The World of Computer Software/World_Of_Computer_Software-02-385-Vol-1of3.iso/w/wbtsr14k.zip/HELLO.USA

Text File | 1992-10-19 | 12KB | 237 lines

                         World Best TSR  version 1.43

               Notes for users in the United States and Canada

 Thank you for your interest in World Best TSR.

 When a program originates outside North America, several questions arise:
         How do I register?
         How good is support?
         Is imported technology reliable?
 Generally, the answers are simple and reassuring.

 Registration is an import transaction, like when you buy something while on
 overseas vacation and have it shipped home. In the future global market we
 are all going to be doing a lot more long distance shopping.
 It's a lot simpler than it sounds.
 After reading this text, you will be an expert international trader.

 Following the tradition established by makers of fine wines, this text ends
 with an article about the region the product is from. Don't miss it.


                             How good is support?

 You are looking at a solid product. It will serve you well.
 A program that will sell worldwide must be foolproof.
 In the consumer society, we expect to buy things and simply use them.
 Would you buy leather shoes that needed telephone support?

 Software authors must aim to produce goods as usable as high quality
 leatherware. We are not exempt from the standards of service that govern
 other markets.

 When marketing this program, I had to devise a form of support that would
 serve users everywhere. Extreme time zone differences and intercontinental
 telephone tolls make tradition telephone support impractical.

 For the time being, the channel for support will be ordinary air mail.
 Interesting mail from another country is always enjoyable. Some 40% of
 registration income will be devoted to support, enough to fund 2-4
 airmail items.

 Given sufficient volume of registrations, registration by check & charge
 card and support via Compuserve are planned for the next version.

 If you have any kind of difficulty, write an informal note. Do it before
 the volume of registrations grows large, and you will get a personal reply.
 Problems with TSR software tend to be technically severe, requiring changes
 in program design. Tell me about any apparent malfunction, no matter how
 trivial, and I will provide problem-free software for your future needs.

 Good support is perceived as the right way to build a community of
 satisfied users, potential buyers of further high quality software
 now being developed. Paper publications are also planned.


                         How easy is it to register?

 It takes slightly longer than picking up the phone. You can do the whole job
 in a few minutes.

 If possible, copy the file FORM.REG to your printer. Send the completed
 form airmail with the registration fee to the address on the form. If you
 put the form in a standard window envelope, the address should line up.

 If you cannot print the form, just write   - your name & address,
                                            - today's date,
                                            - program name and version,

 enclose your payment and send to

    Select Consultants, P.O.Box 10, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 7LE, England.

 This address will remain valid through the commercial life of the program.

 Send the registration fee of $25 ($30 Canadian) in dollar bills.
 Using cash, a small import transaction is almost as simple as buying from a
 nearby store. United States currency is accepted by virtually every bank in
 the world, and is ideal for settling trivial foreign debts.

 Do not send travelers checks. Handling costs at the receiving end are
 prohibitive.

 At the time I wrote this, the U.S. postal rate to Europe was

                 Up to half an ounce     50 cents
                             1 ounce     95 cents
                           1.5 ounces $1.34
                           2.0 ounces $1.73

 A lightweight envelope, form and 4 bills weighs just under an ounce.
 With care a standard envelope, form and 25 bills can be kept under 2 ounces.

 If a kind user will tell me the Canadian rates I will publish those too.
 A lightweight envelope, form and 3 bills weighs about 20 grams.
 If you prefer to correspond in French, please do.


                      Formalities, Shipping and Tax

 Compared to getting hardware across an international frontier, shareware
 registration is extremely simple. You already have the full version of
 the program so there is no shipping. Documentation for this version will
 arrive as letter mail, which does not suffer import duty or tax.

 I recommend that you obtain program upgrades from a shareware distributor.
 Upgrades will be sent to all known distributors as soon as available.
 In most states, mail order from a disk vendor will suffer state tax, but a
 download from a BBS will not. Either way, the upgrade escapes import duty.
 Upgrade disks ordered directly from me are likely to suffer import duty
 and state tax, payable by you on delivery.

 Future versions will have a printed manual, possibly attracting some import
 duty and state tax payable on delivery. Upgrade cost will include air
 shipment of the printed manual.


                           Banking costs & security

 When banknotes are mailed, the small risk of loss is born by the sender.
 But the cost of sending money by more secure means can be more than the
 money is worth. To clear a 25 dollar personal check through a foreign bank
 can cost more than 25 dollars in bank fees. The same applies, unfortunately,
 to dollar travelers checks. Outside the country in whose currency they are
 written, they incur high costs if not presented by the original holder.

