File Buddy is shareware. Shareware is try-before-you-buy-software. It is not use-it-as-long-as-you-like-for-free software. That kind of software is called freeware. If you like it and use it, please register by paying $35.00 US. Make payment as described in the section How to Pay, later in this document.
Upgrading from a previously registered version:
Use the following to determine the fee that is appropriate for you and make payment as described in the section How to Pay, later in this document.
Registered users of File Buddy 1.x $15
Registered users of File Buddy 2.x $5
Registered users of File Buddy 3.x $5
Establishing an upgrade policy for shareware is an interesting thing to try to do fairly. On the one hand, it would seem obviously fair to give a free upgrade to users that registered recently, and charge a small upgrade fee to users that registered not so recently since the users that registered a long time ago have had the benefit of the old version longer. But this is shareware. Both the user that registered today and the user that registered a year ago may have been using the product for the same length of time. Should not the user that registered the soonest after beginning to use the product be given the best break? In the end, there is no "fair" policy. Only an arbitrary one, and I made the easy decision.
Most users quickly see the value of File Buddy and have no problem with the price. For the benefit of those who feel differently, right now's a good time to address reactions like: "Why do I have to pay for an upgrade?", "$35 is a lot for shareware.", and others in that vein. The following were considered in the decision to set the price at $35.00:
1) The majority of users now use Kagi and CompuServe's SWREG to register File Buddy. Kagi keeps slightly more that 10% of the fee, and CompuServe keeps 15%. In both cases, I generally have to wait a month or so before receiving your payment. I use these services at the request of my users.
2) While it has a few other things on it, I set up my web site at <www.skytag.com> principally for users of my software, and that really translates into File Buddy users. There are expenses incurred in providing that service, sometimes substantial.
3) Most important, I believe $35.00 to be a very fair price for the power and features File Buddy offers.
How to Pay
My first choices are cash and check, sent directly to me at:
Laurence Harris
17 Old University Station Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-1572
If you need or really prefer to use a credit card (VISA, MasterCard and American Express), you can use the RegisterFB application to register through the Kagi shareware registration service via e-mail. Please do NOT send US cash or check payments to Kagi.
Credit card payments are especially helpful for people in countries outside the United States, since the currency conversions are handled automatically. Be sure to get the latest version of RegisterFB, which has been set up to register 4.0. It is available from <ftp://ftp.skytag.com/skytag.com/>). Send the form it generates together with your payment to:
Kagi Shareware
1442-A Walnut Street #392-FB
Berkeley, California, 94709-1405
USA
For credit card payments, send the form generated by the RegisterFB application (NOT the one File Buddy generates to mail directly to me) via e-mail to <shareware@kagi.com> or by FAX to 1-510-652-6589. Note that this address is for registration only. All comments about File Buddy should be sent directly to me at 76150.1027@compuserve.com.
Note: If you choose to use Kagi, please include your postal address with the correct capitaliazation you would use for mailing. On occasion the e-mail responses get bounced back and I have to mail a response.
You can upgrade through Kagi, but you'll have to include your old serial number as a comment so I can verify your old registration, especially if your address has changed since you registered.
Please note that if you register through Kagi, I end up with less money than if you mail me a check directly, and I'd really rather get all your money (just greedy I guess). In other words, my first choice is to get a check from you directly, but Kagi is definitely better than nothing.
As little as these amounts seem, it really makes a difference-at least in my case-when people send it. It takes a lot of time to design, write, and debug software. It then takes even more time and money to send out serial numbers and provide technical and web-based support. And then there are taxes, but this has been so much fun, let's not get depressing.
CompuServe Users: I have not obtained an SWREG ID for File Buddy 4.x, so you'll have to wait to use SWREG for 4.x. I can tell you that it will be $35, the same as any other registration method.
•• Site licenses are available at the following rates per copy:
Quantity Total Fee
1 $35
2 $50
3 $75
4 $100
For more than 4 copies, use the File Buddy Register program from Kagi to obtain the correct fee, and thanks.
If you have a site license for a previous version of File Buddy, the upgrade is $5 a copy.
