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%*
%* ------------------------------------------------------------------
%* Role PlayingDB V2.0 by Deepwoods Software
%* ------------------------------------------------------------------
%* Registration.tex - Registration
%* Created by Robert Heller on Sun Jan 3 00:54:14 1999
%* ------------------------------------------------------------------
%* Modification History:
%* $Log: Registration.tex,v $
%* Revision 1.2 1999/07/14 22:17:34 heller
%* Eddy's Edits.
%*
%* Revision 1.1 1999/01/05 01:20:52 heller
%* Initial revision
%*
%* ------------------------------------------------------------------
%* Contents:
%* ------------------------------------------------------------------
%*
%* Role Playing DB -- A database package that creates and maintains
%* a database of RPG characters, monsters, treasures,
%* spells, and playing environments.
%*
%* Copyright (C) 1995,1998,1999 Robert Heller D/B/A Deepwoods Software
%* 51 Locke Hill Road
%* Wendell, MA 01379-9728
%*
%* This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
%* it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
%* the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
%* (at your option) any later version.
%*
%* This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
%* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
%* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
%* GNU General Public License for more details.
%*
%* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
%* along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
%* Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
%*
%*
%*
\chapter{Registration: Why Bother?}
\label{Registration}
\typeout{$Id: Registration.tex,v 1.2 1999/07/14 22:17:34 heller Rel1 $}
\section{What Is Shareware?}\index{shareware!What is}
Shareware is software that is distributed freely, but with a voluntary
fee. Generally, this fee gets some extra benefits. In some cases,
source code is provided. In others a nice manual and/or customer
support is provided. Sometimes the freely distributed version has
limited functionality and registration provides a fully functional
version of the package or program.
\section{What You Get When You Register}\index{registration!What you get}
The \thesystem\ package is fully functional as distributed freely. You
don't need to register it to make full use of the package. There are
advantages to registering your copy of the \thesystem\ package.
When you fill in the registration form (see Appendix~\ref{RegForm}) and
send in your registration fee you will get customer support. This
means you can ask me questions and I will try to answer them and try to
help you with whatever problems you might have. It also means I will
really listen to your suggestions and comments.
\section{If You Decide Not To Register}
This is okay. You are entirely on your own if you have problems or
questions.
\section{Why Not Simply Make It a Commercial Package?}
Producing a slick, shrink-wrapped commercial package requires a certain
amount of investment in time and resources. It would make the package
more costly to the user (much more than the registration fee) and would
put me in debt. If it did not sell I could be stuck with a large debt.
It is possible, if this package is extremely popular, that a commercial
version might be produced. As a shareware package, the \thesystem\
package can be distributed widely at low cost. A lot of people can get
a chance to try it out without having to pay. If the package
proves to be useful, people can choose to pay the modest registration
fee and get customer support.
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