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rbm software's FIELD GENERAL
version 7.0
"UNEQUALLED in Pro Football Simulation"
__________________
WHAT IS SHAREWARE?
__________________
Copyright (C) rbm software 1993
All rights reserved.
Release Date: 8-30-93
13117 Broughton Way, Austin Texas 78727-3147
_________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
_________________________________________________________________
Some definitions
The Shareware concept
The virus problem
For more information
_________________________________________________________________
-- SOME DEFINITIONS --
_________________________________________________________________
You've probably heard the terms "public domain", "freeware",
"Shareware", and others like them. Your favorite BBS or disk
vendor probably has many programs described by one or more of
these words. There's a lot of confusion about and between these
terms, but they actually have specific meanings and implications.
Once you understand them, you will have a much easier time
navigating the maze of programs available to you, and
understanding what your obligations are, or aren't, with each
type of program.
Let's start with some basic definitions.
"Public domain" has a very specific legal meaning. It means
that the creator of a work (in this case, software), who had
legal ownership of that work, has given up ownership and
dedicated the work "to the public domain". Once something is in
the public domain, anyone can use it in any way they choose, and
the author has no control over the use and cannot demand payment
for it.
If you find a program which the author has explicitly put
into the public domain, you are free to use it however you see
fit without paying for the right to use it. But use care - due
to the confusion over the meaning of the words, programs are
often described by authors as being "public domain" when, in
fact, they are shareware or free, copyrighted software. To be
sure a program is public domain, you should look for an explicit
statement from the author to that effect.
"Copyrighted" is the opposite of public domain. A
copyrighted program is one where the author has asserted his or
her legal right to control the program's use and distribution by
placing the legally required copyright notices in the program and
documentation. The law gives copyright owners broad rights to
restrict how their work is distributed, and provides for
penalties for those who violate these restrictions. When you
find a program which is copyrighted, you must use it in
accordance with the copyright owner's restrictions regarding
distribution and payment. Usually, these are clearly stated in
the program documentation.
Maintaining a copyright does not necessarily imply charging
a fee, so it is perfectly possible and legal to have copyrighted
programs which are distributed free of charge. The fact that a
program is free, however, does not mean it is in the public
domain - though this is a common confusion.
"Shareware" is copyrighted software which is distributed by
authors through bulletin boards, on-line services, disk vendors,
and copies passed among friends. It is commercial software which
you are allowed to use and evaluate before paying for it. This
makes shareware the ultimate in money back guarantees.
_________________________________________________________________
-- THE SHAREWARE CONCEPT --
_________________________________________________________________
Most money back guarantees work like this: You pay for the
product and then have some period of time to try it out and see
whether or not you like it. If you don't like it or find that it
doesn't do what you need, you return it (undamaged) and at some
point - which might take months - you get your money back. Some
software companies won't even let you try their product! In
order to qualify for a refund, the diskette envelope must have an
unbroken seal. With these "licensing" agreements, you only
qualify for your money back if you haven't tried the product.
How absurd!
Shareware is very different. With Shareware, you get to use
it for a limited time, without spending a penny. You are able to
use the software on your own system(s), in your own special work
environment, with no sales people looking over your shoulder. If
you decide not to continue using it, you throw it away and forget
all about it. No paperwork, phone calls, or correspondence to
waste your valuable time. If you do continue using it, then -
and only then - do you pay for it.
Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software.
Shareware is produced by accomplished programmers, just like
retail software. There is good and bad Shareware, just as there
is good and bad retail software. The primary difference between
Shareware and retail software is with Shareware, you know if it's
good or bad BEFORE you pay for it.
As a software user, you benefit because you get to use the
software to determine whether it meets your needs before you pay
for it, and authors benefit because they are able to get their
products into your hands without the hundreds of thousands of
dollars in expenses it takes to launch a traditional retail
software product. There are many programs on the market today
which would never have become available without the Shareware
marketing method.
The Shareware system and the continued availability of
quality Shareware products depend on your willingness to register
and pay for the Shareware you use. It's the registration fees
you pay which allow us to support and continue to develop our
products.
Please show your support for Shareware by registering those
programs you actually use and by passing them on to others.
Shareware is kept alive by YOUR support!
_________________________________________________________________
-- THE VIRUS PROBLEM --
_________________________________________________________________
We've all heard the horror stories about computer viruses.
Unfortunately, we have also heard lots of conflicting statistics
and opinions. When it comes to the virus problem there is a lot
of confusion among users and even developers.
