A Windows Word processor - Software Review - Microsoft Corp's Word for Windows - evaluation

Software Magazine, April, 1990 by Jon Pepper

A WINDOWS WORD PROCESSOR

For years, a leading complaint about Microsoft Windows was that it lacked a good word processor., the cornerstone of application software. The problem was redressed when Samna Corp. of Atlanta introduced Ami for Windows, followed by Ami Professional. Then the refrain changed to: "There isn't a major word processor available."

Now that, too, has been remedied with Word for Windows from Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash. A formidable product, Word for Windows builds on the rich feature set of Microsoft Word, adding the benefits of the WYSIWYG interface and the ability to highly customize the product.

The main selling point of Word for Windows is the use of the Windows graphical user interface. The degree to which it benefits users depends on what you use your word processor for, and the hardware involved.

Word for Windows lets you see your document on screen exactly as it will print. Bold looks bold, different point sizes and typefaces can be distinguished, and graphics are displayed. In many ways, Word for Windows is more a document processor than a word processor. That is, it lies somewhere between word processing and desktop publishing, allowing you to more easily tweak your document's appearance than character-based products.

This is an advantage if you are concerned with formatting and dissatisfied with the print preview option offered by most leading character-based systems. Also, the cascading menu structure and user interface of Word for Windows makes it relatively easy to learn another Windows-based product that conforms to the CUA (Common User Access) interface guideline.

There is a penalty to be paid for these features, however. First, WordPerfect and other character-based word processors are a lot faster than Word for Windows. If you aren't concerned with the WYSIWYG interface, you will be happier with a character-based system. Second, you need at least a healthy 286 machine to run Word for Windows (or any Windows application).

Word for Windows is a well-thought-out product. Besides all the high-end features that Microsoft Word contains, it adds lots of document templates, and the ability to easily integrate and edit graphics from other Windows products. You can also set up a hot link to an Excel spreadsheet that updates automatically, though WordPerfect offers that same feature in the current 5.1 version.

Word for Windows can be highly customized through macros, glossaries and style sheets. It includes about 20 document templates for letters, reports, contracts and other common business correspondence. The macro language, a variant of Microsoft's own QuickBasic, offers the potential to customize the product.

Compatibility with other software is high, as Word for Windows reads and writes files to and from other leading word processors. It can also share files with the Mac version of Microsoft Word. In addition, the product is compatible with numerous graphic formats, including TIFF, PIC, HPGL, CGM and AutoCAD ADI.

Is Word for Windows the "word processor designed for the 1990s," as Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said? As of yet, the jury is still out.

Priced at $495, Word for Windows is easily a match for Samna's Ami Professional. However, users often feel almost religious about their word processors. While Microsoft did beat rival WordPerfect to the punch here, WordPerfect for Windows has yet to be released.

If you want a Windows word processor now, you won't be disappointed with Word for Windows. However, by the time that most users are ready for Windows--if they ever are--there will be many other choices, including a version of best-seller WordPerfect. It should be interesting.

Pepper, based in Sunderland, Mass., is a freelance writer and computer consultant.