des@druxh.UUCP (Salyer) (04/07/84)
<.> <== Sacrifice to the Great Line-Gobbler gods of the Net.
Recently it was noted that one reason that 'pirates' 'steal' the
software is that they wouldn't buy it any-way. Well there is an alternative.
A company called 'Black Sun Program Exchange' has a large selection
of software for the Apple. When you join this service you get three options
1) you can buy the software ( at their reduced rate ), 2) you can rent the
software ( kinda 'check it out before you buy' ) for three weeks, after
which you have the option of buying, 3) or swapping software (with original
packaging ) for another package.
This is (to my mind) one major reason for piracy - that the
potential buyer/pirate is not sure of the quality of the package, and wants
to 'check it out' first. Of course this doesn't mean that he/she will buy it
if itr turns out to be good, but it's a good excuse. Black Sun provides an
alternative (albeit, also an opportunity to) piracy, thus removing one of
the 'reasons' for piracy.
A side benefit of this service is the swapping option. If you do
decide to buy, and then some time later decide you don't need (or have
'played out') a program, you can swap it for another program of similar
price range. This is especially nice for adventure/arcade type games.
For those interested, the address of Black Sun is:
Black Sun Program Exchange
P.O. Box 66
Wyncote, PA 19095
(215) 884-8187
Hope this will persuade some potential 'pirates' to rent rather than
'steal'.
From the electronic pen of Dale Salyer ...
AT&T Information Systems Laboratories
11900 N. Pecos St.
Denver, CO. 80234
Net address: {whatever}druxh!des