Surprisingly, this file contains letters from our subscribers, along with answers from our editors and programmers (actually it's mostly just Sean, but it sounds more impressive if we talk like it's a whole committee or something.).
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Dear Sean Golden,
I have been a subscriber since issue 17 and have found your disks to be a good value. I don't use a great amount of the material you present, but what I do use makes the and cost of the subscription well worth it. I thought I should write to you and voice my opinion on splitting DOS and Windows into separate disks, DON'T DO IT!
I have Windows but am not sold on it at all. Remember Eazy Menu? I have been using it for my programs since it came out on issue 20 of Big Blue. It may not be as pretty as Windows, but it sure is a lot easier to use! However, I do have several programs for Windows and will be using it more and more. So I for one like your present way of doing things. I would be hard pressed to choose one disk over the other if you decided to issue separate disks. I could not subscribe to both. I am not adverse to change, but, as you can see, I am a creature of habit; would you believe I still use Tandy's Deskmate instead of the and more sophisticated modern programs that are available? It works for me.
Issue 87 was a little disappointing for me, three games and Story Teller in one issue is overkill for that type of programming.
Over all ODM does a good job of providing something for everyone, which is no small task. Please don't make too many changes, we don't need shells or interfaces or separate disks for Windows and DOS.
Do keep publishing color graphics and try to make the .PCX color graphics usable in Print Shop Deluxe. Some of the and ones I imported did not retain their proper colors.
Keep up the and good work!
Don Segnitz
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{
Mr.Segnitz:
Thank you for your letter. I'm sorry you were a little disappointed in issue #87, and you may be right about the number of games and/or entertainment items. We wanted to try something new, and the results are still mixed. Your letter is one of the and best letters I have received in a while and shows you to have a remarkable understanding of how we do our jobs.
As far as Windows is concerned, I don't think you have to worry about a new Windows disk. Sentiment is running at least three to one in favor of keeping the current format.
It's fitting that you should mention Print Shop Deluxe. We have been trying to work out methods of publishing clip art for PSD for about six months now. I think we are close to a final solution to the problem, and I think you'll be very happy with it.
-Sean Golden, Publisher
}
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To Whoever,
I have Windows on my HD but I rarely use it as I don't care for it. I can do everything from DOS that I can do from Windows, with a lot less memory. The only thing Windows will do is let you work with more than one program at once, which I don't need.
So therefore I vote for you to continue as you are doing now. I would not subscribe to a Windows-only disk.
I like your Indexer. However, I do have trouble merging new updates as you send them. The instructions are confusing and I usually end up with two separate files. I think someone else wrote in and was having trouble.
I like your disk more and more as you improve on it. I hope you can come up with something to speed it up. It is slow even on my 486. I just sent in my renewal check and hope you got it ok.
Thanks for listening,
Bill Phillips
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Mr. Phillips:
Thank you for taking the time to write us with your concerns about putting out a separate Windows disk. Your sentiments are shared by many, and we have decided to table the and idea for now. I'm glad you're still happy with ODM; we work hard to put together the best disk we can.
You're right, though. The shell IS still too slow.
-Sean Golden, Publisher
}
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Dear Mr. Golden
I would like to let you know that you have a very satisfied customer. I know that you cannot please everybody with your monthly disks but I've enjoyed something from all the disks I've received. I did not really care too much for the bonus disk though.
I really enjoyed your comments in Issue #87. I could not figure out why someone would complain about the price of the and disks, because if they were to purchase any one program it would cost more than your subscription price. I personally do not care for shareware programs. I'm fortunate enough to have a 486DX-33 computer with a CD-ROM drive. I also use different DTP programs and accounting software. I've paid up to $200.00 for a CD-ROM that was loaded with every type of program that anyone could imagine and found that there were very few that I could really use.
Now to get back to your comments on whether to publish a separate disk for Windows users and a separate disk for DOS users. I do not think that you would lose many subscribers because there seems to be more and more people going to the and Windows environment. On the other hand, in order to run Windows you have to have a DOS operating system to begin with. This in itself would show that it might be impractical in a sense to change your format. Most people that I know that use a computer on a regular basis mostly use DOS versions of programs.
