A Little Shareware History... Shareware, freeware, and user-supported software are all terms used to describe a relatively new phenomena in the PC world. It all began in March 1982 when the late Andrew Fluegelman introduced PC-TALK (a communication program). For several years before this, computer user-groups and Bulletin Board Systems had created a network of communicating personal computers allowing users of compatible systems to take advantage of each others knowledge & Public Domain programs. These systems were in place when Mr. Fluegelman came to realize that there was no software available that would allow incompatible systems to communicate. After trying to modify available programs he decided to write his own. He did. The program allowed any computer to communicate with any other computer via the telephone. It worked so well some friends suggested he do something public with it. Rather than follow the traditional publishing route, Mr. Fluegelman decided to send his program out for free, encouraging people to copy and distribute it and asking people to make donations if they liked it. In return, he would supply them with up'grades. Within a week of making the program available he received his first order. Very quickly he had to replace his post office box with a large one and buy a few more disk drives. Shareware was born! Around the time of Mr. Fluegelman's success, a former IBM employee, Jim Button, had successfully ported an AppleSoft BASIC program called EASY-FILE, that he had written as a hobby, to the then new IBM PC. Out of a simple desire to share a good thing, he distributed the program among friends and colleagues. Friends shared with friends, associates with associates and soon hundreds were using the program. Problems soon developed trying to notify users when fixes or improvements became available, such as how to identify serious users who needed or desired the up'grades? Mr. Button decided to place a message in the program encouraging people to use and distribute the program and to send a donation of $10 if they wanted to be included on his mailing list. The first person to respond telephoned almost immediately mentioning another program, PC-TALK, that had a similar message. The two original Shareware authors got together and decided to refer to each other in their disk documents. EASY-FILE became PC-FILE and the requested donation became 25$. In may 1983 PC World Magazine gave PC-FILE a rave review. Shareware was growing up and life for the Button's changed forever! Three months later, Bob Wallace introduced PC-WRITE and with it, Commission Shareware. To encourage people to distribute and register his program, Mr. Wallace's company (Quicksoft Inc.) sends each registered user a copy of the program with it's own unique registration number. The newly registered user can then distribute his personalized copy so that each time someone else registers his copy, Quicksoft Inc. will pay him a commission. PC-WRITE is without question a super program, but there can be no doubt that "Commission Shareware" has played a significant part in it's success. Since its introduction by these pioneers, shareware has evolved into a competitive marketing alternative. Million dollar companies (like Buttonware and Quicksoft Inc.) and literally hundred's of entrepreneural authors have been offering commercial quality software and support, at an unbeatable price. Shareware has a lot to offer. Tie this with the virtually free, "Try Before You Buy" marketing concept and you, the Software Consumer, are the winner! The ASSOCIATION of SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS In April 1987 the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) was established. ASP members are programmers and vendors who subscribe to a uniform code of ethics and are committed to the shareware method of marketing. The ASP's standards for it's members are: Programming Standards The program must meet the ASP's definition of "shareware", it may not be a demo program with a major feature disabled, nor a time limited program or otherwise "crippled" program. Documentation Standards Sufficient documentation must be provided to allow the average user to try all the major functions. Discussion of the shareware concept and of registration requirements is done in a professional and positive manner. Support Standards Members will respond to people who send registration payments, as promised in the program's documentation. At a minimum, the member will acknowledge receipt of all payments. Members will establish a procedure for users to report, and have acknowledged, matters such as bug reports, and will describe such means in the documentation accompanying all versions of the programs. The author will respond to written bug reports from registered users when the user provides a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Known incompatibilities with other software or hardware and major or unusual program limitations must be noted in the documentation that comes with the shareware (evaluation) program. ASP OMBUDSMAN ASP wants to make sure 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. ASP Ombudsman 545 Grover Road Muskegon, MI 49442 Shareware is not just a novel idea. It is a real solution to the Program Author's distribution problems and the Software consumer's high prices. It's simply great for everyone, but will work only if Author's keep their promises and consumer's pay for the products they use. So if you like the shareware concept, support it and register programs you use! SHAREWARE SOFTWARE SUMMARY About 90% of the software listed in this catalog is considered "Shareware" the rest is public domain software. Shareware is software marketed on a "Try before you buy" basis. The price per disk that Shareware distributers charge is a distribution fee and not the price of the software. Shareware authors have agreed to allow vendors like us to recover expenses for copying, packaging, and maintaining a shareware library. This allows you to obtain software programs at incredibly low prices to try, then pay the registration price for them only if they suit your needs. The idea is that after a reasonable trial period, if you find the programs to be of use, you are expected to send the author the registration fee. Registration entitles you to various rights and benefits. These range from the legal (and moral) right to continue using the software. In addition many shareware authors offer printed documentation and/or higher levels of service and support. Unlike Public Domain software, which is free to everyone with no fees asked for or expected, shareware programs exist because the authors expect and deserve the registration support from people who use their programs. So that's Shareware. If you like it, support it ! Copyright 1991 Advantage Plus Dist., Inc.