The sad truth is that some unscrupulous publishers of anti-
virus products are using half-truths, overdramatizations, and
outright fabrication to promote sales of their products. They
delight in manipulating statistics to support their marketing
efforts. While not illegal, these snake-oil tactics are
certainly not ethical.
To make matters worse, the media has frequently promoted the
misinformation promulgated by these unscrupulous individuals
rather than the straight facts. While the misinformation may be
more interesting than the actual facts, the media is not doing
the computer industry any favors by spreading inaccurate
information. To be fair, many newspapers, magazines, and news
networks are beginning to realize which "virus experts" are
reliable and which "experts" say whatever is in their own best
interest.
One of the most interesting myths that has been promulgated
by these snake-oil salesmen is that BBS's (Bulletin Board
Systems) and Shareware programs are a major source of virus
infections. Some corporations are now afraid of Shareware and
BBS activity because of this misinformation.
In the October 11, 1988 issue of PC Magazine, publisher Bill
Machrone's editorial was entitled "Shareware or Scareware?". In
his article, Bill Machrone points out "The truth is that all
major viruses to date were transmitted by commercial [retail]
packages and private mail systems." That sounds a little
different than the claims being made by less knowledgeable
journalists.
Let's consider for a moment, the distribution differences
between retail software and Shareware software. Company XYZ
releases a new version of its retail software product. At the
same time company XYZ ships tens of thousands of copies to its
retail distribution channels, it also ships 30,000 updates to
loyal users. Most of those loyal users will receive the update
within a few days of each other. This can be a big problem if
the update happened to be infected with a virus.
"Not likely", you say? It has already happened! Several
times! There have been seventeen (17) major incidents of virus
and trojan horse problems in retail software. Some of these
incidents affected tens of thousands of users.
What about Shareware? To date there has been one case of a
Shareware author shipping an infected product. The virus was
detected by the disk vendors and the problem was corrected
immediately. No users were infected.
"But it makes sense that programs which are passed around
have a greater chance of virus infections, doesn't it?" Think
about it. Who has the most to lose if viruses were spread by
BBS's and Shareware programs? The BBS operators, Shareware disk
vendors and the Shareware authors, of course. Because of this,
reputable BBS operators, disk vendors and Shareware authors are
very careful with the programs they handle.
Think about it. Hundreds (even thousands) of BBS operators
and disk vendors are carefully examining the programs they
receive and distribute. Their business depends on it. This
means that any given Shareware program can go through hundreds
(even thousands) of checkpoints where the program is carefully
examined. If a problem is found, word spreads incredibly fast.
News travels "on the wires" even faster than the proverbial small
town gossip. Programs have disappeared almost overnight as a
result of this highly efficient communication network.
If a Shareware program has been around for a few months, it
has been checked for virii and trojan horses many more times than
any retail software could hope to be checked. Retail
distributors don't check the disks they sell. Even if the
publisher checks their masters for virii (few do), this is still
far less than the scrutiny to which Shareware programs are
subjected.
There's something else to consider. Most retail
distributors have a return policy. What do they do with packages
that are returned? They shrink-wrap them and resell them, of
course. How can you be sure that you are the first person to
purchase the package you just bought at your friendly
neighborhood computer store? You can't. On the other hand, most
Shareware authors erase, reformat, and reduplicate the disks that
are returned to them. Which do you think is safer?
Bill Machrone's article in PC Magazine goes on to say "It's
time to recognize that there's nothing to fear in Shareware. As
a distribution medium, it saves you money and helps you try out
new genres of software with minimum risk."
Does this mean that we should all start buying Shareware
instead of retail software? Not at all (although few Shareware
authors would object). Let's face it, more data has been lost to
power failures and spilled cups of coffee than all virii, trojan
horses, and worms combined! An even bigger threat is plain old
human error, a mistake, a wrong key press, turning off the power
while files are open, and so forth. Accurate information and
common sense (regular backups) are the best defenses against lost
data.
Sure, the virus problem is real. Virii exist. But shunning
Shareware is not the answer. Shareware and BBSs are, quite
simply, NOT a major source of virus infections. Some
corporations have even banned Shareware entirely because of fear
of infections. This is not only unreasonable, it is also
expensive. Think how much they could save in software costs if
they would only try software before they buy it!
Is there anything you can do to help protect yourself from
virus infections? Absolutely! Fortunately, the best preventive
measures are also the least expensive!
