The September 1992 issue of MacUser contained the following article on the best in Macintosh shareware. Following the entries on the shareware winners, you find comments gleaned from the ballots of some of the people that voted. If you're not a MacUser subscriber or missed the article, here it is in handy text form. Enjoy!
The MacUser Shareware Awards
Shareware can tune up your Mac, empower your programs, and -- most important -- save you big bucks. Here are the 34 top shareware bargains, as selected by a panel of industry experts.
By Gregory Wasson
Shareware seldom gets a fair shake. When the time comes to pass out awards, the more high-profile commercial products usually get all the glory. But shareware products often deliver a substantial portion of the functions and features that their commercial cousins do -- at a fraction of the price. Most people could save hundreds of dollars by substituting just one or two top-notch shareware programs for commercial programs loaded with features they'll never use.
To give these incredible bargains their own moment in the spotlight, we sent ballots to more than a hundred movers and shakers in the Mac community, ranging from company CEOs to the industry's best writers, editors, tech-support managers, and others. We asked them to nominate their favorite shareware and freeware in a dozen categories (see the sidebars for some of their specific comments).
We tallied the votes, and here are the results: the very best in Mac shareware and freeware and a tribute to the talented Mac enthusiasts who bring these programs to life. Each program description includes the filename and the library in which you can find the files in the ZiffNet/Mac (Zmac) Download & Support Forum.
System Enhancements
This category produced more nominees than any other. This isn't surprising, because system enhancements are the most popular type of shareware for the Mac. Their popularity might seem a little odd, given that the Mac is known for its technically superior operating system. These programs prove that even a very good thing can sometimes still be improved.
And the winner is...
SuperClock
SuperClock is a well-mannered, intelligent screen clock (see Figure 1). It is always visible in the right corner of the menu bar, unless a screen saver is in operation. PowerBook users will appreciate the program's new battery-power indicator. Author: Steve Christensen. Freeware; 18K (SUPERC.SIT, Library 3).
Honorable mentions go to...
PopChar
PopChar is a control panel substitute for the Apple Key Caps DA. Author: Gunther Blaschek. Freeware; 52K (POPCHA.SIT, Library 3).
General Utilities
This category also pulled in many nominees: People love to tinker with their Macs, increasing the system heap, managing SCSI devices, and so on.
And the winner is...
SCSI Probe
SCSI Probe is a control panel that tells you what devices at a particular address are attached to your SCSI port and lets you mount off-line volumes. Author: Robert Polic. Freeware; 30K (SCSIPR.SIT, Library 3).
Honorable mentions go to...
Bootman
Bootman provides a simple, elegant way to increase your system heap and the number of files you can have open. Author: Bill Steinberg. Freeware; 16K (BOOTMN.SIT, Library 1)
TattleTale
TattleTale provides complete information about your computer's configuration. Author: John Mancino. Freeware; 114K (TATAPP.SEA, Library 1). (This version of TattleTale is designed for System 7; the comparable application for users of other system-software versions is TattleTale DA [TATTLE.SEA, Library 2].)
Text Tools
When using your word processor is overkill or when you need different features, a variety of shareware text tools stands at the ready.
And the winner is...
McSink
With its multiple windows, advanced controls, macros, color, and icon-grabbing capabilities, McSink is much more than an ordinary DA word processor/text editor. The program can be upgraded to Vantage, a commercial version of the product, available from Baseline. Author: David McWherter. Shareware, $45; 116K (MCSINK.SIT, Library 2).
Honorable mentions go to...
DOCMaker
DOCMaker lets you create stand-alone, self-running document files that can run on any Mac. You can use the files to distribute documents without knowing what word processor each recipient has. Author: Mark Wall. Shareware, $25; 170K (DOCMAK.SEA, Library 1).
miniWriter
A useful text editor that never seems to fail, miniWriter is one of the most popular pieces of Mac shareware ever (see Figure 2). Author: David Dunham. Shareware, $12; 30K (MINIWR.SIT, Library 2).
DTP/Font Tools
The DTP arena hasn't produced a tremendous number of shareware products, but the ones that do exist are top-notch. The winner was chosen by an overwhelming number of the people balloted.
