There
- are many programs on the market today which would never have become
- available without the Shareware marketing method. Please show your
- support for Shareware by registering those programs you actually use
- and by passing them on to others.
-
-
- ==================
- The Virus Problem:
- ==================
-
- We've all heard the horror stories about computer viruses.
- Unfortunately, we have also heard lots of conflicting statistics and
- opinions. When it comes to the virus problem there is a lot of
- confusion among users and even developers.
-
- The sad truth is that some unscrupulous publishers of anti-virus
- products are using half-truths, overdramatizations, and outright
- fabrication to promote sales of their products. They delight in
- manipulating statistics to support their marketing efforts. While not
- illegal, these snake-oil tactics are certainly not ethical.
-
- To make matters worse, the media has frequently promoted the
- misinformation promulgated by these unscrupulous individuals rather
- than the straight facts. While the misinformation may be more
- interesting than the actual facts, the media is not doing the computer
- industry any favors by spreading inaccurate information. To be fair,
- many newspapers, magazines, and news networks are beginning to realize
- which "virus experts" are reliable and which "experts" say whatever is
- in their own best interest.
-
- One of the most interesting myths that has been promulgated by these
- snake-oil salesmen is that BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems) and Shareware
- programs are a major source of virus infections. This is interesting
- since one of the individuals who makes this claim, also distributes
- his virus detection system as Shareware.
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 3
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- Some corporations are now afraid of Shareware and BBS activity because
- of this misinformation.
-
- In the October 11, 1988 issue of PC Magazine, publisher Bill
- Machrone's editorial was entitled "Shareware or Scareware?". In his
- article, Bill Machrone points out that "The truth is that all major
- viruses to date were transmitted by commercial [retail] packages and
- private mail systems." That sounds a little different than the claims
- being made by less knowledgeable journalists.
-
- Let's consider for a moment, the distribution differences between
- retail software and Shareware software. Company XYZ releases a new
- version of its retail software product. At the same time that company
- XYZ ships tens of thousands of copies to its retail distribution
- channels, it also ships 30,000 updates to loyal users. Most of those
- loyal users will receive the update within a few days of each other.
- This can be a big problem if the update happened to be infected with a
- virus.
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- "Not likely", you say? It has already happened! Several times! There
- have been seventeen (17) major incidents of virus and trojan horse
- problems in retail software. Some of these incidents affected tens of
- thousands of users.
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- What about Shareware? To date there has been one case of a shareware
- author shipping an infected product. The virus was detected by the
- disk vendors and the problem was corrected immediately. No users were
- infected.
-
- "But it makes sense that programs which are passed around have a
- greater chance of virus infections, doesn't it?" Think about it. Who
- has the most to lose if viruses were spread by BBSs and Shareware
- programs? The BBS operators, Shareware disk vendors and the Shareware
- authors, of course. Because of this, reputable BBS operators, disk
- vendors and Shareware authors are very careful with the programs they
- handle.
-
- Think about it. Hundreds (even thousands) of BBS operators and disk
- vendors are carefully examining the programs they receive and
- distribute. Their business depends on it. This means that any given
- Shareware program can go through hundreds (even thousands) of
- checkpoints where the program is carefully examined. If a problem is
- found the word spreads incredibly fast. News travels "on the wires"
- even faster than the proverbial small town gossip. Programs have
- disappeared almost overnight as a result of this highly efficient
- communication network.
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 4
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- If a Shareware program has been around for a few months, it has been
- checked for virii and trojan horses many more times than any retail
- software could hope to be checked. Retail distributors don't check
- the disks they sell. Even if the publisher checks their masters for
- virii (few do), that is still far less than the scrutiny to which
- Shareware programs are subjected.
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- There's something else to consider. Most retail distributors have a
- return policy. What do they do with packages that are returned? They
- shrink-wrap them and resell them, of course. How can you be sure that
- you are the first person to purchase the package you just bought at
- your friendly neighborhood computer store? You can't. On the other
- hand, most shareware authors erase, reformat, and reduplicate the
- disks that are returned to them. Which do you think is safer?
-
- Bill Machrone's article in PC Magazine goes on to say that "It's time
- to recognize that there's nothing to fear in shareware. As a
- distribution medium, it saves you money and helps you try out new
- genres of software with minimum risk."
-
- Does this mean that we should all start buying Shareware instead of
- retail software? Not at all (although few Shareware authors would
- object). Let's face it, more data has been lost to power failures and
- spilled cups of coffee than all virii, trojan horses, and worms
- combined! An even bigger threat is plain old human error, a mistake,
- a wrong key press, turning off the power while files are open, and so
- forth. Accurate information and common sense (regular backups) is the
- best defense against lost data.
