The Electronic Postal Window
                     from EmmaSoft Software Company
                       Reviewed by Danny Williams
 
    Just place your package on a dime-store scale, enter the weight into
The Electronic Postal Window (EPW), and it will tell you exactly how
many of those 32 cent beauties you need to lick and stick. Click a
button and switch to second class. Another adjusts to the price of an
oversize envelope. If you want to send it through the US Mail, this
program will tell you how much it costs.
    But wait! There's something missing! This postal window has no
collectable stamps, FBI wanted posters,  or helpful employees! Then
again, there are also no gun-toting, disgruntled ex-employees; and you
rarely even need a helpful employee. All the postal answers you've long
been waiting for in those serpentine, Disney-esque lines are now right
at your finger (or mouse-pointer) tip. You will even be entertained
while you wait with  postal trivia worthy of Cliff Claven.
    EPW bucks the Windows bloatware trend by packing all its features
into a paltry 456k on your hard drive.It ran fine for me under both
Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and Windows 95. Iinstallation is very quick
and easy - one diskette - and a very fast uninstall program is included.
I also really liked the little "Help" flags that pop up when pausing
your pointer over any button.
    My first thought about this program was "I don't need this - I have
a fancy electronic scale in the back that tells me how much my mail
costs."  It didn't take long, however, to to change my mind. First, the
electronic scale costs hundreds of dollars. It also costs dozens of
dollars every time there is a rate change - they send me a chip that
gets replaced inside the scale. EPW, on the other hand, costs $30 ($ 40
with printed manuals) and software rate updates are about $6.50.
Financially I'm already way ahead with EPW.
    EPW wins with features, too. It has a group of buttons for selecting
First, Second, or Third class; Parcel Post; Express Mail; Priority Mail;
or Book Rate. Other button groups change according to the class you have
selected. For example, selecting First Class provides three other groups
of buttons: Postcard/Envelope/Oversize; Foreign/Domestic; and ZIP
bar-coding options. Book rate takes away the postcard option and
replaces bar codes with Zone selection. This is all very slick and
intuitive - I sat right down and used all of this without ever opening
the book.
    EPW will also help you balance speed versus cost by comparing the
cost of sending your package by several different methods. Perhaps that
mail-in rebate coupon is worth the premium to send it first class, but
the IRS check can just take its sweet time getting there third class and
save you a few cents. EPW shows you all the rates in one window so you
can quickly compare.
    Of course the USPS changes their rates periodically (and the periods
get shorter every year, it seems), so  updates are available to keep
your EPW database up to date. Updates are $18.95 for three issues, 30.95
for six, and 55.95 for twelve.  The issues are not based on a time
period, but are issued whenever there is a rate change, so a 12 issue
subscription could last well past one year (if we're all lucky and they
don't raise the rates!!!). Updates can also be ordered individually, but
the subscription seems much more painless and easy. Database updates
also automatically include software updates, so you'll always have the
most current version.
    Like most people, I use carriers other that USPS to tote my
packages, so I asked the author if I could enter rates for  Federal
Express, UPS, and such. he said: "No.  We are planning to add UPS and
FedEx rates in version 2.0 of the program.  In fact I just got the rates
from FedEx yesterday so we can plan that version.  There is no release
date for v2 set - it will probably be some time in the first half of
next year."  Even without the other services listed, if you send a lot
of things USPS, then you need this program.
    An evaluation version of EPW is available on the EmmaSoft BBS
(607-533-3685/7072), CompuServe, AOL, and Ziffnet as EPW15.ZIP. Full
registered version with printed manual and free tech support is $39.95 +
S&H. For $29.95 you can register your shareware, but receive no manuals.
 
                    EmmaSoft Software Company, Inc.
                              P.O. Box 238
                         Lansing MI  14882-0238
                          Phone (607) 533-4685
                           Fax (607) 533-3524
                          BBS: (607) 533-7072
                    email 71333.1577@compuserve.com
 
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