2(1), November 1984, page 14

[conclusion of Nickell article at top of this page]

Public-domain Software

Roger Schlobin
Department of English
Purdue University, North Central
Westville, Indiana 46391

One of the most unfortunate circumstances of the current microcomputer revolution is how many educational institutions, businesses, and individuals are ignorant of the VERY inexpensive programs that are available in the public domain. These include word processors, full business systems, utility programs, indexers, languages, language subroutines, and smart modem programs (for data transfer via cable and smart modems like the Hayes and the U.S. Robotics). A typical public-domain disk will contain ten to twenty programs and documentation files per disk (volume). Certainly, considering the hundreds upon thousands of dollars that are spent on programs by separate businesses, universities, and individuals

COMPUTERS and COMPOSITION 2(1), November 1984, page 15

each year, these inexpensive opportunities deserve consideration. If they don't satisfy needs, simply throw them away; they're that cheap!

While many of these programs may not be on the proper disk format, there are companies and dealers that will transfer them to the appropriate format (one such, P/D Software, is listed below; sometimes local dealers will also do it). A typical charge is $20 (includes shipping and handling). In addition, a few programs (like the modems) will require installation. A typical installation should run $50 to $70. This is for example, far cheaper than nearly all commercial programs.

Here are the sources for public-domain software and custom disk formatting and configuration, listed by operating system. In addition to these, there are also numerous "users' groups" throughout the world devoted to specific computers. Your local dealers and computer clubs should be aware of these.

SOURCES FOR PUBLIC-DOMAIN SOFTWARE: CP/M-80 AND CP/M-86
SIG/M
Box 97
Iselin, NJ 08830
Catalogue $2.00 USA; $2.50 overseas. Disks: standard 8" format only; $5.00 plus $1.00 handling, USA; $6.00 plus $3.00 overseas. Over one-hundred-and-fifty volumes available.

CPMUG
1651 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Catalogue $10.00 USA; $15.00 overseas. Disks: 8" standard, $13.00 USA; $17.00 overseas; 5.25" for Apple, KayPro and NorthStar, $18.00 USA, $21.00 overseas. Over ninety volumes available.

P/D Software
4691 Dundas Street West
Islington, Ontario
Canada M9A IA7
(416) 239-2835
Distributes all SIG/M and CPMUG software on over twenty-five different disk formats. Disk prices vary from $10.00 to $20.00, depending on format and contents.

PJS Leasing Company
993 S. Santa Fe "C"
Vista, CA 92083
(619) 727-1015
Sells and rents (for copying) public-domain software from the CPMUG, SIG/M, IBM-PC/UG, PASCAL UG. Disks are sold on 8" format only at $6.00 for two volumes. Disks are leased on 8" format only at varying prices ($19.95-$99.50). Write or call for a catalogue and rental terms.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN SOFTWARE: MS-DOS AND PC-DOS

The New York Amateur Computer Group
Box 106
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
Catalogue: $10.00 Disks: $6.00 USA, add $3.00 overseas. No information on disk format (IBM-PC?). Over forty volumes available.

PC Software Interest Group
1556 Halford Avenue
Suite 130
Santa Clara CA, 95051
(408) 247-6303
Catalogue: $3.00. Disks are sold on 5.25" IBM-PC format at approximately $6.00 each with discounts for "packages." There are over seventy volumes available.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN SOFTWARE: CP/M-80/86, MS-DOS, AND PC-DOS; SPECIALLY CONFIGURED MODEM PROGRAMS; AND CUSTOM PROGRAMMING

Quest Integrated Systems
Suite 100
Dept. R
9 North Main Street
Lombard, IL 60148
(312) 953-2099
Free catalogue. Numerous disk formats available.

TRADEMARKS

Apple is a trademark of Apple Computer, 20525 Mariani Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014

CP/M-80 and CP/M-86 are trademarks of Digital Research, P.O. Box 579, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

IBM-PC and PC-DOS are trademarks of International Business Machine, P.O. Box 1328, Boca Raton, FL 33432

COMPUTERS and COMPOSITION 2(1), November 1984, page 16

KayPro is a trademark of Kay Corporation, 833 Stevens Ave., Solana Beach, CA 92075

MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Consumer Products, 400 108th Ave. N. W., Suite 200, Bellevue, WA 98004

Hayes Smartmodem is a trademark of D.C. Hayes Microcomputer Products, 5923 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross, GA 30092

U.S. Robotics is a trademark of U.S. Robotics, 1123 West Washington, Chicago, IL 60607