By Larry Anders, Librarian,Tampa PC Users Group, Inc.
Initially, when I first became the librarian for the Tampa PC Users Group my job was easily defined; collect shareware and freeware files and provide access to these files for our members. I used to lug a large container of diskettes to each meeting with a portable computer of some type and allow our members to copy to their heart’s content. When the BBS became popular, my role changed to uploading massive amounts of files to the BBS, so our members would have easy access to the latest programs offered. On occasion, I would be asked to try and locate specific files through my connection of national BBSs. Then came the Internet and everything changed. At least my duties as librarian did.
Now with the Internet, everyone has access to some of the best software packages offered today. In this article this month I will try and inform you of a few of the places to go to find these jewels of the super I-way. (I can only say that if you still do not have access to the Internet then what the heck are you waiting for?)
CNET.COM (http://www.cnet.com/) is a free online information service that provides access to two of the largest shareware distributors on the Internet. They are:
SHAREWARE.COM (http://www.shareware.com/) and
DOWNLOAD. COM (http://www.download.com/).
I’m not sure what the difference is between the two but all the files are not duplicated on each service. For instance the top ten files downloaded on SHAREWARE.COM are:
winzip95.exe
WinZip 6.3 SR-1 for Windows 95/NT addresses an issue in the
original release of WinZip 6.3. If you have the original release
or a beta release of 6.3, you are encouraged to download SR-1.
WinZip is a straightforward zip and unzip.
netlight.zip
Speed-up your Internet connection with Net Lightening.
windiag.zip
Put your PC to the test with BCM Diagnostics.
wz32v63.exe
WinZip v6.3 SR-1 for Windows 95/NT . (If you don’t have a
previous issue.)
Win95one.exe
The Windows 95 Sample Collection One is everything you always
wanted for Windows 95. It's a free grab bag of utilities that
will aid and enhance your everyday use of the desktop.
v95i312e.zip
McAfee VirusScan for Win95 v3.12. (The Best!)
icq98a.exe
ICQ 98 is the latest version of the popular, user-friendly
Internet program that notifies you in real time when friends or
colleagues are online.
psp414.zip
Paint Shop Pro Shareware v4.14
xpsw1.zip
EXTREME PINBALL features Ultra-Realistic table dimensions,
animated arcade style 3D dotmation scoreboard, multi-ball play
and a new music and sound system that changes the music with
gameplay events.
digib33.exe
Tired of those plain old FM/AM Radio Stations? Listen to the dawn
of the new age with DigiBand Radio.
Whereas the top 10 ten files downloaded from DOWNLOAD.COM are:
ICQ (32-bit)
Seek out friends and colleagues on the
Internet
WinZip (32-bit)
Handle ZIP files with ease
PowWow
Chat and share files over the Internet
LView Pro
View and edit images in a variety of file
formats
Netscape Communicator (32-bit complete
install)
Try the latest shipping release of
Netscape's Internet suite
ICQ Update Patch
Upgrade to ICQ 98 to seek out friends and
colleagues on the Internet
Quake II
Play this "compatibility test"
release of Quake II
Newnix Shell
Get Unix-like control over your DOS or
Windows system
DirectX Drivers
Install this 32-bit gaming requirement
Applet Button Factory
Add Java buttons to your Web pages without
Java or HTML programming savvy
The main difference I see is the size of the description of the file.(I shortened them for this publication.) There are hundreds of other files sorted by category and operating system. You even have the ability to search for a file if you don’t know it’s exact name. These are both very current, up-to-date sites and you don’t have to worry about viruses. Best of all…. It’s FREE!
There are many other locations on the web for shareware, such as:
http://www.bsoftware.com/share.htm
http://www.concentric.net/~rickid/
http://www.gamesdomain.com/tigger/sw-kids.html
http://www.download.net/download.shtml
Believe me, this is only a few of them. For list of some of the best locations on the Internet to find software go to the father of shareware:
http://www.halcyon.com/knopf/jim.html and click on distributors.
After visiting just a few of these sites you will see why my job as librarian for the TPCUG is really hard to define now. If you’ve got any suggestions just get in touch with me. If you have any sources for good software please let me know too. I’m always interested in good, cheap software. Happy hunting!
Note: This article is written in Word97, which allows me to include hyperlinks. When William publishes this newsletter to out website http://canx.com/tpcug/ or our BBS, Bits of Blue, 813-980-1295, you can download the .PDF file and read it in color on your own computer, if you have the free Adobe Acrobat reader on your PC. If not, there are instructions on how and where to get it on the website where the newsletter articles are listed. You really get the full effect of all the hard work William puts into each newsletter by reading it with Acrobat. Then, while reading it on your own PC, if you click on the hyperlinks, while on-line to the Internet, you will be automatically transported to the website referenced in the article. It can’t get any easier than that. Ain’t computing GREAT!