And the winner is...
theTypeBook 2.37
TheTypeBook is a utility program that helps you create and maintain a typeface-reference book that demonstrates the various artistic attributes of each face on a printed page. TrueType-compatible. Author: Jim Lewis. Freeware, 102K (TYPEBK.SEA, Library 1).
Honorable mentions go to...
Add/Strip
Add/Strip automatically performs much of the work necessary to clean up text-only files destined for import, to page-layout, word-processing, database, or spreadsheet programs. It lets you substitute or remove em dashes, smart quotes, and so on, all in one pass. Author: Jon Wind. Shareware, $25; 95K (ADDSTR.SIT, Library 1).
Carpetbag
Carpetbag is a shareware clone of Suitcase. It's not as powerful, but it's much cheaper. Author: James Walker. Shareware, $5; 35K (CARPET.CPT, Library 3).
Graphic Tools
If you're a budding painter, the nominees in this category will all let you draw and paint yourself into a corner.
And the winner is...
LightningPaint
LightningPaint is a remarkable painting-type graphics program. It sports all the usual paint tools and even some unusual ones, such as spiral and starburst tools (see Figure 3). LightningPaint saves files in its own format or in MacPaint, startup-screen or PICT format. Requires Compact Pro (see below). Author: Humayun S. Lari. Shareware, $14 ($7 for students); 160K (LPAINT.CPT, Library 1).
Honorable mention goes to...
AppleDraw
An older piece of software, this drawing program in a DA provides most of the features casual users will ever need. Author: Gunther Blaschek. Freeware, 32K (APDRAW.CPT, Library 2).
Personal Information Managers/Number Crunching
Taking care of business doesn't necessarily require a corporate bankroll. The programs honored in this category help keep you organized and in the black.
And the winners are...
Remember?
Remember? is a personal reminder system composed of a DA and a system extension (INIT) that lets you set alarms to notify you of upcoming events, deadlines, and the like. Author: Dave Warker. Shareware, $20; 150K (REMDA.SEA, Library 2). (The documentation, if you need it, is available as the file REMDOC.SEA.)
BiPlane Spreadsheet
BiPlane, the "affordable shareware spreadsheet," is a full-featured business tool (see Figure 4). Features include SYLK-file compatibility with Microsoft Excel, 512 columns by 16,384 rows, 102 functions, and business graphics. When you become a registered user, you get a DA version, Help files, and a 200-page manual. Author: Alan Porter. Shareware, $59; 177K (BIPLAN.SEA, Library 1).
Honorable mentions go to...
Address Book
This is an address-book application and- DA (see Figure 5). Address Book prints to envelopes; labels; Rolodex cards; and size B, D, J, and K Day-Timers. Author: Jim Leitch. Shareware, $30; 194K (ADDRBK.SEA, Library 1).
To Do!
The To Do! DA is an attractive, well-designed program for keeping track of your daily activities. It's easy to use and very handy. Author: Andrew Welch. Shareware, $15; 68K (TODO.SEA, Library 2)
System 7 Only
System 7 may be heaven, but there are ways to tweak it, as the programs honored in this category make abundantly clear.
And the winner is...
MODE32
MODE32 is a System 7 extension that enables Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 computers to use 32-bit addressing and access more than 8 megabytes of real or virtual memory. Developed by Connectix and made available through a blanket distribution agreement with Apple, MODE32 is free -- kudos to both Apple and Connectix for this generous gift to the Mac community. Author: Connectix. Freeware; 40K (MODE32.SEA, Library 3)
Honorable mentions go to...
ZMakeAlias
ZMakeAlias puts a Make Alias option inside the Save and Save As dialog boxes for all applications. It works only with System 7. Author: Mike Throckmorton. A MacUser ZiffNet/Mac exclusive. Freeware; 45K (ZMAKEA.SIT, Library 3).
MenuChoice
MenuChoice is a control panel that makes folders in your Apple Menu Items folder show up as submenus on the Apple menu. Requires System 7. Author: Kerry Clendinning. Shareware, $15; 50K (MENUCH.SEA, Library 3).
Security/Antiviral Tools
Protecting your data from prying eyes and malicious viruses is an unfortunate necessity. There was no real contest in this category -- the winner garnered more votes than any program nominated in any category.