-
- Sure, the virus problem is real. Virii exist. But shunning Shareware
- is not the answer. Shareware and BBSs are, quite simply, NOT a major
- source of virus infections. Some corporations have even banned
- Shareware entirely because of fear of infections. This is not only
- unreasonable, it is also expensive. Think how much they could save in
- software costs if they would only try software before they buy it!
-
- Is there anything you can do to help protect yourself from virus
- infections? Absolutely! Fortunately, the best preventive measures
- are also the least expensive!
-
- If you need informative, accurate and practical information, please
- read the treatise on "Computer Virus Myths" written by Rob Rosenberger
- and Ross M. Greenberg. This treatise is available as a text file on
- many BBSs and online services. It not only gives you the facts, it
- also provides the best overall strategy for protecting your computer
- system.
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 5
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- Don't let fear stop you from saving money on software. Don't let fear
- prevent you from trying some of the best software available. Shareware
- is an important market for software. Take advantage of it. You'll be
- glad you did!
-
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- =================================================
- The Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP):
- =================================================
- _______
- ____|__ | (R)
- --| | |-------------------
- | ____|__ | Association of
- | | |_| Shareware
- |__| o | Professionals
- -----| | |---------------------
- |___|___| MEMBER
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- In the early days of Shareware there were no real standards.
- Independent authors had no efficient way to learn from each other or
- to work together to improve the overall image of Shareware. There was
- no system in place to ensure that users were treated fairly and
- professionally. There was no way for users to find an address for an
- author who had moved. In short, the Shareware community was
- disorganized and each author did things the way he or she thought was
- best. It was clear that if Shareware was ever to become a viable and
- respected marketing alternative, there had to be some standardization.
- There had to be some guidelines to best serve the users.
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- In 1987 a handful of Shareware authors founded the Association of
- Shareware Professionals (ASP). In forming this industry association,
- these Shareware authors had several primary goals in mind, including:
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- o To inform users about Shareware programs and about Shareware as a
- method of distributing and marketing software.
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- o To foster a high degree of professionalism among Shareware
- authors by setting programming, marketing, and support standards
- for ASP members to follow.
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 6
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- o To encourage broader distribution of Shareware through user
- groups and disk dealers who agree to identify and explain the
- nature of Shareware.
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- o To assist members in marketing their software.
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- o To provide a forum through which ASP members may communicate,
- share ideas, and learn from each other.
-
- The newly formed Association of Shareware Professionals worked
- together to draft a code of ethics for all present and future members.
- This code of ethics included several requirements that soon became
- very popular among users (customers), including:
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- o A member's program (evaluation version) could not be limited
- (crippled) in any way. In the true spirit of Try-Before-You-Buy,
- users must be able to evaluate all the features in a program
- before paying the registration fee.
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- o Members must respond to every registration. At the very least
- they must send a receipt for the payment.
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- o Members must provide technical support for their products for at
- least 90 days from the date of registration.
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- A new system was put in place to help ensure that users were treated
- fairly and professionally. If a user was unable to resolve a problem
- with a member author then the user could contact the ASP Ombudsman
- with their complaint. The Ombudsman would then try to help resolve
- the dispute. For more complete details regarding the Ombudsman,
- please refer to the "ASP Ombudsman Statement" below.
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- The ASP currently has about 200 author members and over 100 vendor
- members, with new members joining every week.
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- ======================================
- Contacting ASP Members Via CompuServe:
- ======================================
-
- There is an easy and convenient way to speak directly to many ASP
- Members (both authors and vendors). Visit the Shareware forum on
- CompuServe. Simply type "GO Shareware" - or "GO SHARE" - from any
- CompuServe ! prompt.
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- Here you will be able to talk to the authors of your favorite
- Shareware programs, learn about other programs, ask questions, make
- suggestions, and much more. We'd love to meet you online, please come
- visit us today!
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 7
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- =======================
- Author Address Changes:
- =======================
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- People move. Forwarding orders expire. What can you do?
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- "I got a copy of a Shareware program written by an ASP Member. I sent
- in the registration fee and the post office returned my letter saying
- that it was undeliverable. Now what do I do?"
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- If the author has moved then chances are very good that you have an
- old version of the program. This is another situation that the ASP
- can help you to resolve. ASP Members are required to keep the ASP
- informed of address changes. If you need to obtain the current
- address for a member, simply write to the following address:
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- ASP Executive Director
- P.O. Box 5786
- Bellevue, WA 98006
- U.S.A.
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- or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe MAIL to ASP Executive
- Director 71327,2051.
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- ========================
- ASP Ombudsman Statement:
- ========================
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- This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
- Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the Shareware
- principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a Shareware-
- related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly,
- ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
- dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical
- support for members' products.
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- Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at:
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- ASP Ombudsman
- P.O. Box 5786
- Bellevue, WA 98006
- U.S.A.
