CMCDONALD@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL (Chris McDonald) (03/28/91)
As a registered user of Ross Greenberg's program Flu-Shot+, I received a demonstration version of VPCScan of the commercial program Virex-PC bundled within version 1.8 of Flu-Shot+. I used the demonstration for several days, and then purchased the full commercial product. Since I routinely evaluate security-related software products for my agency, I had occasion to run the demonstration version on Tuesday, 26 March since I wanted to compare its feature against the actual commercial product. I received the following message prior to the execution of the demo: "This demonstration expires in 6 days." This morning I ran the demo again, and the counter was down to "5 days". I am waiting with anticipation to see what happens on April 1st. I must note that the read.me file contained within Flu-Shot+ which described the demo at no time indicated a shelf life. In fact, the file states: "This demo may be distributed freely, but may not be sold without the express written permission of Microcom, Inc. and Ross M. Greenberg." I have no objection to someone offering a demo, or in encouraging that someone "freely" distribute it under the vendor's instructions. I would think that it sure would have been nice to have included some type of statement in the read.me file alerting REGISTERED, fee paying customers of Flu-Shot+ of the demo's expiration date--particularly when it appears April 1st is the drop-dead date. Since I know Ross has access to this forum, I would simply like to ask if this was a designed feature on his and Microcom's part, or whether I perhaps have a "hacked" version of Flu-Shot+. Chris Mc Donald cmcdonald@wsmr-simtel20.army.mil
c-rossgr@uunet.uu.net (04/09/91)
>Date: Wed, 27 Mar 91 11:49:57 -0700 >From: Chris McDonald <CMCDONALD@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Sorry for the delay, Chris: why is the last 1% of any new release always the hardest part to get out the door? >As a registered user of Ross Greenberg's program Flu-Shot+, I received >a demonstration version of VPCScan of the commercial program Virex-PC >bundled within version 1.8 of Flu-Shot+. I used the demonstration for >several days, and then purchased the full commercial product. Ah hah! The clever marketing ploy worked! You used the demo, then bought the product. I'll tell the marketing guy at Microcom - he'll be pleased. Don't worry: I get serious in just a sec.... >Since I routinely evaluate security-related software products for my >agency, I had occasion to run the demonstration version on Tuesday, 26 >March since I wanted to compare its feature against the actual >commercial product. I received the following message prior to the >execution of the demo: "This demonstration expires in 6 days." This >morning I ran the demo again, and the counter was down to "5 days". I >am waiting with anticipation to see what happens on April 1st. > >I must note that the read.me file contained within Flu-Shot+ which >described the demo at no time indicated a shelf life. In fact, the >file states: "This demo may be distributed freely, but may not be sold >without the express written permission of Microcom, Inc. and Ross M. >Greenberg." I have no objection to someone offering a demo, or in >encouraging that someone "freely" distribute it under the vendor's >instructions. > >I would think that it sure would have been nice to have included some >type of statement in the read.me file alerting REGISTERED, fee paying >customers of Flu-Shot+ of the demo's expiration date--particularly >when it appears April 1st is the drop-dead date. You're 100% absolutely right, Chris. Not sticking in some information regarding the drop-dead date was a dumb mistake on my part -- I wish I could blame it on somebody else. The new scanner (discussed below) has a drop-dead date of September 1, 1991. Between now and then, I expect to release a number of new demos, each updated with new features and new strings. Until the July release, or thereabout, all of them will have the 9/1/91 drop-dead date. Starting with the July release the drop-dead date will be somewhat further removed into the future: I'm not sure what I'll set it for, but I'll certainly let it be known in advance: a bonehead mistake like letting the expiration date on the current scanner lapse before releasing the new one should never have happened. Did I mention how much I hate Windows at all recently? :-) Picking a date back in October of 1990 (allowing for what was supposed to be six months of operation sounded so good on paper, too: I never thought about an expiry of April 1 having any significance. Yeah, that was dumb, too.) >Since I know Ross has access to this forum, I would simply like to ask >if this was a designed feature on his and Microcom's part, or whether >I perhaps have a "hacked" version of Flu-Shot+. Nope. No hacked version of the code. Just stupidity on my part. However, now that I'm done with the Windows version of the code, I've gotten some commonsense back. I'm better now! :-) Ross M. Greenberg Author, Virex-PC & FLU_SHOT+ Disclaimer: These are my opinions only. Chances are good that Microsoft thinks that Windows programming is good clean fun, building character or something.....