Shareware Direct/Shareware Direct.iso/read.me

Text File | 1993-09-27 | 15KB | 319 lines

Dear Shareware Distributors,

This disc is brought to you by the following companies:

ASG
Shareable Software International, Inc.
Wilson WindowWare, Inc.
MVP Software
Epic Megagames
Stiller Research
Windsoft International, Inc.
Rhode Island Soft Systems
OsoSoft
Elfring Soft Fonts
DayFlo Tracker Corporation
Motes Educational Software
First Maganitude
IrwinWare
Contact Plus Corporation
Insight Software Solutions


You are highly encouraged to return the questionaire.  This is the only
method to gauge the effectiveness of this mailing.

The following text describes some of the participating companies.  You
can find programs from each company in their own subdirectories.  Vendors,
make sure you examine the distribution requirements for each company.
Sysops, you will find ZIPS ready for posting for you.

Thanks!

Bill Dickson
Shareware Direct Coordinator



Shareable Software International began in the shareware business in 1989
as a Disk Vendor.  We have since discontinued vending activities and now
publish shareware for a number of authors, mostly out of the UK.  Current
titles include: Flexibak Plus - Hard Disk Backup; SmartCat Plus - Windows
Disk Cataloging System; CDPlayer - Windows (and DOS) Audio CD Disc Player;
Reconcile for Windows - Directory Updating Utility; SkyMap for Windows -
A Planetarium, and others.



MVP Software, founded in 1985, currently has 12 development teams dedicated
to creating the best entertainment software in the shareware industry.
Our outstanding programmers, talented artists, and professional
musicians have created a number of award-winning products.  Our seven
current shareware titles include Robomaze II: The Lobby, Robomaze III: The
Dome, Rapid Response, Hoosier City: Assault of the Orcs, Sand Storm,
Corncob 3D, and MVP Paint.  All of these are included on this disk.  Titles
scheduled to be released before Christmas include Game Builder Lite, Bloody
April, The Secret of Hope Park and Sea School.



Wilson WindowWare products

        Address Manager - Tracks addresses, phone numbers, comments,
                          important dates.  Includes dialer and label
                          printer.  Supports DDE.        $39.95

        Command Post    - A powerful text-based shell for Windows.
                          Programmable menus, built-in batch language,
                          file viewer and more.          $49.95

        File Commander  - Allows addition of programmable menu items to
                          the Windows 3.1 File Manager.  Make File Manager
                          into a super-powerful shell.   $49.95

        Reminder        - Personal Schedule Manager.  Keeps track of
                          to-do lists, set alarms (which can launch apps),
                          prints reports. Supports DDE.  $59.95


        WinEdit         - Power Programming for the Windows Environment.
                          Full featured editor, or simple file browser.
                          Super high speed, super powerful.  Winedit comes
                          in 3 flavors, for novice, intermediate and
                          advanced users.
                          WinEdit Lite     - Super notepad replacement
                                     $29.95
                          WinEdit Standard - Programmers editor.
                                     $59.95
                          WinEdit Pro      - Includes full macro language
                                     $89.95

        WinBatch        - Write your own Windows Batch Files!  Dialogs,
                          automatic program control, and powerful data
                          manipulation lets you control your Windows.
                          A must for the power user.     $69.95

        WinBatch        - NOT A SHAREWARE PRODUCT.  The WinBatch compiler
        COMPILER!         can compile WinBatch batch files into standalone
                          EXE files that may be distributed on a royalty
                          free basis.  Great for networks and corporate
                          gurus.  Compile your WBT files and then hand
                          them out like candy.           $395.00

Wilson WindowWare, Inc., the world's oldest and largest Windows
Shareware company was originally designed as an escape from the
corporate rat race.  Long before the company was named, or even
its goals established, it slowly took shape in the Hawaiian islands.

When most people think of Hawaii, they get visions of sun-
drenched beaches, sparkling blue water, and beautiful girls small
to negligible swimsuits.  Well, so did Morrie Wilson.  And
consequently, at the age of 18, he enrolled at the University of
Hawaii to pursue a career of professional surfing.  When his dream
was tragically cut short a few days later, (he discovered just how
hard it was to actually stay on the board), he quickly recovered and
started looking for a new way to exploit his talents.