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- or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe MAIL to ASP Ombudsman
- 70007,3536.
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 8
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- =====================
- For More Information:
- =====================
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- If you would like to learn more about the Shareware phenomenon, there
- are several excellent sources of additional information. Two of the
- best books ever written about Shareware are described below.
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- Dr. File Finder's Guide to Shareware:
- -------------------------------------
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- Announcing an Outstanding Book/Disk NEW from Dvorak*Osborne/McGraw-
- Hill
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- Dr. File Finder's Guide to Shareware
- ------------------------------------
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- by Mike Callahan and Nick Anis
- Foreword by John C. Dvorak
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- Includes One 5 1/4" Disk with Dr. File Finder's Favorite Shareware
- Programs
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- Qmodem 4.2 BackMail 1.10
- dCOM 3.44 And many more
-
- For All IBM PC & Compatibles
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- "[Mike's] book distills thousands of hours of his online search for
- the crown jewels of Shareware into one usable guide. As such, it may
- be the most valuable computer book you'll ever buy."
- --Jack Rickard, Publisher, Boardwatch Magazine
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- "No one combines Dr. File Finder's comprehensive knowledge of the
- Shareware genre with his good taste in software. This is sure to be
- the definitive place to look for insight and program information."
- --Barry Simon, Former President of the Association of Shareware
- Professionals, PC Magazine Columnist, and Coauthor of Stackey,
- Batutil, and Ctrlalt
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- "GREAT! Every PC user will find something of value within these
- pages. This book will save you a bundle."
- --Alfred Glossbrenner
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 9
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- "If I were going to buy only one computer book, this would be it."
- --Tom Scott, Publisher, Telecomputing Magazine
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- Nobody knows Shareware like the illustrious Dr. File Finder, known
- off line as Mike Callahan. Now, in Dr. File Finder's Guide to
- Shareware, you can learn about dozens of leading Shareware programs,
- including where and how to get them. In the true spirit of Shareware,
- this book/disk package includes a disk full of top programs that you
- can try out yourself before registering. Send in the card at the back
- of the book and you'll get two additional disks with more software.
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- About the Authors:
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- Mike Callahan, AKA Dr. File Finder, is the world's leading authority
- on Shareware. He regularly accesses thousands of bulletin board
- systems and has been a major force in promoting many of the top
- Shareware packages. Callahan has spent several years and thousands of
- hours helping people around the world learn more about Shareware.
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- Nick Anis is the coauthor of several acclaimed best-sellers in the
- Dvorak*Osborne imprint, including Dvorak's Guide to PC
- Telecommunications, Dvorak's Guide to Desktop Telecommunications, and
- Glossbrenner's Complete Hard Disk Handbook.
-
- $39.95, ISBN: 0-07-881646-7, 950 pp. 7 3/8 X 9 1/4
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- AVAILABLE NOW AT YOUR LOCAL BOOK OR COMPUTER STORE OR CALL TOLL-FREE
- 1-800-227-0900 (M-F, 8:30 - 4:30 PST)
-
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- Shareware: "Try Before You Buy" Software:
- ------------------------------------------
-
- Perhaps you've read Rob Rosenberger's well known and highly acclaimed
- treatise on the computer virus problem. If you liked that article
- then you'll love his excellent book on Shareware. This book is a must
- for anyone who is interested in Shareware, what to look for (and look
- out for), and where to find it. In this book, shareware author and
- writer Rob Rosenberger delves into the very heart of Shareware,
- telling you who developed the concept and why.
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- You'll know why these programs:
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- o undercut the price of retail software
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 10
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- ------ Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP ------
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- o helped bring down the use of copy protection schemes
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- o receive numerous editorial and reader survey awards
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- o generate more sales than retail software in some cases
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- o make retail OS/2 software developers so nervous
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- o are falsely accused of spreading computer "viruses"
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- Rob shows you where you can find good Shareware. You'll learn to
- beware of companies that make money by abusing the "try before you
- buy" concept. And you'll discover where Shareware is heading in the
- near future.
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- "A lot of good books devote just one or two chapters to the concept
- and history of Shareware. I'm pleased to say there is finally a
- reference book on the subject."
- --Jim Button, cofounder of the Shareware concept
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- "It's filled with accurate information for anyone who wants to learn
- about one of the most significant sources of high- quality software."
- --Edward Mendelson, contributing editor, PC Magazine
-
- Here's all the information you need to obtain your copy of this
- outstanding book:
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- Shareware: "Try Before You Buy" Software
- by Rob Rosenberger
- Third Edition
-
- Only $6.95!
-
- Paradise Publishing Phone: (800) 233-2451
- 3111 S. Valley View Blvd.
- Suite B-105
- Las Vegas, NV 89102
- U.S.A.
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- SHR-WARE.DOC Page 11