Background: Resource International Publishing Company was originally formed in 1956 In Hong Kong to provide trade leads and data to international traders and brokers. The company grew over the years until the founder, Jan R. Schwenk, returned to the US. and moved the company to Dallas. By 1977, international trade began to use the computer extensively for communications and transmission of documents. Lead time between learning about a trading opportunity and the actually closing and shipping reduced from weeks to hours. At that time, RIPC began publishing it's trade directories electronically (first by telex, then by direct dial computer connections). Major oil, plastic and commodity companies around the world relied heavily on the information provided. To increase services, RIPC purchased a new computer from a leading computer manufacturer in Houston and wound up owning the company less than three months later. As the computer business grew, publishing of the international trade data was turned over to others. That computer company developed wide area networks and communications capabilities for several leading companies, such as Southwestern Bell Telephone, the FBI, The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Chase Manhattan Bank, Bank of America, the USAF, Lockheed Corp., W.R. Grace and several others. In the late '80's the computer business was divested and RIPC once again turned its attentions solely to international trade, forming a joint venture with a government organization in Finland. Today, RIPC publishes a monthly directory of CD- ROMs on CD-ROM, The CD-ROM of CD-ROMs, and various other CD-ROM titles. The company has been selected as Small Business Exporter of the Year by the Commerce Department. Currently, Mr. Schwenk also serves on the board of the North Texas District Export Council under the auspices of the Department of Commerce.
REVIEW PROJECT
General: We have established a 'Reviewer's Bureau' directed at the Compact Disc (CD-ROM), and related formats and technologies as it impacts the personal computer. This technology has the potential of substantially increasing the effectiveness and productivity of computers. We are concerned that this technology may die if it does not achieve critical market mass, and in the eight or so years it has been available, it is considered a commercial failure. Since corporations are driven by profit rather than improving society, it appears the practical way of assuring ourselves that we will not lose this technology is to do something that will make it profitable. Our objective is to aggressively publicize the benefits of CD-ROM/computer technology so that everyone becomes a user/winner.
Method: We obtain multiple copies of each title. Each copy is delivered to a reviewer with specific qualifications or background pertinent to the title. This assures the review a spectrum of professional insight and perspective that a professional writer may not have. Multiple reviews on the same title allow for greater media coverage.
Reviewers: All reviewers have been drawn from the computing community. Each is an expert computer user, and each has a driving interest in CD-ROM. There is currently over one hundred fifty reviewers working. Most are professionals. Seven are medical doctors of various specialties. Some are university professors, public school educators, administrators, lawyers, accountants, writers, government officials, military officers, advertising executives, programmers, air line pilots, photographers, and other professions. Several of the reviewers are located in other countries. Many speak multiple languages. All share a desire to see the computer improve, and all are willing to work to help CD technology achieve its great promise.
Format: Each review is written in at least two formats, and if possible, a third one. The first format is a "deathless overnight:" a short review of fifty to one hundred words that would commonly be used as "filler" in newspapers and as short "human interest" spots on radio. The second format is the normal review. This will vary in length depending on the complexity of the title and what needs to be said. The third format is the technical analysis. Many discs do not lend themselves to this format as they may be simple, or shallow, or nothing more than a collection of shareware software. Where this format is used, it is normally much longer and goes into much greater depth, discussing the "how" and the "why", the objectives of the disc and how well it accomplishes it's objectives. This format would normally be a feature article, most probably in a specific or trade journal. This format will likely be the first information the reader receives on CD-ROM and the goal is to show how necessary and beneficial it can be to the reader. The driving goal is to show that CD-ROM can help manage and organize the "information glut" so effectively for the reader that he must have one.
Reviewers:
The following people have given selfishly of their time and efforts. They have spent many long hours tediously checking every possible detail of the various CD-ROM discs so they can give you the best information and guidance possible. We all owe them a debt of gratitude. Thank you reviewers! You have made this project worthwhile!