Although it was difficult to decide on a different career, his
experiences as a night-shift taxi driver quickly convinced him of
one thing:  people in general were very, very strange.  After being
offered a job as a getaway driver by two passengers who were
impressed with is knowledge of local shortcuts, and turning down
various deals where he could obtain commissions on the delivery of
Navy sailors to certain rather intriguing hotels, he quickly decided
that he wanted a job where he could deal with sane, rational,
'normal' people.  Obviously, computer programming fit the
bill,(well, either that or accounting) which although not quite as
glamorous as professional surfing, was almost as exciting.

After four arduous years at the University of Hawaii, which is well
known for its excellent and rigorous program of extracurricular
activities, Morrie grew tired of the nice weather, sun-drenched
beaches and the continious parade of the small to negligible
swimsuits.  It was no surprise then, that when a possibly
inebreiated Boeing vice-president offered him a job in Seattle,
Washington, he took it.  Morrie notes that working at America's
largest aircraft research and manufacturing company taught him
one thing, "It's not that hard typing up hundreds of pages of
documentation once you realize you are just making up fairy
tales."

During a contract dispute with the local union, the Boeing
company stubbornly offered only a rather large bonus to the
employees rather than a pay raise.  Morrie took the cash and ---
going deeply into debt with his wife (see aforementioned small to
negligible swimsuits)--- purchased a top-of the line screamer, an 8
MHz AT (with a COLOR monitor).  Looking for some way to dig
himself out of debt with his wife and noting a near-total lack of
Window shareware, Morrie decided to concentrate on the Windows
shareware market, and actually sold his software to BOTH users
of Windows 1.0.

In spite of his stunned wife, he developed and launched the
"Command Post" for Windows 2.0.  Command Post was the only
widely available programmable menu system for Windows 2.0.
Estimates are that 20% of the users of Windows 2.0 (there were at
least eight of them by now) used Command Post.

Flush with success, and with his last Boeing paycheck in hand,
Morrie set out to conquer the world and start his own business, the
first exclusively Windows Shareware company.  The fledgling
company soon branched out to several other Window's
applications.  By 1991, Wilson WindowWare had become
incorporated and, much to the satisfaction of Morrie and his
tyrannical turn of mind, hired several employees(see small to
negligible swimsuits, above) and moved to a larger facility.

With Wilson WindowWare now a thriving concern, offering the
best in Windows software, Morrie now often finds himself being
asked for advice on starting and enlarging a new business,  "Find a
licensed psychotherapist.  Immediately."

So what's next?  A takeover of Microsoft?  Forbes 500?  World
domination?    "Well, a new coffee machine would be nice."




First Magnitude is actively involved in producing educational software. We
are trying to combine great graphics, arcade action, and animated lessons
to make kids want to come back to the program. We think it is working.
Kids have been telling their friends, who have told their parents, and so
on. You know you have succeeded when a neighbor kid knocks at your door
early in the morning and wants to play your games again.




OsoSoft is a small shareware publisher, established in 1987, which is
dedicated to providing excellent software for DOS and Windows at a
reasonable price everyone can afford. Owned and operated by George
Campbell, a contributing editor for PC World Magazine, OsoSoft currently
offers six shareware products, plus a number of free programs. DOS
products include BurnIn 4.5, a system stress tester designed to find
latent flaws in any PC, and MicroText 4.5, a paper saver for HP LaserJet
and Epson-compatible dot matrix printers which prints 4 pages of ASCII
text on each sheet of paper.

Windows products include Fonter 6.0, a font viewer and printer, named
"Win App of the Month" by PC Computing (Sep. '93). Rockford! 3.0 is a
full-featured business card design and printing program. MultiLabel 3.0
lets users design and print labels on all Avery LaserLabel stock, complete
with clip art images and more. WinClip 3.0 is a BMP and PCX clip art
cataloger.

Contact OsoSoft at [phone] or on the OsoSoft BBS at [phone].
OsoSoft products can be found on this CD-ROM disc in the \OSOSOFT
directory.