And the winner is...
Disinfectant
Disinfectant is a free virus-prevention and disk-scanning and -repair program (see Figure 6). Version 2.8 includes a new protection INIT and excellent built-in documentation and can detect the latest Mac viruses: MBDF A, INIT1984, and Code 252. The author should be canonized for providing this program to the Mac community. Author: John Norstad. Freeware; 204K (DISINF.SIT, Library 8).
Honorable mention goes to...
VirusDetective
VirusDetective is an outstanding user-configurable antiviral system. It scans floppies, creates logs, and does much more. Help is built in. Author: Jeff Shulman. Shareware, $40; 164K (VIRDET.SEA, Library 8).
Telecommunications/Compression
Shrieking and shrinking might be a good subtitle for this category. The winners should come as no big surprise.
And the winners are...
ZTerm
ZTerm is a fast, efficient telecommunications program that's not overloaded with features. It can store settings, phone numbers, and simple macros. ZTerm supports Zmodem, Xmodem, Ymodem, and CompuServe's QuickB scheme, so you don't have to switch applications to use older protocols. Author: David Alverson. Shareware, $30; 186K (ZTERM.CPT, Library 1).
Compact Pro
Compact Pro is a file-compression utility that allows you to shrink files so they take up less disk space. Files compressed files by Compact Pro are typically smaller than those compressed by StuffIt 1.5.1. You can also create auto-extracting archives to send to someone who doesn't have Compact Pro. Author: Bill Goodman. Shareware, $25; 120K (CPTPRO.SEA, Library 1).
Honorable mentions go to...
StuffIt Classic Installer
This self-extracting archive installs StuffIt Classic, the shareware version of StuffIt Deluxe. Author: Raymond Lau. Shareware, $25; 378K (STUFCL.BIN, Library 1).
StuffIt Expander
StuffIt Expander is a must-have free compression utility that decompresses files from any of the StuffIt formats as well as files from Compact Pro and AppleLink packages. Author: Aladdin Systems. Freeware; 71K (STUFEX.SEA, Library 1).
Connectivity
With Apple and IBM cozying up to one another, having the right connections is definitely a plus. Being able to "talk" the other platform's lingo or move files through different formats is a must, and the honorees in this category make that a whole lot easier.
And the winner is...
GIFConverter
This program lets you view GIF, TIFF, RIFF, RLE, PICT, startup-screen, paint, or ThunderScan files on any Mac. GIFConverter also allows you to save files to any of these formats or to EPS or print them to any Mac printer. It's a great connectivity tool. Author: Kevin Mitchell. Shareware, $40; 295K (GIFCON.CPT, Library 1).
Honorable mentions go to...
UnZip
UnZip allows Mac users to de-archive Zip files, allowing access to material compressed in the DOS world's equivalent of StuffIt. Authors: Samuel Smith and others. Freeware; 40K (UNZIP.SIT, Library 1).
Children's/Educational
Children and monks may not seem to go together, but they both showed up on our voters' list of favorite children or educational shareware programs.
And the winner is...
Kid Pix
Kid Pix 1.0 is the free version of the popular children's paint program (see Figure 7). It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the commercial version (no color, not as many wacky brushes, and no digitized sounds), but it's still wildly fun and fully functional. An enhanced color version is available from the author for $25. Author: Craig Hickman. Freeware; 44K (KIDPIX.CPT, Library 1).
Honorable mention goes to...
If Monks Had Macs...
If Monks Had Macs, a collection of several stacks, is one of the most beautiful and elaborate works in HyperCard. The stacks range from a medieval religious work to messages on a contemporary bulletin board on the meaning of life. The entire collection is too large to provide for downloading, but ZiffNet/Mac has four sample stacks, Library 6: The White Rose (MONKS1.SIT); Passing Notes (MONKS2.SIT); Haiku Master (MONKS3.SIT); and Meat & Conversation, which is actually a delightful adventure game (MONKS4.SIT). Each stack includes instructions on ordering the entire collection. Authors: Philip Mohr and Brian Thomas. Freeware.
