VendorDA is a database of 911 Macintosh product vendors, which also includes in its number related companies whose products may connect to or provide support for those products (i.e., IBM and NeXT don't make Macintosh products, but you may need to contact them for networking information).
This version of VendorDA includes over 120 changes and updates to the previous release. Of the now 900+ vendors listed I have verified over 50 by phone. I will continue to do some level of voice verification throughout the lifespan of VendorDA.
Speaking of lifespans, VendorDA is now over one year old. Early users may remember there was a 'real' desk accessory with version 1.3 (Sept '92), which used DisplayDA as its host. Since my database outgrew DisplayDA's capability to house the data (with version 1.4), I have had various suggestions on how to better display the data.
Thanks to those who have gone to the trouble of sending E-mail suggesting various 'solutions' -- primary of which has been Misebirakasu (what a wierd name…in any language). I have found this utility to be flakey on some Macs, refusing to find text I've entered in the 'Find' dialog -- even on the same page! So, I'm sticking with Print2Pict's Postcard for a carrier, for now. As I've indicated in earlier documentation, if VendorDA survives, it will probably find life in its own custom application. Besides, the Postcard application is robust, fast, and has a nice indexing feature built-in.
As some of you may have noticed, VendorDA won praise in the October issue of MacUser as one of the 21 best shareware products of 1993. Thank you to MacUser for the accolade! It's always nice to see *someone* recognizes a product's utility (or educational value?), even if they don't get the product description right -- VDA does not include address information, as mentioned in the write-up, but may in a future life.
And speaking of shareware (you knew it was coming)…to date there have only been 50 registered users of VendorDA!! This is outrageous. I can't put it any clearer than that. If you use it, like the warm, fuzzy feeling it gives you to know that with a single menu selection you can have a phone number to call for help, product information & updates, then isn't it worth the trouble to scribble an address on an envelope and send $10 for that security? Please….
If you do register your copy of VendorDA, and want/need the tab-delimited file for your own database (and indicate such with your check/M.O.), I'll send a disk with the latest version of the database along with a collection of other FourArts creations (QTime movie, graphics, sounds, etc.).
Lastly, thanks to those who have gone to the trouble send in their payment. Your support and nice comments have made this release a reality.
