


                            FasType for Windows


                   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?" Think about 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.

     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 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. ?

====================


                    _______
               ____|__     |     M E M B E R
            --|       |o   |-------------------
              |   ____|__  |  Association of
              |  |       |_|  Shareware
              |__|   o   |    Professionals
            -----|   |   |---------------------
                 |___|___|               (R)

     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   A member's  program (evaluation  version)  could  not  be  limited
        (crippled) in  any way.  In the  true spirit of Try-Before-You-Buy,
        users must be able to evaluate all the features in a program before
        paying the registration fee.

     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: 616-788-2765
          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.







==========================================================
FasType is Copyright 1996 by Trendtech Corporation
The A.S.P. symbol is a Registered Trademark of the A.S.P.