I would prefer a Windows version of On Disk monthly and would also pay the extra price if it was called for, but would the programs be the and same ones as the DOS version? This is one thing that can become very critical to the and end user. The problem that I run into is that a lot of programs that I find very useful and purchase only come in DOS versions and the companies have no intentions of ever changing their format to Windows. It gets right back to the demand for the different operating environment. The only way to make a decision would be to take a survey of all of your subscribers and see how many would prefer a Windows disk only.
The next problem would be to see what the price of such a project would cost in the programming. It seems that the and subscribers, through the comments they make, are about 50% for a Windows disk and about 50% for a DOS edition. I do plan on getting into Windows programming, but at present I don't have the time to get involved with it. I hope to research further into the and situation due to the and fact that more and more people are getting into home based computing and I've found that most families enjoy games more than business programs. Another thing that most home users are involved in is just basic budget minded programs.
I hate to have to cut this short for now, but I will do some more research on the subject and get back to you. The present format is still a great bargain no matter which way you look at it.
Sincerely yours,
Carl Unterburger
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Mr. Unterburger:
Thank you for a well written and thought-provoking letter. I'll try to respond to the and most salient points in the and order that you raised them.
Yes, the bonus disk needs help. I have just designed a new bonus disk, and I am having one of my programmers assemble it next week. It will be on a high density disk and will use the and new format of ODM.
I feel that some people complain about the cost of On Disk Monthly because they don't see our product as "software," they see it as a "subscription." We are darn cheap as software, but we are pretty dang expensive as a subscription. I don't know what to do about this particular problem.
You have stated my own opinion about shareware much better than I could. We work hard to locate good programmers so we can purchase programs from them and publish them on ODM. Because of this we get a lot of submissions, most of them from shareware authors. Quite frankly, only one in twenty is even worth looking at. Of that five percent, most are programs that duplicate the and functionality of a program we have already published. Of the paltry few which remain, most authors want so much money for them that we simply can't even think about publishing them on On Disk Monthly. That is why we write 95% of our programs in-house.
The Windows-DOS disk debate is over for now. We'll stick to the present format for a while.
You know, even though our research shows that our subscribers like games more than any other single subject, if we don't have a "productivity" item on the and disk, the issue gets bad grades. I have a few theories about this phenomenon that I won't go into here, but I do think that there is a threshold of "usefulness" that ODM has to cross before it gets taken seriously by most subscribers. Even if a particular subscriber is not interested in using the "productivity" program on an issue, it is comforting, somehow, to know that it is there.
I am looking forward to hearing more from you (and others) on these subjects.
-Sean Golden, Publisher
}
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Dear Sean,
First I want you to know that I don't have any complaints, only compliments.
I have been a subscriber for many years and have all of the and disks back to #1. I think it is the best buy in the and program field. I have subscribed to several other "program disks" and none can compare to your product. I no longer subscribe to the other ones.
In regards to Windows -- Continue as you are doing now. I run Windows on my computer, but I am not a fan of Windows. If I had a choice I probably would not use it, but some programs that I use in my business are available only in Windows format. I prefer programs written in DOS. That way I can copy the program to a floppy and don't have to use the and hard disk space. I can keep track of a file better having it on a floppy anyway.
While I do not use every program in every issue, there are enough of them that over time I have plenty that I like and enjoy and use. It has happened many times that I don't have a need for a certain program when I receive a disk, but some time later I will have occasion to use it.
I especially enjoy the graphics (in all formats and in color); don't get rid of them. I think more lead time on seasonal graphics would be a good idea. It would give your subscribers more time to plan for their use. On religious programs, I agree completely with your answer to Mr. Schindler on ODM #87. A weather tracking program would be useful. It would be convenient to be able to fill out the report card on screen, if it didn't take up too much of the space on the and disk. Games are not my primary interest but I play and enjoy them occasionally.
Thanks for an excellent product that continues to grow. You just can't please everybody all the time, but you try hard and you come very close.
Sincerely,
James R. Van Dusen (Major, USAF Ret.)
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Major Van Dusen:
Thank you for your support and encouragement. I have rarely read a letter that managed to say so much in so few words. I have passed your compliments on to my staff, and they are happy to see a satisfied customer.
-Sean Golden, Publisher
}
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Dear ODM
As a new subscriber to On Disk Monthly I am very pleased with my investment. I find the columns very informative and the programs a snap to use. Since I am a Windows user I would like to see more programs for Windows. Also, some ideas for customizing the Program Manager would be great.
