FWKCS(TM) Contents_Signature System, Version 1.19.
(C) Copyright Frederick W. Kantor 1988-1992. All rights reserved.



                                   SALE

                                Low Prices


    The FWKCS series was introduced to protect the bulletin board community
    against the problem of duplicate files.  It was the first, and was
    originally designed to serve the needs of large boards.  This included
    the design of a special "contents_signature", which, experimentally,
    has provided a typical statistical pairwise error rate of less than
    one part in ten trillion.                                 ~~~~~~~~~
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    This statistical resolution is far better than the best which is
    mathematically possible for systems based on the 32_bit CRC.  The
    32_bit CRC does not provide the accuracy needed for large systems --
    but this does.  Experimental data is provided in FWKCS119.REF, part of
    FWKCS119.ZIP.

    A recent message has started me on an interesting line of thought,
    about what each of these two families of programs is doing:

    re PCBoard:

      Basically, the amount of work done by PCBoard is approximately
      proportional to the number of nodes; and CDC's price structure
      provides a drop in price per node for large systems.

    re FWKCS:

      For mid_ to large_size systems, the amount of work done by FWKCS is
      roughly proportional to the square of the number of nodes, and FWKCS
      is designed to serve the needs of large boards.  As a result, FWKCS
      has some very powerful features to meet the needs of large bulletin
      board systems.

      As the needs of small systems increase (for example, the important
      increase in the size of file collections, from CDROMs), they need
      such functions, too, such as the greatly improved statistical
      resolution provided by the FWKCS contents_signature.

      Along with the availability of bigger file collections from CDROMs,
      has come the wide availability of computers based on Intel's 80386
      and 80486 chips, or on related products by other companies.  These
      have provided small bulletin boards with the computer power to run
      multiple threads, enabling them to take advantage of other special
      multitask / multiprocessor functions which already exist in FWKCS.
      And, because FWKCS is running day and night on large systems under
      heavy use, it has already been tested "under fire".  

    Pricing:

    The price for registering FWKCS has for a long time been a simple
    one_fifth of PCBoard's, partly as a matter of respect on my part for
    the quality of their work.  Meanwhile, the grouping of prices and
    node_capacity of PCBoard has changed dramatically, so that an 11_node
    BBS is now running on a 100_node version of PCBoard.  And, other BBS
    operation programs have appeared on the scene.  Also, the use of FWKCS
    is not just for BBS's:  FWKCS has important applications related to
    system efficiency, finding files, etc., for individual use and for
    networks -- even when there is no BBS operation.

    So, the time has come to make a new price structure for the FWKCS(TM)
    Contents_Signature System.  Based on the functionality discussed above,
    it appears to me to be reasonable to offer a special new set of prices
    for a limited period of time.

    These prices are explained in the enclosed file, ATTACH.FRM. To use
    these new prices, you must have FWKCS119.ZIP. After you install FWKCS,
    there will be a file, REGISTER.FRM, in your \CSA directory. Print out
    REGISTER.FRM, read it, fill it in according to the instructions. Then
    print out ATTACH.FRM, read it, fill it in according to its
    instructions, and attach it to the printed copy of REGISTER.FRM. Then,
    sign and date the combined papers in the places provided on the printed
    copy of REGISTER.FRM.

    For small systems, these prices are much lower than the prior current
    pricing.

    For example, if you are in Kansas, have a 5 node system which you are
    thinking of possibly expanding, agree to provide 1 hour of help, and
    mail your registration with payment on or before December 21, 1992,
    then you can register for a 10 node key for $18.00.

    If you are in Utah, have an 11 node system, agree to provide 1 hour of
    help, and mail your registration with payment on or before December 21,
    1992, then you can register for an 11 node key for $20.00.  Or, looking
    ahead, you could register for a 12 node key for $22.00.

    If you are in Wyoming, have a 103 node system which will never grow,
    agree to provide 1 hour of help, and mail your registration on December
    21, 1992, you can register for a 103 node key for 103 * 1.50 + 50.00 =
    $204.50.

    If you are in Virginia, have a growing 14 node system, registered FWKCS
    over a year ago, are thinking of using the powerful new automatic text_
    interpretation functions, and agree to provide 1 hour of help, you
    could register for a 15 node key for $10.00 and start a new year of
    support for questions re FWKCS; or you might take this opportunity to
    get an 18 node key for $12.00 with a view to future expansion.

    (The mailing address and other instructions are provided in
    REGISTER.FRM.) 

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Errata:

    If, when you are on the screen which says "Menu for installation" near
    the upper left corner, you happen to choose the option "0", and have
    more than 1 Megabyte of free space left when finished, disregard the
    message saying that there was not enough space.  (that option "0" is
    not used in the automatic installation of FWKCS)

    After installing FWKCS, if you wish to get online help about
    FWKDG111.BAT, type  FWKDG111 /* <enter>  for direct help (rather than
    using only CSAM to get that information).

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The home board for FWKCS is The Invention Factory. Here are modem
    groups for getting FWKCS119.ZIP:

        generic  2400 bits/sec  212-274-8110  N 8 1
        generic  V32.bis        212-274-8298  N 8 1
        Hayes    9600           212-274-8118  N 8 1
        USR      9600           212-274-8390  N 8 1

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FWKCS is a trademark of Frederick W. Kantor, author of this message.
    PCBoard is a trademark of Clark Development Company, Inc.
