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ART5
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1994-03-27
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ASP Advantage
CD-ROM
by Tony Curro
If you are reading this article, you have access to a BBS. Besides being
a place to communicate, and share ideas with others of like interests,
it is also a fount of excellent programs to use on your system. The
Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) is the largest trade group
of software publishers, with more than 1,700 members and growing each
day. Yes, there are many non-ASP programs available, and quite a few of
them are not crippled in any way. However, the ASP standards require all
ASP authors must release full, working versions of their software. You
will NEVER find a "demo" or crippled product if it carries the ASP logo.
You will always receive full documentation, and if there is a problem
with an author (either for support, or lack thereof), the ASP Osbudman
will help you resolve your differences.
The ASP makes new or updated products available to its many
distribution sites. They have recently started to distribute quarterly
CD-ROMs. Each disk will contain new and updated programs from that
quarter. SYSOPs will be pleased to find a directory on the CD-ROM that
will aid them in quickly making these programs available to their users.
ASP Advantage CD-ROM comes with about 1,000 programs, from managing your
checkbook and creating a shopping list, to cataloging you video
collection and playing a game. You will find programs for both DOS and
Windows platforms. Neither of these needs to be installed, but you will
greatly speed your searches by doing so. Each platform has its own
installation program, which is described in the README.TXT file on the
CD-ROM.
For a quick start, type 'GO' from the CD-ROM drive. You can read about
the ASP, search categories, copy, and even format a floppy. Using the
'About System' feature you can see what memory, disk space, and graphics
card you have installed. The CD- ROM also has a Delta Directory
Interface. This interface will show you only updated or new programs
since the last ASP CD- ROM. You can copy the files in their archived ZIP
format, or have them uncompressed as they are being copied.
Files are stored in many directories. However, you need not concern
yourself with this, as you highlight a file or group of files from the
list, and then have the program copy them to your hard drive. You will
find the files on the CD-ROM in both compressed and uncompressed
formats.
Looking over this CD-ROM I found many interesting programs, some of
which I plan to review in the future. For those who do not want to spend
much time online, call a BBS that does not have a large selection of
current files, or if you are just starting out you will find something
useful here.
I have seen several of the programs that I have reviewed in the past on
this CD-ROM. The CD-ROM is attractively priced. BE ADVISED that
purchasing the CD-ROM does NOT mean that you own the enclosed programs.
Yes, you can try ALL of them free-of-charge, but if you use them for any
length of time, say 21 days or more you should register the program with
the author. These are shareware programs, and since you have the
opportunity to try-before- you-buy, it is no reason to abuse this
privilege. The more people that register a product, the harder the
author will work to create a better product. I have spoken to authors
who have received dozens, if not hundreds, of requests for support, yet
they only have a handful of registrations to show for their work. The
CD-ROM should be available in many leading software stores, or order it
directly from ASP.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
* Memory, video, etc., dependent on the program.
* MS-DOS
* MS Windows (for Windows applications)
* CD-ROM drive
* Hard disk not required (but may be needed to install larger programs)
Product Information
ASP Advantage CD-ROM
Second Edition
1st Quarter 1994
SRP -- $24.95
(+ $2.00 S/H)
Association of Shareware Professionals
545 Grover Road
Muskegon, MI 49442-9427
616-788-5131 (Voice)
616-788-2765 (Fax)