 It would cost you at least $20 in intercontinental telephone tolls just to
 give your name, address and charge card number. Using a registration agent
 in the United States would introduce costs of the same order.
 By contrast the cost of cash registration is trivial. To change $25 of
 dollar bills into my own currency costs me $3. $250 costs $5.

 Prices will be kept low so that substantial amounts need never be sent.
 Once in the transatlantic airmail system, money is probably safer than
 in your home. As a simple precaution, check that letter contents are not
 externally visible.

 Registered mail costs $4.40 extra and provides secure handling, proof of
 receipt by me and insurance for up to $32 of value. But to use it you have
 to go to the Post Office, so the cost/benefit will depend on how much your
 time is worth.

                           How long does it take?

 Airmail from Washington D.C. is normally delivered in England the 4th day
 after posting. So you could receive your registration withing 10 days.

 That turnaround will not be achieved until I am doing enough business to hire
 help. Given your encouragement, that will be mid 1993. Till then, I will
 handle registrations personally. Besides writing shareware I have an active
 career as a software engineer, with travel commitments (ironically, to the
 United States) that will occasionally take me away from my mailbox for
 several weeks. For this reason I cannot guarantee an immediate reply, but
 will make every effort to compensate delay.


                    Is imported technology reliable?

  Software technology for the PC is as advanced in Britain as in the United
  States. Well known American products including DR-DOS, Zortech C++ and
  OS/2 incorporate substantial parts designed in England and elsewhere.

  We can all produce good programs. Software from America, Canada, England,
  France and Australia seems equally competent. But only America has the
  sophisticated market that will bring large scale success. So the dominance
  of American software looks secure for the forseeable future.

  The issue for users is not technology but support. My software is designed
  to deliver results without support. It is not prone to obsolescence. The
  tasks it performs are simple and well defined. Ten years after its
  release, some people are still happily using DOS 2 without ever having
  called the support line. This program should serve you just as well for
  just as long.



                   About the region where the author lives.

 To enhance your computer hardware from the enchanted shores of far Cathay,
 I bring you fine software from the fringes of legendary Sherwood Forest.
 The Kevin Costner movie brought an upsurge of interest in the Robin Hood
 legend. So perhaps users will like to know something of the region.

 Sherwood forest lies at the exact centre of England. England is slightly
 larger than Florida. In the 12th century the country would have been mostly
 covered by virgin woodlands. Nottingham today is an industrial city of
 300,000 and the wild greenwood of legendary times is buried under inner
 city Suburbs. Of the royal hunting forest, only a few hundred square miles
 remains devoted mainly to the Christmas tree industry. Most of the native
 English Oaks were cut down to build the warships of Britain's imperial era,
 but a few remain. Oak trees live up to 900 years, so you can still visit a
 living tree under which Robin Hood might have sat.

 Nottingham castle reached its military zenith as Cromwell's headquarters in
 the English civil war. The victorious republicans demilitarised the country,
 destroying many castles that would delight the modern tourist.
 Nottingham castle was pulled down. A palace built on the site was burned
 down by Luddite rioters in 1831. The present day castle is a purpose built
 museum, although remnants of the medieval walls and secret undergound
 passages (with history of treason & plot) can still be explored.

 Sadly there is no concrete proof of the existence of Robin Hood, Maid Marian,
 Little John and the rest of our heroes. Many relics on the tourist trail
 were put there by wealthy 19th century romantics.

 The bad guys are well documented. There was a real Prince John and a real
 King Richard the Lionheart. The Sheriff of Nottingham is very much reality,
 an office held continually from Robin Hood's time until the present day.

 Remarkably, the Sheriff has become a reformed character over the centuries.
 Today he has a purely ceremonial role as champion of the poor & downtrodden.
 The sheriff enjoys the same pomp as the mayor but has none of the
 responsibility, so it is a most agreeable civic position. The politically
 ambitious run for mayor, but the sheriff represents those who by reason of
 underprivilege or plain ordinariness seldom aspire to great office.

 Sheriff Tony Robinson, an immigrant from Jamaica, revived colourful traditions
 like riding to the castle in medieval robes, escorted by knights in armour.
 He also estabished an office at the castle where visitors can meet the
 Sheriff. Details from Tourist Information, Nottingham, U.K. or mention it
 when you register.

                     How to become Sheriff of Nottingham.

 Anyone living legally in England can become Sheriff of Nottingham. The
 Sheriff is elected annually from the ranks of the city's governing council.
 First, get elected to the council. Then prove that you are a figure of fun,
 champion of the poor and a good ambassador. At official engagements during
 your year as Sheriff you will wear a silver chain, three cornered hat,
 cloak and insignia. You will ride in style in the Sheriff's limousine and
 will if lucky be sent on a world tour, welcomed as a celebrity everywhere.


     Roger Pollard
     August 1992