Hardware and Software Requirements

What types of computers will Subscribers Fool™ run on?

Any modern computer running Macintosh OS X 10.4.8 or greater, or Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or higher.) or Windows ViSTA. Macintosh OS 9 is not supported.

What processor speed is required?

As long as the computer supports and can run Windows XP SP2 or higher, or Macintosh OS X 10.4.8 or higher, Subscribers Fool™ will run fine, as long as the machine has the proper memory. This can include some late model Mac G3 iMacs – although they run awfully slowly; all the G4 and G5 Macs, and of course the latest Macs with Intel chips.

What are the ram memory requirements for Subscribers Fool™?

Regardless of platform, 1 GB or more of ram is recommended, though 512 MB is usable at a much slower speed.

How much hard drive space is needed?

Hard disk requirements are quite modest for FileMaker and Subscribers Fool™

Is Subscribers Fool™ a single- or multi-user product?

Both. Subscribers Fool™ runs as a single-user or multi-user. Within the multi-user world it can run peer-to-peer or in the server-client model.

Does Subscribers Fool™ require a server?

Subscribers Fool™ only requires a server if you are planning on using it with three or more computers. So with three or more users you will need to have a separate server computer serving Subscribers Fool™. This server computer is required to be a Macintosh. It must be a G5 or higher – and we recommend that the server machine be one of the new Intel Mac towers – this is a requirement of Filemaker Server 9..

It runs a separate form of FileMaker software called FileMaker Server 9. FileMaker Server 9 has an additional one time charge of $999. In addition, it will need to have a standard (client) version of FileMaker 9 also. The server machine must be used only for serving FileMaker Pro’s Subscribers Fool™. It should not be your mail server, or any other file server for the office. The server machine should have 2 GB of ram and an additional large hard drive within it to store on-going backups. A DVD burner is also required for the server. DVD burners come with every new Macintosh.

What kind of printer is needed?

Subscribers Fool™ is designed to print all needed forms on plain paper, 8.5×11.. All forms will print on a laser printer. Dot Matrix and inkjet printers are not recommended for use with Subscribers Fool™. Laser printers are now available for as low as $200 and are far cheaper to operate on a month-by-month basis and all the forms and printouts in Subscribers Fool™ are designed for laser outputs. Don’t even think of using an impact printer!

We currently recommend the HP 1022 or HP P2015.

Are pre-printed forms required?

Yes, for some reminder letters. Subscribers Fool™ can have layouts that pull information from the database and merge that data into the pre-printed forms. Feel free to consult with us on how this can best be accomplished.

Does Subscribers Fool™ have any special network requirements?

No. A standard ethernet 10/100 base T is all that’s needed.

Is internet access required?

A broadband internet connection is required. In some special cases, operation without internet access may be possible. Please contact us for further information. Subscribers Fool™ allows remote access and for this functionality, broadband is required at both ends. Subscribers Fool™ runs within FileMaker which has its own networking channel, so operates independently of the file sharing at the operation system level. This means file sharing may be turned off on every machine and Subscribers Fool™ will still operate and share data normally.

Do I need to buy FileMaker separately from Subscribers Fool™?

No. FileMaker is included in the purchase price of Subscribers Fool™. Updates for FileMaker and Subscribers Fool™ are also included in the monthly charges. This is one reason why Subscribers Fool™ is such an amazing bargain.

Is a CD or DVD burner required?

Only on the machine that is hosting Subscribers Fool™ or on the server if a server machine is present. Backing up to CD-RW (read-write)disks is not recommended, instead use CD-Rs (read only) and do not reuse disks.

In a multi-user office, what gets installed on each computer?

All machines get a copy of FileMaker. Subscribers Fool™ itself is only installed on the host machine. The other machine(s) in the office connect through FileMaker open remote to the host.

Can I connect to my copy of Subscribers Fool™ from home or hotels when I’m on the road?

Yes, see the section on Remote Access.

What monitors or screens are required?

Subscribers Fool™ is designed for screen resolution of 1024×768 or greater. Any monitor or screen fitting this criteria will work.