If you need informative, accurate and practical information,
please read the treatise on "Computer Virus Myths" written by Rob
Rosenberger and Ross M. Greenberg. This treatise is available as
a text file on many BBSs and online services. It not only gives
you the facts, it also provides the best overall strategy for
protecting your computer system.
Don't let fear stop you from saving money on software.
Don't let fear prevent you from trying some of the best software
available. Shareware is an important market for software. Take
advantage of it. You'll be glad you did!
_________________________________________________________________
-- FOR MORE INFORMATION --
_________________________________________________________________
If you would like to learn more about the Shareware
phenomenon, there are several excellent sources of additional
information. Two of the best books ever written about Shareware
are described below.
Dr. File Finder's Guide to Shareware:
-------------------------------------
By Mike Callahan and Nick Anis. Foreword by John C. Dvorak.
"[Mike's] book distills thousands of hours of his online
search for the crown jewels of Shareware into one usable
guide. As such, it may be the most valuable computer book
you'll ever buy."
--Jack Rickard, Publisher, Boardwatch Magazine
"No one combines Dr. File Finder's comprehensive knowledge
of the Shareware genre with his good taste in software.
This is sure to be the definitive place to look for insight
and program information."
--Barry Simon, Former President of the Association of
Shareware Professionals, PC Magazine Columnist, and
Coauthor of Stackey, Batutil, and Ctrlalt
"GREAT! Every PC user will find something of value within
these pages. This book will save you a bundle."
--Alfred Glossbrenner
If I were going to buy only one computer book, this would be
it."
--Tom Scott, Publisher, Telecomputing Magazine
Nobody knows Shareware like the illustrious Dr. File Finder,
known off line as Mike Callahan. Now, in Dr. File Finder's
Guide to Shareware, you can learn about dozens of leading
Shareware programs, including where and how to get them. In the
true spirit of Shareware, this book/disk package includes a disk
full of top programs that you can try out yourself before
registering. Send in the card at the back of the book and you'll
get two additional disks with more software.
Mike Callahan, AKA Dr. File Finder, is the world's leading
authority on Shareware. He regularly accesses thousands of
bulletin board systems and has been a major force in promoting
many of the top Shareware packages. Callahan has spent several
years and thousands of hours helping people around the world
learn more about Shareware.
Nick Anis is the coauthor of several acclaimed best-sellers
in the Dvorak*Osborne imprint, including Dvorak's Guide to PC
Telecommunications, Dvorak's Guide to Desktop Telecommunications,
and Glossbrenner's Complete Hard Disk Handbook.
$39.95, ISBN: 0-07-881646-7, 950 pp. 7 3/8 X 9 1/4.
AVAILABLE NOW AT YOUR LOCAL BOOK OR COMPUTER STORE OR CALL TOLL-
FREE 1-800-227-0900 (M-F, 8:30 - 4:30 PST).
Shareware: "Try before you buy" software:
------------------------------------------
Perhaps you've read Rob Rosenberger's well known and highly
acclaimed treatise on the computer virus problem. If you liked
that article then you'll love his excellent book on Shareware.
This book is a must for anyone who is interested in Shareware,
what to look for (and look out for), and where to find it. In
this book, Shareware author and writer Rob Rosenberger delves
into the very heart of Shareware, telling you who developed the
concept and why.
You'll know why these programs: * undercut the price of
retail software * helped bring down the use of copy protection
schemes * receive numerous editorial and reader survey awards *
generate more sales than retail software in some cases * make
retail OS/2 software developers so nervous * are falsely accused
of spreading computer "viruses".
Rob shows you where you can find good Shareware. You'll
learn to beware of companies that make money by abusing the "try
before you buy" concept. And you'll discover where Shareware is
heading in the near future.
"A lot of good books devote just one or two chapters to the
concept and history of Shareware. I'm pleased to say there
is finally a reference book on the subject."
--Jim Button, cofounder of the Shareware concept
"It's filled with accurate information for anyone who wants
to learn about one of the most significant sources of high-
quality software."
--Edward Mendelson, contributing editor, PC Magazine
Here's all the information you need to obtain your copy of
this outstanding book:
Shareware: "Try Before You Buy" Software. By Rob
Rosenberger. Third Edition. Only $6.95!
Paradise Publishing Phone: (800) 233-2451
3111 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite B-105
Las Vegas, NV 89102 U.S.A.