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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Brew Simple is not. Q: How big is the download? Q: Why does Brew Simple exist? Q: Okay, that's all great, but what do you know about writing software? Q: Big Deal! So you know all about software - what do you know about brewing beer?!! Q: Brew Simple sounds terrific, but where's the "beef"? Q: How do I get technical support for Brew Simple? Q: How much does Brew Simple cost? Q: What are my payment options? Q: Is Brew Simple copy protected? Q: Are you going to add some content to this site, or is Brew Simple stuff all I'm going to find here? Q: What's in the future for Brew Simple?
A: Brew Simple is just that - a simple way to track your homebrew Recipes and Batch information. Think of it as your electronic log book that prints nice recipe sheets, batch reports and labels - but won't get brew spilled all over it or fall into your wort! You can have the program print your custom labels with the batch information included - great for giving homebrew as a gift! A: Brew Simple won't calculate mash temps, efficiencies, runoff schedules or other things associated with advanced brewing techniques. Face it, most of us aren't advanced enough to know what all that stuff does anyway, so why have it in our recipe log book? A: Brew Simple is delivered as a Zip file which is about 4.2 megs. It's so large because you need to install the runtime support files for Microsoft Visual FoxPro. I plan on making just the Brew Simple program itself available for those that happen to already have FoxPro on their computer. Q: Why does Brew Simple exist? A: Some other products on the market, while great for advanced homebrewers, or just too much technical detail to deal with. Since you are reading this, you already know how to use a computer well enough to use Brew Simple. Why buy a tractor when all you need is a shovel? Q: Okay, that's all great, but what do you know about writing software? A: Well, I could post my resume here but I'll just cut to the chase: I am a professional software developer with over 13 years of experience. I have written custom database applications that range in complexity from a single user creating a name file similar to a phone book all the way up to an enterprise wide custom inventory and manufacturing control system with 250 users (and lots of stuff in between). I have also made a living modifying accounting systems and writing modules to plug into them. Q: Big Deal! So you know all about software - what do you know about brewing beer?!! A: I'm certainly not an expert on the art and science of beer brewing. I'd consider myself an intermediate level brewer and I learn something new with each batch. Sound familiar? I've taken steps to learn as much about this craft as I can. I volunteer down at one of our local micro breweries called the Oregon Trail Brewery. It's a 7 1/2 barrel capacity facility with a great group of folks willing to share their knowledge and I find myself learning a lot. Although it is slow going, I am also working towards BJCP certification. Q: Brew Simple sounds terrific, but where's the "beef"? A: That's the whole point - there isn't any "beef" or complexity. Brew Simple is just what the name says - Simple! Q: How do I get technical support for Brew Simple? A: Brew Simple tech support is only available online. In the unlikely event that you would need any technical assistance using Brew Simple, you can refer to the Brew Simple Technical Support web page or email tech support at: support at brewdomain dot com for specific questions. Q: How much does Brew Simple cost? A: Brew Simple costs US $ 15.00 Q: What are my payment options? A: Please see the Order page. Purchasing Brew Simple couldn't be easier. With my association with RegSoft you can choose to call the toll-free number, fax your order, go to the web site or send a check through the mail. You want it - you got it! Q: Is Brew Simple copy protected? A: Yes and No. When you register your copy of Brew Simple, I send you a code that unlocks the software and displays your registered name all over the place. So if someone else gets hold of your copy, your name will appear on it and it will be pretty obvious that it's an illegal copy. This was the most unobtrusive way I could think of to protect the software from software piracy. Q: Are you going to add some content to this site, or is Brew Simple stuff all I'm going to find here?
A: That's a good question. Since I can't pass myself off as an authority on brewing, and I doubt you're here for software programming tips. About the best I can do for you right now is share the results of our HomeBrewer Demographics Survey. Once upon a time, a lot of questions regarding homebrewer demographics were being bantered about on the internet newsgroup called rec.crafts.brewing, "RCB" for short. I took it upon myself to create a survey with a lot of demographic like questions and then compile and post the results for everyone to see. It's been pretty fun watching the survey responses flow in. You can: Enjoy! Q: What's in the future for Brew Simple? A: The plan is to allow registered users of Brew Simple to send their recipes electronically to each other, and I intend to have a database on the web where you can look up shared recipes, download the ones that sound good and simply import them into your own data. |
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