Cream of the Crop 26/Cream of the Crop 26.iso/educate/fastyp51.zip/DOCS.V51/SHARWARE.TXT

Text File | 1997-06-01 | 16KB | 321 lines

                 FasType for Windows -- Version 5.1

               W H A T    I S    S H A R E W A R E ?
               -------------------------------------

                W H A T    I S    T H E    A S P ?
                ----------------------------------


======================
The Shareware Concept
======================

     If you are familiar with the idea behind Shareware, then you know
that Shareware is the ultimate in money back guarantees.  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 try it for
a limited time, without spending a penny.  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.

     Software authors who use the Shareware method of distribution feel
that Shareware is the best way to try a product.  You are able to try it
on your own system(s), in your own special work environment, with no
sales people looking over your shoulder.  Have you ever purchased a car
and realized that if you could have test driven it for 30 days your
purchase decision might have been different?  With Shareware these
problems can be avoided - you DO have a 30 day test-drive!

     After trying a Shareware product and deciding to continue to use
it, then - and only then - do you pay for it.  Not only that, but
Shareware is traditionally MUCH less expensive simply because you are
paying for the software, not the advertising and marketing that
comprises the majority of the cost of most software (a one page ad in PC
Magazine, one time, can cost upwards of $20,000).  If the try-before-
you-buy concept sounds like an ideal way to make your purchase
decisions, you're right!

     Some companies  burden their  products with  annoying copy
protection schemes because they don't trust their users.  Shareware
developers not only don't use copy protection, they freely distribute
their products because they DO trust their users.

     Someone once said that you should never trust software which
doesn't trust you. This makes a lot of sense - no wonder Shareware is
becoming so popular among users and developers.

     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 that with Shareware you know if it's good or bad
BEFORE you pay for it.  Registration of Shareware products, in addition
to being required, is also an incentive for programmers to continue to
produce quality software for the Shareware market.

     There is another significant advantage to Shareware - it allows
small companies  (like Trendtech  Corporation) to make software
available without the hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses that
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.  Please show your
support for Shareware by registering those programs you actually use and
by passing them on to others.  Thank you for 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 BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems) and
Shareware programs are a major source of virus infections.  This is
interesting since one of the individuals who makes this claim, also
distributes his  virus detection  system as  Shareware.  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 that 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?"  Who has the most to
lose if viruses were spread by BBSs 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.

    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 or thousands of checkpoints where the program is
carefully examined.  If a problem is found the 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), that 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 on-line 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!


====================
What is the A.S.P. ?
====================


     In the early days of Shareware there were no real standards.
Independent authors had no efficient way to learn from each other or to
work together to improve the overall image of Shareware. There was no
system in place to ensure that users were treated fairly and
professionally.  There was no way for users to find an address for an
author who had moved.  In short, the Shareware community was
disorganized and each author did things the way he or she thought was
best.  It was clear that if Shareware was ever to become a viable and
respected marketing alternative, there had to be some standardization.
There had to be some guidelines to best serve the users.

     In 1987 a handful of Shareware authors founded the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP). In forming this industry association,
these Shareware authors had several primary goals in mind, including:

   o To inform users about Shareware programs and about Shareware
     as a method of distributing and marketing software.

   o To foster a high degree of professionalism among Shareware
     authors by setting programming, marketing, and support standards
     for ASP members to follow.

   o To encourage broader distribution of Shareware through user
     groups and disk dealers who agree to identify and explain the
     nature of Shareware.

   o To assist members in marketing their software.

   o To provide a forum through which ASP members may communicate,
     share ideas, and learn from each other.

     The newly formed Association of Shareware Professionals worked
together to draft a code of ethics for all present and future members.
This code of ethics included several requirements that soon became very
popular among users (customers), including:

   o Members must respond to every registration. At the very
     least they must send a receipt for the payment.

   o Members must provide technical support for their products
     for at least 90 days from the date of registration.

     A new system was put in place to help ensure that users were
treated fairly and professionally. If a user was unable to resolve a
problem with a member author then the user could contact the ASP
Ombudsman with their complaint. The Ombudsman would then try to help
resolve the dispute.  For more complete details regarding the Ombudsman,
please refer to the "ASP Ombudsman Statement" below.


======================================
Contacting ASP Members Via CompuServe
======================================

     There is an easy and convenient way to speak directly to many ASP
Members (both authors and vendors).  Visit the Shareware forum on
CompuServe.  Simply type "GO SHAREWARE" - or "GO SHARE" - from any
CompuServe ! prompt.

     Here you will be able to talk to the authors of your favorite
Shareware programs, learn about other programs, ask questions, make
suggestions, and much more. We'd love to meet you on-line, please come
visit us today!


=======================
Author Address Changes
=======================

     People move. Forwarding orders expire. What can you do?  "I got a
copy of a Shareware program written by an ASP Member. I sent in the
registration fee and the post office returned my letter saying that it
was undeliverable. Now what do I do?"

     If the author has moved then chances are very good that you have an
old version of the program. This is another situation that the ASP can
help you to resolve.  ASP Members are required to keep the ASP informed
of address changes.  If you need to obtain the current address for a
member, simply write to the following address:

     ASP Executive Director
     Association of Shareware Professionals
     545 Grover Road
     Muskegon, MI 49442-9427
     USA

     FAX: [phone]
     CompuServe Electronic Mail: 72050,1433



========================
ASP Ombudsman Statement
========================

     This program is produced by a member of the Association of
     Shareware Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that
     the Shareware principle works for you.  If you are unable to
     resolve a Shareware-related problem with an ASP member by
     contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help.  The
     ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with
     an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for
     members' products.

Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at the above address.







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