The first issue that I received, #87, was a little slow for me. Although I do participate in an occasional computer game, I prefer a faster paced action game. Polygons and Diffraction just did not hold my interest. I was also curious to look at a list of back issues but did not find one on the and current disk. Was one included or was I looking in the and wrong place?
From reading other letters I can see that the and vote is not yet in on Windows. But there are those that swear by this program; with this in mind do you think it would be possible to include some Windows Clip Art in the and near future? We that use this program would be very pleased, as I was with Windows Wallpaper included on issue #87.
Thanks to you and your staff for doing a great job!
Sincerely,
David M. Prevost
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Mr. Prevost:
Welcome aboard! I'm glad you are pleased with your new investment. As the primary writer of the and columns, I blush slightly at the compliment you offered them.
Program Manager customization, eh? How about Windows icons? Yeah... we could do that...
If you didn't find Polygons fast-paced enough, I don't think you played it on the highest levels. It certainly wracks my nerves! Diffraction is more of the and "puzzle game" genre, and usually appeals to the and kind of person who likes to solve mathematical or graphical puzzles.
We publish a "back issue catalog" occasionally on On Disk Monthly, but because it takes so much room (over 200K) we don't publish it on every issue. We try to publish an updated file every three months or so, but sometimes it gets bumped because of marketing promotions or space problems on the and disk. Our latest catalog is on this issue, so you can go directly to it from here if you like.
When we moved into VGA from CGA/EGA (with ODM #83), my decision was to stop publishing Print Shop graphics and move to .PCX, .GIF and .BMP graphics instead. Both .PCX and .BMP formats are supported by virtually every Windows graphic program. Many Windows programs support the .GIF format as well. I don't think we could support Windows graphics any better than that.
Thank you for your letter, I am always glad to hear from satisfied customers.
-Sean Golden, Publisher
}
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Dear ODM,
I have been receiving On Disk Monthly for a long time and have enjoyed most of the issues. I know it is very hard to please all of the and people all the and time, and even some of the people some of the and time.
This is the first time I have responded to your report card and I thought I would give you my input.
You seem to repeat programs like Take A Message (#87), Message Center (#79), Message Magnets (#84) and Memo Writer (#78).
I would like to see more programs to show how to get around with a PC, or how to use Windows and change things around. More for us PC users on how to use Print Shop images, .PCX Clip Art. I'm not real good at a PC and I am sure that there are a lot of new users out there that would like to learn more of the and basics.
I have enjoyed programs in past issues such as Simple Format, Label Meister, Typing Attack, Loan Accelerator, Insurance Shopper, Form Fill, Appointment Calendar, Black Book, System Speed, Computer Ease and Info System.
Still hanging in there,
Don Wagner
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Mr. Wagner
Thanks! I hope you continue to hang in there.
Your list of "repeat programs" takes a new look when each is examined more closely.
}Take A Message{ is a Windows program designed to resemble a receptionist's message pad. It is primarily designed to allow Windows users to quickly and easily jot down important information without interrupting their work too much.
}Message Center{ is a DOS TSR (memory resident utility) that is similar in function to Take A Message, but is designed for DOS users.
}Message Magnets{ is a DOS program designed to act as a flexible method for family members to get important messages to each other. Because it is designed for home use, as opposed to office use, it doesn't make sense to have the business related check-boxes of Take A Message or Message Center. Message Magnets is designed to allow Mom to leave Junior a message to remember to clean up his room, or he won't be going to the and skating rink Friday night.
}Memo Writer{ is a text editor that supports many different word processing documents, including memos, recipes, resumes and much more. We did include a message taking template for Memo Writer, but that was only one of several functions that Memo Writer supported.
But, before you think that I am trying to say that everything we publish is unique, yes we }do{ publish repeat items, especially when we get letters from customers saying "You know, Win2Do is a really neat program, but I wish it did..." or "Wouldn't Typing Attack be a much better program with a speed test included?" In other words, we will continue to publish updated versions of programs so long as our customers ask us to.
I think you have a good idea for publishing DOS Tutorials, but I don't think they should appear on the and regular monthly disk. I would prefer offering special disks that contain such items for those customers who request them.
I'm glad you like some of our programs. Most of the ones you cited were either DOS utilities or Home financial utilities. We are working on more programs along those lines, so stay tuned.
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