ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM (Norman Goodger) (10/17/89)
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* O F F I C I A L A N N O U N C E M E N T *
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* V E R S I O N 1 1 U P G R A D E *
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Formal Release Notice Of New Version For Registered Red Ryder Users
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On October 15, 1989, The FreeSoft Company announced the impending
release of a new product, the successor to Red Ryder version 10.3.
The new product, interestingly enough, is called White Knight version
11. Why the name change? Simple. Our license contract for the Red
Ryder trademark is to expire on January 1, 1990. Two days before we
were to go to the printer with what was to be called "Red Ryder 11",
the owners of the trademark advised us that there was to be a
significant increase in the license fee renewel. The best
calculations that we could do on such short notice told us that this
increase was significant to the degree that we would either have to
double the proposed price of the product, or eliminate several jobs.
Our response was to do neither. Instead, we chose to select a new
name for the product and apply for trademark protection ourselves.
As I'm sure you can realize, we have built up a tremendous amount of
good faith in the name Red Ryder associated with our products, and we
are sorry to have to make such an abrupt "duck and weave". However,
this is the choice that I feel is best for the product and our
customers. Please help us get the word out in any way you can that
this name change has happened - not only with word of mouth but by
redistributing this file as far and wide as possible.
Two separate documents are being distributed with this one describing
all of the numerous new features added to White Knight 11.
How To Update To The New Version
--------------------------------
More research and developement, and more hours of product testing have
gone into White Knight 11 than in all previous versions combined. I'm
sure you're going to be thrilled with what I've done with it, and I
want to get it to you as quickly as possible. However, we have not
yet received the user manuals back from the printer, and don't expect
to until the end of October. We're making this announcement a bit
early so you can do what's necessary to get your update request in as
soon as possible and establish yourself in the queue. We'll be
filling orders as we receive the manuals hot off the press, and we do
expect some delays. Be patient.
White Knight takes strong advantage of the capabilities of the 128K
ROM's, which means that it will run on a Mac Plus, SE, II, or later
machine. It will not run on a 128K or 512K Macintosh. I doubt
strongly that it will run on a 512KE (but should run fine if you
upgrade that machine to one megabyte or more of memory and use System
software version 6.0.2 or later).
As always, we will support our existing customers with a moderately
priced upgrade path based upon 25% of the suggested retail price. The
cost of the upgrade from version 10 is $35.00. The cost of the
upgrade for versions prior to version 10 is $50.00. If you purchased
version 10 on or after October 1, 1989, please send in a copy of your
receipt (or other dated proof of purchase) and we will give you the
upgrade for just a $5.00 shipping charge ($10.00 outside of the United
States).
To get the update, it is imperative that you follow some instructions
explicitly. We anticipate a _tremendous_ number of update requests
coming in all at once, so we're going to have to muddle through the
best we can. If you skip something or don't follow the instructions,
your request will likely be pitched in a box that has a derogatory
sign on its side until we get some breathing room and time to figure
out what to do with it. So please, follow these instructions TO THE
LETTER, or save us both some heartache and give us a call if you have
any questions about these instructions.
1) The Master Disk that we sent with your original order is your proof
of purchase, and that's what you'll need to send in with your update
fee. We don't reuse these disks, so there's no need to pay a lot of
attention to protecting it. However, you should consider insuring the
package for $139 (the suggested retail for White Knight) should your
disk be lost in the mail.
2) If it is a version 10 (that is: 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, or 10.3) master
disk, enclose payment of $35.00. If you have not yet updated to
version 10, enclose the Master Disk for the version you do have and
payment of $50.00. We will accept personal checks, money orders,
postal money orders, or Visa and MasterCard credit cards. If you use
a CREDIT CARD, we'll need the NAME as it appears on the card, the
ACCOUNT NUMBER, and the EXPIRATION DATE. ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE IN U.S.
FUNDS. If you live outside the U.S. and don't have a Visa or
MasterCard or U.S. funds bank account, please use an International
Postal Money Order issued in U.S. funds, which is available from your
local post office.
3) Address the envelope to:
The FreeSoft Company
White Knight Update Dept.
150 Hickory Drive
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
United States of America
If you have questions, our phone number is (412)846-2700. Our FAX
number is (412)847-4436 (for ordering questions only - not tech.
support or product information).
3) If you are in a rush and have a Federal Express account, you can
enclose a prepaid FedEx return receipt and we will honor that.
Otherwise, contact us for additional charges regarding Federal
Express, UPS, or the carrier of your choice (if it services us).
Normally, we will ship via UPS unless you don't give us a street
address, in which case we will use U.S. Post Office Airmail. Charges
for UPS 2nd day and overnight delivery are listed in #6 below.
4) Update orders will be processed in the order received. If you are
in a real big hurry (I know some of you are desperate to get this) - I
understand and have provided a means for you to update as quickly as
possible. I call it "Express Service". We will move your order to
the front of the line and get it out with the first available manual
(usually the same day we get it) if you will do the following:
A) Enclose an extra $10.00
B) Write on the lower left hand corner of the outside of the
envelope the words "UPDATE EXPRESS ORDER".
C) Look at #3 above and enclose any additional charges
necessary if you want it sent back any quicker than
normal UPS or U.S. Mail.
5) If you are a Pennsylvania resident, you must enclose 6% sales tax
($2.10 for version 10 to version 11, or $3.30 for version previous to
10 to version 11), or send us a signed copy of your tax exempt form.
6) This is a _BIG_ package (the manual alone is twice the size of
10.3's), and is therefore quite heavy and expensive to ship. If you
are in the U.S., we'll pay for regular shipping via Airmail or UPS, so
there is no charge for this. However, due to the high costs of
airmail postage rates and the time involved dealing with customs
forms, customers outside the U.S. must add postage to their update
fee. We're pleased to announce that Emery Air Freight has kindly
extended us special rates that are extremely competitive with U.S.
Mail, especially given that Emery will deliver within 5 business days
(2 to 3 days in some countries) and the U.S. Mail can take up to 6 to
8 weeks.
Here are the shipping charges we'll need you to include:
United States
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We'll pay for Airmail or regular UPS, so you don't have to include
anything for those services. For UPS 2nd day delivery, add $5.00.
For UPS overnight delivery, add $14.25. For other couriers, please
contact our office.
Canada
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Airmail - $5.00
Emery Air Freight - $19.00
Australia, New Zealand
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Airmail - $21.90
Emery Air Freight - $27.50
Europe, Caribbean, Mexico
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Airmail - $18.30
Emery Air Freight - $25.00
Far East: Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Etc.
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Airmail - $21.90
Emery Air Freight - $25.00
Central America
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Airmail - $11.10
Emery Air Freight - $34.50
Middle East, South Africa
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Airmail - $21.90
Emery Air Freight - $39.10
U.S. Territories - Guam, Saipan, Etc.
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Airmail - not available
Emery Air Freight - $25.00
Let's review the prices one more time:
1) REQUIRED (one of the following two)
Update from version 10: $35.00
OR Update from previous to 10: $50.00
2) REQUIRED (outside of U.S.)
Shipping cost: $??.?? (see #6 above)
3) REQUIRED (if Pennsylvania resident)
Sales tax: $??.?? (see #5 above)
4) OPTIONAL
Express Service: $10.00
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Your Total: $??.??
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S.W.
--
Norm Goodger SysOp - MacInfo BBS @415-795-8862
3Com Corp. Co-SysOp FreeSoft RT - GEnie.
Enterprise Systems Division (I disclaim anything and everything)
UUCP: {3comvax,auspex,sun}!bridge2!ngg Internet: ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM