CompuServe Thread

#MWB2 Registration

22 messages in this thread
#185230From: Andre LackmannFeb 11, 1995 10:43 PM
Hi Gary, I know the Australian rego site for MagicWB 2.0 is still up & running, sorry I can't help you with US. -Andre Regards, Andre Lackmann On AutoPilot and still outta control
#185254From: Roger Ng ManCheongFeb 12, 1995 7:53 AM
Hi Andre, Would you tell me the filename of MagicWB2.0 in CompuServe or where to get a demo version of it ? Would MagicWB register from Compuserve software register Forum ? How much of the MagicWB 2.0 version 's register fee (US $ or AUD$) ? Thank you for your time. Roger. From Hong Kong.
#185285From: Andre LackmannFeb 12, 1995 2:07 PM
Hi Roger, The demo of MagicWB v2.0 is available in this forum! [76703,2006] Lib:17 MWB2.LHA/Bin Bytes: 269025, Count: 286, 22-Jul-94 Title : MagicWB v2.0 demo, The definitive WB-Enhancer Keywords: MAGICWB WB WORKBENCH ENHANCER HUTTENLOHER SASG MagicWB v2.0 Demo. The definitive WB-Enhancer no Amiga can do without. MagicWB is a full replacement for the graphic user interface of the Workbench. MagicWB 2.0 is completely restructured on a new color-allocation scheme which more than doubles the speed of the WB and reduces chip consumption to only a third compared with all previous versions. More icons, dock-brushes, a dozen of new patterns, fonts and AGA support. Sharware by Martin Huttenloher I am not sure, but I think it is generally US$20. It is not currently available via SWREG on CompuServe. -Andre
#185388From: Hank DuckmanFeb 13, 1995 4:55 PM
Andre; The "demo" of Magic Workbench 2.0 is more of a sampler than a true demo. I downloaded it and there are only sample screens, no program. Hank
#185483From: Andre LackmannFeb 14, 1995 2:48 PM
Hi Hank, Thats pretty much as good as your going to get for a taste of MagicWB 2.0. The author decided to release it as such, due to large amounts of people using the previous demo package asis, and not bothering registering for the extra nice bits 8). If you like the look of it, register, it really is such a small amount that it will not hurt if you decide down the track that you hate it! -Andre
#185495From: Gary S. CooperFeb 14, 1995 4:54 PM
If you are registering thru the US Reg site you may want to wait and see if they are still in operation before sending off your cash. I sent in the registration fee on MWB2 nearly 3 months ago and have yet to see a thing from them, their BBS lines are disconnected and they have not responded to a follow up letter. Gary Cooper ( the live one ) From Albuquerque, New Mexico
#185512From: Kenneth P. OlsonFeb 14, 1995 7:26 PM
For what it is worth- I sent an e-mail to the author of MUI (same US registration site as MWB I believe). Stephen Stuntz sent a terse answer stating yes, it is still in operation. The BBS phone number associated with Robert Blayzor is disconnected, however. Ken
#185589From: daniel stripesFeb 15, 1995 4:52 PM
>>>The BBS phone number associated with Robert Blayzor is disconnected, however.<<< Okay, so am I the only one confused here? The USA registration site given in the MWB2.0 demo is Robert Blayzor, Liquid Sky Datacomm BBS: (518) 725-9701/2 v.32bis/v.FC. Doesn't that leave us without a registration site in the USA? What does Stephen Stuntz have to do with MWB? Can we register it through him? There are a few of us out here who would like to register MWB but don't want to just arbitrarily send our $$$ off into uncertain oblivion (sorry, Gary). ;^) //daniel on \X/ AutoPilot 1.77
#185590From: Gary S. CooperFeb 15, 1995 5:02 PM
Hey, sometimes you just gotta roll the dice and take your chances – there were a lot of satisfied folks here discussing MWB2 when I placed my order – worst case I'm out $20 , I will survive. Just wanted to make sure others knew what was happening in regards to the USA reg site. Gary Cooper ( the live one ) From Albuquerque, New Mexico
#185631From: Trent HawkinsFeb 16, 1995 12:35 AM
Daniel, =>What does Stephen Stuntz have to do with MWB? Stuntz is the author of Magic WB. Blayzor is the SASG US rep for easy paying of registration fees for Magic WB as well as MUI and a few other programs. Trent 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'
#185632From: Michael SheaFeb 16, 1995 1:05 AM
The author of MagicWB is Martin Huttenloher. Stuntz is the author of Magic User Interface. ._ _ _ INTERNET: mshea@math.arizona.edu | | |ichael _>hea COMPUSERVE: 76665,3360
#185721From: Trent HawkinsFeb 16, 1995 11:16 PM
OK. That did it! No more responses <g>. Trent 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'
#185684From: daniel stripesFeb 16, 1995 6:14 PM
That's strange. In the demo of MWB 2.0 that's in the library here, Martin Huttenloher is listed as the author. Is this a pseudonym? As for Blayzor, isn't his the registration site with disconnected BBS lines? And if such is the case, then I think I'm back at square one (or zero). I think I'll try to call Liquid Sky tonight again. //daniel on \X/ AutoPilot 1.77
#185722From: Trent HawkinsFeb 16, 1995 11:16 PM
<sigh> Yes Daniel. You are correct. Huttenloher is the author of Magic WB. Stuntz is the author of MUI. Trent 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'
#185688From: Kenneth P. OlsonFeb 16, 1995 6:30 PM
SASG is the "company" that is responsible for a group of programs, including MWB by Martin Hutenloher and MUI by Stefan Stuntz. They both have the same USA registration site, Robert Blayzor, PO Box 807, Johnstown, NY 12095-0807. You asked about MWB; I used the above address, sent my $20 and received the disk a couple weeks later (about 8 months ago). I am about to register MUI; because of the recent questions on this board, I decided to inquire directly with the pertinent author, in this case, Stuntz. Since they both use the same registration site, I assumed both programs are supported this way. Perhaps not. Despite the BBS being down, snail mail probably still works. If it's any consolation, sending $20 through the mail was uncomfortable for me too, but it worked. You can send a check, but then the shoe's on the other foot and you have to wait an extra 2 weeks for your check to clear before they send the disk. Can't win. I liked even less sending my credit card number over the net. So far no spurios charges. Best of luck. Ken PS. I really like MWB
#185891From: daniel stripesFeb 18, 1995 3:57 PM
Thanks for all the info. I was hoping that someone here would miraculously pop up with a new USA registration site since the numbers to Liquid Sky yield a recorded message only, indicating that the numbers are no longer in service. So, perhaps the snail mail is still valid, but it's not just a case of BBS crash/maintenance. Maybe you're right, sending $20 cash directly to the author may be the way to go. Do you (or anyone else here) have an internet address for Martin Huttenloher? I am not sure if the <xen@magic.in-ulm.de> is such since it's not the internet format I am accustomed to seeing. //daniel \X/ AP 1.77
#185992From: Kenneth P. OlsonFeb 19, 1995 1:02 PM
Hi. Ja, that's the right e-mail address (but don't use the < and >, then it looks more conventional and it works). However, when I asked some installation questions _before_ I registered, he was unwilling to offer _any_ help (from his standpoint, you can understand why, but I was kind of miffed). I had an early full working version and must have caught him just after he had switched to the current "snapshot" non-functional demo. He's was helpful after registration But it took several weeks to get the disk after snail-mailing my $20. It felt like: upgrade fee through Blayzor. Return was much quicker then. Then. Not sure now. Good luck. Ken
#185568From: Hank DuckmanFeb 15, 1995 11:30 AM
Andre; I guess I can understand the author's feelings about this, but I, for one, like to convince myself that a program works on my system and is all that it is "advertised" to be. Of course, you are right, inasmuch as I will not go broke sending in the reg fee to try the full program out. I also have concerns about some recent messages in the forum from people who have sent in their registrations and have not gotten their programs after two or three months. My problem is that around 9 months ago, I downloaded one of the earlier demos, when I was running WB 2.1. I have a PicassoII and an Idek 17" monitor. I tried installing the demo a couple of times and it severely crashed my system-had to erase every file to get up and running again. I believe it was Steve Ahlstrom (maybe it was Jim Drew, I'm not sure- I only remember that it was one of our Amiga mavens) who, at the time, said something to the effect that the program code had some "illegalities" in it and that it was likely to cause problems. I stored the program and never again tried to reinstall it. I am not sure from reading the docs as to whether or not it can be used in non-interlaced mode. My impression is that I can't use it on my PicassoII 800×600 WorkBench screen which is flicker-free and which I have grown to love. If I could be convinced that the above objections are groundless, then I would go ahead and register for MWB 2.0. Thanks for your input. Hank
#185579From: Christian BusseFeb 15, 1995 3:03 PM
Hank, MWB is not a "program" as such (and therefore it most definitely can't crash your system). It is rather a collection of artwork (if that's what you want to call it) in the form of various icons and background patterns, all based on the (in)famous MagicWB 8colour palette. A possible reason for your crashes might have been that in the old releases MWB's icons were simply copied over your original ones, thus destroying all information you might have had in them as regards tooltypes and stack size. If the stack size is too small, your program is bound to crash or hang or whatever sooner or later. Later releases have changed in that the original icon's properties are kept in the new icons so there shouldn't be those problems anymore. Another source of problems used to be the enclosed NickPrefs utility which wouldn't work properly on 3.x systems (or so I have read). OTOH, if you have WB 3.x you wouldn't need them anyway… So, the bottom line is: if you really like MWB, register (if in doubt about the US reg site, directly with SASG/author in Germany). Nonetheless, I'd always recommend you to download the NewIcons system (NEWICN.LHA, about 340K). If nothing else, the artist's introduction is worth it alone (he hates MWB's design and he can prove why 'cos he's a professional graphic artist/designer) ;^) There's also a file with about 100 backgrounds, some of which are just AMAZING! BTW, the NewIcon system doesn't force you to use a special palette like MWB does, everything automatically adjusts to look as close to the original colouring as palette restrictions allow (no restrictions with 256 colours) using WB 3.x's colour arbitration technology. It's simply amazing! Only drawbacks are: it's a bit slower than MWB, and there aren't (?) as many icons available. Plusses are: it's much more intelligent (filetype recognition), more colourful (icons can have up to 256(!) colours, and the docs are much more fun to read… ;^) Well, enough of me rambling about… See for yourself! Cheers, // Christian "ELP" Busse \X/ near Frankfurt, Germany
#185714From: Hank DuckmanFeb 16, 1995 10:37 PM
Christian; Thanks for the info. Hank
#185597From: Andre LackmannFeb 15, 1995 5:49 PM
Hi Hank, I guess the only way to put aside your fears would be to mail the author direct, as he would be able to answer your technical questions (which I cannot unfortunately). If you need his address, I can email it to you. -Andre
#185716From: Hank DuckmanFeb 16, 1995 10:38 PM
< I guess the only way to put aside your fears would be to mail the author direct, as he would be able to answer your technical questions (which I cannot unfortunately). If you need his address, I can email it to you.> Thanks Andre. I would appreciate it. Hank