This one’s a no-brainer: anyone with a modem should buy this book. If you don’t have a modem, buy one and this book.
I didn’t even have to read The Mac Shareware 500 to tell that it was both a valuable reference and a bargain. Here’s what is included: a big (375 pages) book filled with descriptions of 500 top shareware selections, plus three diskettes filled with some of the top choices, plus a free America Online membership disk (for those who are not already members), plus five free hours of online time. That last item is worth $30 all by itself.
If you’ve ever explored the software libraries of an online service such as America Online, you know that there are untold thousands of public domain and shareware selections, just waiting to be downloaded to your Mac. This be a bewildering array, even for regular members. There are some true gems, as well as some real dogs, and it’s hard to tell the difference without investing a lot of time and money.
Ventana Press and America Online have collaborated to produce a book/disk combination which provides an answer to that problem: a book which organizes, lists, and describes 500 outstanding shareware items, and a corresponding library online which contains those choices.
The selections are broken down into logical categories—Fun & Games, Fonts, Graphics and Clip Art, Business, System Enhancements, DAs, Utilities, Function Keys, Sound, Music, and more. Each item is described, often including tips on use, caveats, and references to similar items. Each is rated on a basis of one to five, and the version number, price, and contact person (usually the author) are given. The only exception is in the Clip Art section, where artist credits are not given, but each piece of artwork is reproduced.
Each chapter in the book gives an introductory essay on its subject, often providing help and insight on the topic, delivered with both intelligence and wit. The chapter on fonts, for instance, gives some background on both the aesthetics and the technology of type. One quote sticks out in this section: “…there are no carved-in-granite rules for typography (although some might be carved in limestone)…” Type 1 fonts are the primary focus of the selections in the book—including several excellent faces by David Rakowski—although a few TrueType faces are included. In this chapter, as in the clip art section, the selections are not rated. Rather, each is illustrated, so that the user can choose for himself based on his own tastes and needs.
The descriptions of the programs in the other chapters also help the reader to make choices for downloading. The opinions expressed will be agreeable to most. I checked out several programs that I am familiar with and found that the descriptions were accurate and the opinions were sound.
Of course, part of the unique nature of shareware is that it is constantly evolving, with new selections and upgrades being posted daily. And, likewise, part of the value of an online service is to make new items available with all possible speed. The Mac 500 authors, recognizing these factors, are already working on the next edition of the book, so that whenever you buy it, you are guaranteed a reasonably up-to-date listing.
If you’re new to online services, this book and disk set will have you up and running in no time. The disks which are included contain a selection of some of the best items in existence—must-have classics such as StuffIt Classic, Disinfectant, FlashWrite II, and PopChar, plus lots of fonts, games, utilities, and much more.
All in all, The Mac Shareware 500 is sure to be one of the most valuable Mac books you’re ever likely to find.
The article above is reprinted from Mac Monitor, the newsletter of The Savannah Macintosh Users Group. It may be reprinted in a single issue of newsletters published by non-profit user groups. Payment shall consist of a single issue of the newsletter in which the article appears, sent to the following address:
