Novell ships Write with Me on CD-ROM; WordPerfect Main Street provides CD version of word processor for kids

Business Wire, Nov 14, 1994

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 1994--Novell Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) Monday began shipping Write with Me on CD-ROM.

As one of WordPerfect Main Street's multimedia home education products, Write with Me on CD-ROM includes special features such as 75 additional graphic images and a minimal installation option that requires only 2.5 MB of hard disk space. Other features include categorized graphics for easier searching, and multiple file saves for each child in each activity.

Write with Me was first released on disk in September. The program allows kids ages 4-10 to create their own cards, signs, letters and books, all while building alphabet familiarization, word recognition and overall writing skills.

The program makes it easy and fun for kids to create just about anything by combining fonts, graphics, colors and borders. Write with Me also offers drawing tools to modify or create other images and bring out the creative genius in every child. Color printing is also supported throughout the Write with Me program to make kids' creations more colorful.

Write with Me utilizes BeSTspeech(R) synthesis from Berkeley Speech Technologies to let children hear, read and pronounce the words and letter on the screen.

The animated interface lets kids start creating during six different activities. Each activity teaches important concepts to help children develop early word-processing skills. The CD-ROM version contains the same activities found on the disk version.

ABC Book

The ABC Book helps children to identify letters with the help of associated pictures and words as they create their own book about ABCs. Kids can type a letter from the alphabet and choose a picture that begins with that letter. After selecting a picture, the word accompanying the picture is placed in their book. Children can even add their own drawings to pictures.

Me! By Me! Book

The "Me! By Me! Book!" lets kids write a book themselves while learning new words and word processing skills. The book presents kids with several pre-defined statements about themselves (name, address, phone number, their home, birthday, what they like to eat, etc.) With each of the statements, kids are encouraged to choose from several pictures to accompany their descriptions. As with the ABC Book, kids can draw pictures using the available draw tools.

Sign Studio

Sign Studio lets children create signs with a variety of messages and pictures. Kids can create signs using pre-defined messages or add pictures and words to make their own. Twenty-eight sample signs are included such as "Do Not Disturb" and "Happy Birthday."

Card Maker

In the Card Maker activity, kids can design and print cards for all types of occasions. As in the Sign Studio, many picture and text combinations are available. Kids can add pre-defined pictures and borders to the front of the card, and complete the inside of the card by writing a message. Kids can also select Create My Own to add drawings and text to the front and inside of their card.

Free Choice

The Free Choice activity presents kids with a free-form word processor to write whatever they like. Kids are presented with many tools common to other word processors such as a Button Bar with options to print, save, change fonts, delete, cut, paste, select pictures and text, add borders and use the trash.

Things to Do

The Things to Do activity contains templates to help kids create letters, journals, lists, book reports and notes. After a template is selected, kids can begin filling in information right away about their particular activity. For example, the letter template automatically provides kids with the current date and an opening and closing salutation. Children have the option to change any of the pre-defined template information.

Special features in the Write with Me program include a Parent Set-up Menu and a KidMode. The Parent Set-up Menu allows parents to define fonts from the Working Menu, select activities for their children's specific needs, and select defaults for the 4-6 or 7-10 age levels. The KidMode feature creates a black border around the Write with Me program screen and prevents children from accessing other programs on the computer's hard drive.

Pricing and System Requirements

Write with Me for Windows on CD-ROM or disk is available for $59.95 (US). The CD-ROM version requires a double-speed CD-ROM drive, 486SX or higher, 4MB RAM, 10MB hard disk space, Windows 3.1, a 3.5 inch high-density disk drive, 256 color VGA monitor, MPC-compatible sound card speakers. The disk version requires all of the above-mentioned requirements except the double-speed CD-ROM drive.

WordPerfect, the Novell Applications Group, has co-developed several home education titles with the Waterford Institute under a multi-product, multi-year agreement. The WordPerfect Main Street consumer division and the Waterford Institute will continue to develop multimedia education titles focusing on basic skills for children ages 3-14.

WordPerfect Main Street includes 23 software products for the home in the areas of personal productivity, family entertainment and home education. Most of the WordPerfect Main Street titles include a 90-day money back guarantee and free award-winning customer support. For more information, customers can call 800/451-5151.