Trivial Pursuits
All work and no play would make even our extremely likable balloters dull boys and girls. The winner in this category surprised us: Simplicity won out over special effects.
And the winner is...
Klondike
Klondike is a straightforward simulation of real solitaire, which may not sound like much to get excited about unless you're very, very lonely, but this is an elegantly designed program. You even get color suits on the Mac II. It's a classic. Author: Michael Casteel. Shareware, $10; 50K (KLONDI.SIT, Library 1).
Honorable mentions go to...
Solarian II
A high-quality color arcade game set in an outer-space environment where you're attacked by a zoo of interesting characters. Author: Ben Haller. Shareware, $25; 528K (SOLARI.SEA, Library 1).
Pacman
This version of Pacman is the best we've seen. It's vivid and colorful and brings back great memories of the arcade video-game classic. Requires a 13-inch Apple color monitor set to 256-color mode. Author: M. Tsuji. Freeware; 26K (PACMAN.CPT, Library 1).
Adam C. Engst
Editor and Publisher, TidBITS
AppSizer
Michael Peirce's AppSizer lets you resize the memory partition for an application on launch and optionally save that size as the default (APPSIZ.SIT, Library 3).
TrashMan
I don't take my trash to the dump, and I don't want to have to empty my Mac's trash can either. TrashMan tracks how long a file has been in the trash and destroys it after a user-specified amount of time (TRAMAN.CPT, Library 3).
Carpetbag
Suitcase for the poor. Carpetbag simply opens resource files (fonts, Fkeys, and so on) in a folder as though they were stored in the System file (CARPET.CPT, Library 3).
Remember?
An excellent date-reminder program that's competitive even with some recent commercial releases (REMDA.SEA, Library 2).
Downline
Takes the files stored in a user-specified folder, deBinhexes and unStuffs them, and then puts the output into another user-specified folder. The easiest way to handle a bunch of downloads (DOWNLI.CPT, Library 1).
Alex Lau
Technical Support Manager, FWB, Inc.
CheckList 1.0
Included with PageMaker 4.2, it's a great tool for getting information essential for sending a job out to print at a service bureau (CHKLST.SEA, Library 1).
Helium
The first, and best, Balloon Help tool available (HELIUM.SIT, Library 3).
StuffIt Expander
The decompression tool that should have been available from the get-go. In System 7, its drag-and-drop ability is key and earns it precious space on my desktop (STUFEX.SEA, Library 1).
Mike Farmer
President, Survivor Software Ltd.
MenuChoice
Almost as good as the commercial menu-enhancement utilities such as HAM and Now Menus. A real lifesaver on my PowerBook (MENUCH.SEA, Library 3).
Disinfectant
The most recommended antiviral tool. Super support and timely updates (the same is true of VirusDetective). It has saved us a few times (DISINF.SIT, Library 8).
StuffIt Classic
Even though we now use the commercial version as well, we still use this utility a lot. We do use others, but StuffIt has proven to be the most reliable (STUFCL.BIN, Download Library 1).
Mike O'Connor
Author of the CompuServe Navigator program
TattleTale
I like TattleTale best, probably because I'm a Mac developer. It has the most useful information about what is installed on your system (TATAPP.SEA, Library 1).
DOCMaker
I like DOCMaker because with it you don't have to worry that others can't read your important documents, even if you don't know what text editors they have (DOCMAK.SEA, Library 1).
UnZip
I recommend the version with the extra command that automatically sets the proper Mac Type and Creator codes on the files it expands -- I wrote that added command but not the rest of the program (UNZIP.SIT, Library 1).
Steven Bobker
Contributing Editor, MacUser
CursorFixer
Makes my PowerBook cursors far more visible and useful (CURFIX.CPT, Library 3).
MICN
Puts icons instead of names on the menu bar (even in Microsoft products), reducing menu-bar clutter (MICN.CPT, Library 3).
LightningPaint
A commercial-quality black-and-white painting program -- the biggest bargain in all of shareware (LPAINT.CPT, Library 1).
BiPlane
A great spreadsheet program with power and slickness that some commercial products can only envy.(BIPLAN.SEA, Library 1).
VirusDetective
The best Mac antiviral tool bar none (VIRDET.SEA, Library 8).