Contact Plus Corporation:

Originally from New Mexico under the name E Trujillo Software, Contact Plus
Corporation was formed and incorporated in the state of Florida about two
years ago.  Contact Plus Corporation is in the business of creating and
publishing business software. Included in our product line is several
flavors of CONTACT PLUS (PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL and NETWORK),
HOURS/EXPENSES/MILES, VEHICLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, QUOTES AND INVOICES,
ZEPPELAN, and PERSONAL INVENTORY. Our main product, CONTACT PLUS, has won
several awards including BEST SHAREWARE 1990 and EDITOR'S CHOICE in
Shareware Magazine. We will continue to develop more business oriented
applications with more attention paid to the Window's marketplace.




Motes Educational Software produces only children's educational software.
We currently have two programs that are shareware.  These are School-Mom and
Mom's Math.  School-Mom is a comprehensive educational program for children
of all ages while Mom's Math concentrates only on math.  We also produce
several other programs that are not shareware and sell software that is
produced by other authors.  In our shareware programs you'll find order-form
options that you can use to print order forms for these other products.




Stiller Research is a computer software research and development firm
specializing in operating systems and security with experience on both
mainframes (MVS/XA/ESA) and PC operating systems.  This expertise in
operating systems gives Stiller Research unique capabilities in dealing
with the sophisticated threats posed by viruses. Even though it produces
a product that addresses all threats to the integrity of a PC, Stiller
Research has been producing one of the top rated virus scanners (the
virus scanning component of Integrity Master) since 1990. Its chief
developer, Wolfgang Stiller, has written virus and security related
articles for numerous magazines including PC Magazine.

Regards, Wolfgang

Stiller Research, 2625 Ridgeway St., Tallahassee, FL 32310  U.S.A.
Telephone: [phone] / fax: [phone]



IrwinWare was set up to distribute DR. FORM.  Right now it is the only
product being handled, but who knows what might happen another year or
so down the road. Just a year ago I would have never dreamed I would
be where I am right now, so yes, the future is open.




Founded in 1990, Insight Software Solutions is a producer of financial
software packages designed for the professional and the average user.  The
company provides easy-to-use and feature-rich software at a reasonable
price.  Sales span four continents including eleven countries.  Michael
D. Jones, founder and President, has over seven years experience in the
finance industry.  He holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and has
been awarded the FLMI insurance designation.

And to be added:

Current offerings are: The Debt Analyzer, The Mortgage Analyzer, The
Interest Analyzer and FINCALC.  The Debt Analyzer is a package designed
to reduce and eliminate debt through debt elimination schedules and loan
consolidation.  The Mortgage Analyzer calculates and produces amortization
schedules, loan qualification, refinancing, mortgage acceleration, side by
side mortgage comparisons and mortgage calculators.  Contains an over-
abundance of features and maintains simplicity at the same time.  The
Interest Analyzer calculates and produces schedules for deferred annuities
(savings, 401K, IRA), amortization (loans, mortgages), depreciation and
immediate annuities and contains solve for calculators.  FINCALC is a
simple financial solve-for calculator packaged into a TSR.





                       Rhode Island Soft Systems, Inc.

                           Corporate Backgrounder


Rhode Island Soft Systems, Inc., headquartered in Cumberland, RI, was formed
in 1987 in Woonsocket, RI by Eric G. Robichaud.

Rhode Island Soft Systems, Inc. (RISS) develops, brokers, publishes, and
markets software products for micro and mini computers, specializing in
mass-market products for IBM PC compatible minicomputers.

As a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals, RISS began as a
small business, publishing products primarily under the "shareware" marketing
concept.  As the company has continued to grow in all facets, RISS began to
branch out into more traditional commercial/retail mass-marketing channels.
RISS has many software titles available on store shelves in retail locations,
and is currently developing additional titles for national release, based
upon licensed movie and television characters.

RISS currently employs directly and by sub-contract, 8 people.

With new products and services continuing to be released, RISS is working to
leverage its experience in order to cultivate diverse revenue streams for
continued growth, including an increased presence in the retail channels,
additional emphasis on direct-mail marketing, agressive pursuit of OEM
contracts, and more.