1 - Commodore Is Awesome

More or that ever popula r PO pursuit. ra y-tra ce d a rt
cy because there is no copyright on
the software to start with.
ff you are looking to buy PD software,
the message is to shop around,
A casual flick through this issue of
Amiga Computing will reveal a myriad
suppliers eager to provide you with
their wares.
See a specialist
Libraries tend to specialise these days
in order to cultivate a particular area
of the market. As Martyn acknowledged,
17
-place
to find productivity software,
Bit but if iit s is utilities and entertainment
psoftware e r you are after, the choice is
hendless. a p
s Most libraries produce catalogue
ndisks,
or hard-copy lists. It makes
osense t to scan these carefully before
tcommitting
to buying a lot of disks
hfor
only a few bits and bobs of software.
e
b Often you can find the same pro-
e
grams you require, packaged up on
fewer disks within a different library.
s
t
The range and depth of software
available is evident within the pages
of Amiga Computing each and every
month.
Our Public Domain column aims
to provide the latest gen on programs
that are unique, of special
merit or just plain indispensable.
To make the most of your Amiga,
you really should make the most of
Public Domain.
The new movement
If it's quality rather than quantity
you're after take a look at some of
the long established libraries which
produce compilation collections of
the best software in any specific area.
28 Amiga Computing
These are combined to form the
definitive PD collections in each particular
field. They can vary from
games, utilities, home management,
clip art and so on.
If you've not yet delved into the
domain this is an excellent entry
Digitised pictures are ve ry p.pttle r.„
14.16
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h
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o
t
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Covell
i Feature
point for your first investments. On
paper it can sometimes appear a
rather expensive alternative to single
disks priced at 99p, but it's worth
remembering that there's very little
wasted space and of course you're
sure that the contents will be !vie
-vant
to your requirements.
,
The plastic press
Another aspect of the domain not
yet mentioned is the ever expanding
market for disk-based magazines. If
you're not familiar with the medium
a brief explanation is in order_
These disks are usually monthly
offerings which are either released
through the individual libraries in a
similar format to the licenceware
arrangement applied to PD software
or are written and released by the
larger libraries themselves.
These are then either bought separately
or sent to registered subscribers
in a newsletter format.
If it's literary quality and news
Even if you prefer a poke in the eye to the average scrolly demo you can
fail to be impressed with the incredibly clever coding which goes in to
ducing these amazing combinations of graphics and sound.
I'm far from a fan of the average scroll routine but I must admit the
quality of the coding never fails to impress.
The obvious question is, why aren't these guys and gals making a fortune
writing the next software smash?
Well, quite simply that's exactly what they intend to do and a jaw dropping
demo is just the thing to attract the attention of the software houses.
Many a scrolly demo expert has moved on to coding classics for the commercial
sector,
It's not only coders who benefit from the demo scene. If you're looking
to break into the serious side of Amiga music, ioining a coding team may
well be a route to fame and, if you get noticed, perhaps even a bit of fortune.
L. Private
collections
Along with the PD monsters whkh
are distributed to all such as Fred's
there are a number of COOKtiOnA
which ore exclusively distributed
by individual libraries.
An exam* of this would be the
Tbag collection released through
the Amiganuts United. It's a
monthly offering that takes the
pick of the PD from the states and
combines it onto a single, extremely
stylish disk. Ws worth enquiring
with larger libraries about similar
deals they may have struck with
other collections.
you're after it's probably best to go
for the independent releases, Aside
from the quality of the contributors
there's the added advantage which
the international input lends to the
magazine.
As a consequence of their Email
upbringing they tend to provide the
latest stories, software, news and
reviews from literally all around the
world.
Of course one of the main selling
points of most plastic mags is the
weird and wonderful collection of
software bundled with every issue. It
tends to be something of a mixed
bag but in general the quality is high
and of course bang up to date.
If you check out the Public
Domain section in this issue you'll
find a guide to the alternatives which
should point you in the right direction
towards the best in the plastic
press.
Helping hands
Another commendable talent of the
PD is its ability to throw a lifeline to
those poor souls who are stranded,
lost and alone with their consuming
passion for some sort of bizarre
Amiga application.
If you're one of these poor unfortunates
try contacting one of the
larger libraries and they should be
able to put you in touch with various
clubs that deal with everything from
tract& to C programming.
Most of these clubs release
monthly newsletters full of hints, tips
and reviews which cover everything
to do with their particular passion, so
even the keenest enthusiast should
be kept happy for hours, months or
even years.
4