Pony Ivey
Aaron Quigley
Adrian Godfrey
Al Heynneman
Alex Messaris
Allen J. Dietz
Andrew Dulay
Angela C. Brown
Anil Bhatia
Anil Gupte
Armando Ramos
Aron Shtull-Trauring
Arthur Marko
Barry Pickles
Barry Sinclair
Barry Sugarman
Ben Klausner
Betty Clay
Blair R. Martin
Bob Gross
Brad Williamson
Branden Beachy
Brian Hinkle
Brian Kingsbury
Bruce Cichowlas
Bruce De Vries
Bruce L. Giles
Bruce Raskin, CPA
Bryan Ackerman
Bryan D. Avery
Bryan Shearer
Calvin R. Swain
Carl J. Denbow
Charles Collins
Charles O'Halloran
Chiam Twerski
Chris Ferino
Chris McMahon
Chris Patterson
Christopher Grover
Chuck Eglinton
Clarke Ferber
Claude Ostyn
Craig O'Donnell
Dale Arndt
Damien M. Jones
Dan Gozdiff
Dan Hile
Dan Hughes
Dan McCorkle
Dan Tripp
Darren Gasser
Dave Kolasa
Dave Woolcock
David Bernstein
David Dugas
David Evans
David Finkel
David Frese
David Halonen
David Hudson
David J. Hamilton
David J. Lloyd-Roach
David Keightly
David M. Cochrane
David Meltzer
David R. Leininger
David Reed
Delwin Hinkle
Dennis Fowler
Dennis Guise
Dianne Treneman
Don Cain
Don Cooley
Don Henson
Don Johnson
Don Vitz
Donald Blumberg
Donald L. Gerber
Dr. Byron D. Krohn
Dr. David A. Silva
Dr. David Hutchinson
Dr. Edward A. Mainzer
Dr. Gilbert Z. Given
Dr. Martin Rosenfeld
Dr. Robert 'Sandy' Sandhaus
Dr. Robert Leggat
Duncan Fox
Ed Foster
Ed Rochelle
Ed Waldorph
Eric Moody
F. Paul Wills
Frank A. Chambers
Fred Schaeffer
Gareth Bult
Gareth Morgan
Gary Cottingim
Gary S. King
George Campbell
George J. Pierce
Gerard Gleeson
Gilbert J. Serrat
Glen S. Rosen
Glenn Morrissey
Gregory M. Messner
Guy W. Larson
Harrison Bergeron
Harry Hallman
Homer Moore
Howard Schwartz
Hugh Bennett
Jack DeWolf
Jack Trumbo
Jacques Le Cavalier
James E. Kershaw
James M. Matthews
Jan Ott
Jan R. Schwenk
Jeff Herskowitz
Jeff Kaplow
Jim Clements
Jim Lancaster
Jim Phelps
Jim Reppond
Jim Rylander
Jim Sauer
Joe Knock
Joe Roosth
Joe Venturelli
John Albino
John Berrie
John C. Lund
John M. Iguchi
John R. Menig
Jose Rodriguez
Joseph Roosth
Judd Boyer
Kathy Cochrane
Keith Fergie
Kelly Hanlon
Kenneth Amberg
Kevin Champagne
Larry Buchmeister
Larry Glusman
Larry Land
Larry Schneider
Leni Hazlett
Lew Jansen
Lewis Weinstein
M. William Lutholtz
Marc Anacker
Marc E. Cohen
Marc Moshman
Mark Chance
Mark Job
Mark K. Roberts
Mark Ogier
Mark Will
Matthew F. Kadish
Michael B. Reubin
Michael Bernard
Michael Forman
Michael Gartenberg
Michael H. Kaericher
Michael Sisolak
Mike Kauffman
Mike Morrison
Mike Zemina
Neil Shapiro
Nina Adams
Owen Wheaton
Patrick J. Buckna
Paul B. Bartlett
Paul Unterweiser
Paul Vinet
Peter Gavrity
Peter Prime
Peter Sandor Gardos
Peter T. Szymonik
Peter Wallach
Phil Huynh
Philip Handley
Prof. Paul T. Nicholls
Ralph Roberts
Ralph W. Roberts
Randall T. Murray
Randolph Lee
Richard Long
Richard Olds
Rick Campeau
Rick Steinburg
Rico Micallef
Robert Huber
Robert Kelsoe
Robin Lake
Rod Schiffman
Roger Ebert
Ron Markey
Ron McPhail
Ron Picard
Rowland Archer
Ruth Marie Quirk
Ryan Palmer
Sandy Anderson
Sandy Kettenhofen
Sasha Lewis
Satish Kumar K.N.
Scott Darling
Shannon Duval
Stefan Stackhouse
Stephen Gutknecht
Steve Bullock
Steve Liberty
T.E. Marchessault
Thelmo Treneman
Thomas E. Fenn
Timothy M. Ennis
Toby Pennycuff
Tom Lehman
Tom McCann
Tom Price
Tom R. Potavin
Tommy Ericsson
Travis H. Hardin
Vipin Bharathan
W. Mullins
Wayne M. Gibson
Wayne Rash, Jr.
Will Emerson
We have tried to name every reviewer that worked on this project. If we missed anyone, it was through unintentional oversight, and we are sorry. We want this list to be correct and will appreciate any information to correct it.
