Award-Winning |
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by Beverly Rosenbaum |
Many outstanding software programs are made available as shareware, which allows the user a free evaluation period before they must purchase the product. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. If you try a shareware program and continue to use it, you are expected to purchase the program. This purchase is often referred to as "registration" in the documentation. If you continue to use the program after the stated evaluation period, you are legally obligated to complete the purchase.
Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. This distribution method has continued to grow in popularity since its introduction and is being used today by some of the software industry's largest companies. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it!
Hundreds of authors gathered recently at the Annual Shareware Industry Awards, where nominees and winners were announced in 12 categories. Starting in this issue, the User Journal will spotlight the best of the new shareware available for Windows (95, NT and 3.x), DOS, and Macintosh platforms.
The programs presented this month excel in the category of "Best Utility", and two of the nominees came from the same company: Canyon Software, Inc. of San Rafael, California. Free evaluation copies are available from their website at http://www.canyonsw.com or on the HAL-PC BBS at 713/961-4100. The winning utility Drag And File 95 is an excellent File Manager replacement with a customizable toolbar that displays the contents of multiple drives and directories (including the contents of zipped files). It features an integrated virus scanner; support for Netscape, Explorer, and Mosaic internet browsers; and the ability to associate data files with multiple applications to launch them. Drag and Zip 95, also nominated in this category, will zip, unzip and scan for viruses. It includes ZipView, which allows decompression of files on the fly from internet browsers. This 32-bit application is an update of their 16-bit Drag and Zip for Windows 3.x. Registered versions are $30-$35 each, or $55 for a bundle of both.
Another outstanding program from the same company is Drag and View 95, which allows viewing the contents of files without having the program which generated them. The shareware version includes viewers for word processing files, spreadsheets, and databases. It provides the ability to view, rotate, flip and convert six types of bitmap graphics, and performs text searches in files. The 32-bit version integrates into the Windows File Manager. The registered version of Drag and View ($69.95) adds viewing enhancements for Acrobat, Encapsulated Postscript, and seven other file types.
To download the files from the HAL-PC BBS, look for dfgold.zip (Drag And File Gold - Windows NT compatible),with all the features of Drag And File 95 plus Drag And Zip; df95.zip (Windows 95/NT compatible); and the 16-bit (for Windows 3.1x) dragfl20.zip, which includes both Drag And View and Drag And Zip.
PowerDesk Explorer Plus from MicroHelp Inc. in Marietta Georgia (1-800-922-3383 or http://www.microhelp.com) was nominated in the same category for the free version of their commercial product. More powerful than the Windows Explorer, this program provides an enhanced customizable toolbar to include the file management functions you use most often. It also offers built-in zip file management, a DOS command line feature without opening a DOS window, single click access to any drive, and enhanced file viewing with QuickView.
Watch for more categories of outstanding shareware titles in upcoming issues of the User Journal.
Beverly Rosenbaum is a HAL-PC member.
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