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From: bwb@sei.cmu.edu (Bruce Benson)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: ScreenDump on Window 3.0
Message-ID: <7764@fy.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 6 Jul 90 14:26:01 GMT
References: <3940@zap.sw.mcc.com> <1990Jul2.220951.6614@world.std.com> <3135@ecs.soton.ac.uk>
Reply-To: bwb@sei.cmu.edu (Bruce Benson)
Organization: Software Engineering Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Lines: 56

In article <3135@ecs.soton.ac.uk> amf@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Andrew Fountain) writes:
>GCP is a wonderful program. I have a hercules graphics workstation card
>which supports 256 colors, and GCP actually uses all the colors when
>displaying GIF files. The tragedy is that the Windows 3.0 version of GCP
>is not going to be sharware because so few people have bothered to pay
>the few dollars asked to register the present version. I had a letter
>from Kim Levitt which said this. So come on all you people and register
>your copy. (I have absolutely no connection whatever with synergistic
>enterprises.)

1. Shareware is the greatest thing to happen to software (IMHO)
2. I register all the shareware I use regularly (or it gets deleted)
3. BUT, I find I choose to use any software based on its USEABILITY or
ANNOYANCE FACTOR.  This is all software, not just shareware.
4. Software that is crippled by greyed options or maze like startups I
don't use or only keep around to handle special cases (e.g. GCP for
GIF to BMP)
5. I've registered
   a. Blackbeard
   b. Pro Master Key
   c. Extended Batch (replaced by 4dos - not yet registered)
   d. Command Post (no longer used because of Win3.0)
   e. Browser
   f. Iconvert (barely useable)
   g. Bal 370 emulator
   h. Snobol4+
   i. others I've probably forgotten

6. I am looking at
   a. Active Life (was Time Star) -> will probably be removed soon
   b. TAPCIS -> will register
   c. QVTWIN -> might toss xtalk for this (qvt less power but more intuitive)
   d. Screen Peace -> charityware, not sure what I need to do with this
   e. Almanac (name?) -> need a PIM, don't think this or Active Life is it
   f. 4dos -> still flakey under windows but will probably register
   g. Metz Task Manger -> will probably register (is to win3.0 what command
      post was to win2.x - almost)
   h. others I've probbably forgotten

7. Would register if I used regularly but don't due to high annoyance factor
   a. Navigate (Windows Magellan like program, great idea)
   b. GCP (only need for GIF->BMP, a need which is declining)
   c. Command post applets (now obsolete due to win3.0)

The above detail is to help convince shareware folks to take a chance as many
shareware authors have.  If someone does not want to buy the package, then
they'll probably get a copy even if you go nonshareware.  I've bought too
many packages that did not suit my needs (gopher, micrografixs draw,
Logitech Modula II, MS preview, Print Shop, PC Lint, CrossTalk :-(, etc) to 
ever buy software again without reviewing it by using it.  I always look for
shareware first.  Take a chance and make it as good and useable as you can.

* Bruce Benson                   + Internet  - bwb@sei.cmu.edu +       +
* Software Engineering Institute + Compuserv - 76226,3407      +    >--|>
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