Evaluation Software Program

What is the Evaluation Program?

Many software (and a few hardware) vendors offer their products for evaluation by User Groups as a form of promotion and advertising. Typically this evaluation takes the form of an article published in the User Group newsletter; in return the products become the property of the Reviewer or may be donated to the club.

How do I request software?
Where can I find software to request?
What is the procedure for requesting software?
How do I write an Evaluation Review?
What does the Evaluations Chairperson do?

How do I request software?
Send an email or letter to the Evaluation Chairperson naming the Vendor, product title (include product id number, if possible, and website reference if it applies), and the operating system (Win95, Win98, Win2K, Linux).

Where can I find software to request?
Many major software vendors, such as Microsoft, Adobe, and Corel provide software for user group evaluation programs, as well as book publishers like Macmillan USA and O'Reilly and Associates. . Several other vendors who support user group programs are listed at the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG) web site. You can also find companies listed at UGVendors.Com.

What is the procedure for requesting software?
The vendor's who have agreed to work with User Groups such as ours accept request from the club's primary contact for evaluation software. Every organization has 60 to 90 days to review a software product. Once a group publishes the software review, the current contact or editor may request another software product to review. Upon receipt of the review, the next software request will be considered.

How do I write an Evaluation Review?

Within 45 days of receiving the product WRITE AND SUBMIT TO Jane Quinn the following REVIEW

* A summary of the program's features in your own words. Several paragraphs outlining the purpose and benefits, including some steps for how those are accomplished. I liked this product and recommend it, is simply not enough information. A bulleted list of features copied from the vendor's website is not helpful.

* Include brief steps on how to find and use two or three features that you refer to. (Yes, we're repeating ourselves, but the educational portion is the best part of the review!)

* If you've used a previous version of this program or a similar program from another publisher, what features are new or improved?

* What did you like best? Least? Why? How? (Useful? Faster? Innovative? Was a feature easy to find in the user interface? Where?) Feel free to provide suggestions, wishes, and constructive complaints.

* What are the System Requirements, ( DO NOT include the installation or other procedural details ))

* The configuration of the author's PC except WHERE RELEVANT !. For example, a reviewer may wish to comment on ease of use of a program based on the ability of their PC's hardware or the recommended system requirements.

* Price or where to buy the program.

* Endorsements or recommendations to purchase the program.

What does the Evaluations Chairperson do?
The Evaluation chairman is a high profile position within the club. It reflects our image as a computer club beyond the local community. The Evaluations Chair is a non-elected position, appointed annually by the Board of Directors in January of each year. The position is responsible to provide the club with resources and opportunities with vendors and other user group affiliations. For this reason it is mandatory for this individual to be accessible to the Board members, attend the Board meetings and all General meetings.

To fill this position the person must have Email and Internet access, and must have adequate time (and interest) to perform these duties in a timely, and responsible manner.

GENERAL DUTIES ARE:

Maintains positive Vendor relations and Club Member communication channels
Promotes participation in Vendor Exchange program for all club members
Distributes detailed information of all activity involving the vendor program
Assist the club's news editor and Reviewer writing news article.
Attends all General Meets
Attends all Board Meetings