A2DEH@MIT-MC.ARPA (Donald E. Hopkins) (09/04/85)
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 85 19:38:30 PDT From: crash!nsayer at SDCSVAX.ARPA To: info-apple at brl-tgr.ARPA Re: CMS Brother, I go on vacation for a week, and get a mail box soooo fulll.... Anyway, the common questions I have received are: #1: What is it written in: Applesoft and machine code under Pro-DOS 1.1.1 #2: It is only compatable with the enhanced 128K (or more) Apple //e or //c. #3: MODEM.DRIVERs are available for the 300 or 300/1200 Applecat, and the SSC (//c) + Smartmodem 300, 300/1200, 300/1200/2400. (+ compatables) #4: It is shareware -- that is, you can copy the disks and give them to whoever you like, but the manual costs $20. The manual includes full source code assembly listing of the main machine code module. None of this is copy-protected. #5: You can get it either by sending me $1.50 for shipping + disk and I'll send you the CMS disk, or send me $20, and I'll send you the manual + the disk (shipping free). My US Mail address Nick Sayer 545 San Elijo San Diego, Ca. 92106 #5: You can call CMS - Pt. Loma at 619-222-6165, or CMS - La Mesa at 619-697-7651. If I forgot something, please let me know, and I will reply personally. ihnp4!crash!nsayer crash!nsayer@sdcs vax How successful an experience have you had with shareware (freeware)? I have heard that people have had good luck with IBM software (but I know now how good) and pretty bad luck with Mac software. (Not to discourage anyone from doing it, though. My information is vague and n'th hand.) What about the Apple market? What strategies are there to it? I suppose having a huge manual discourages many people from copying it (and has other obvious advantages as well, as long as the hugeness comes from information content, instead of white space or prose ...) on the principle that it's probably worth registering for $10 or $20 just to save on copying costs. Offering extra support would help, too. (i.e., you get a phone number to call. Call it and give your registration number to the answering machine, and you get a call back, because, being registered, they know your number. This way the author does not have to hire a secretary or be a phone slave.) Also, registered users could get sign-ons to a bboard they could call, and interact with other users of the software, download extensions, get tips, ask the author questions, etc...) I'm sure there are other strategies that would work to maximize user registration, and make the product as useful as possible. Which ones have been tried and proven successful? Are there any that might seem useful but actually don't work? (i.e. they either don't get people to register, or make the program hard to use, or take large amounts of time/effort/money on the author's part) I am more interested in applying this to non-game software, as most games tend to be quite disposable and not very highly valued. -Don